Welcome to the Thames Valley (Maidenhead) Group of Advanced Motorists, Official Provider to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (iAM RoadSmart).

This document is intended to answer questions commonly asked by new Associates, and to help set the correct expectations for Associates new to the Group.

WHAT THE GROUP DOES

We are one of over 200 groups spread across the country, and our main aim is to help you to prepare for the IAM RoadSmart Advanced Driving Test. Once you pass, you may become a Full Member of our Group and of iAM RoadSmart.

GROUP MEETINGS

A meeting is held at Holyport War Memorial Hall at 8pm on the fourth Thursday of the month except August and December when there is no meeting. The Group Newsletter and website give location details. Refreshments are provided, and publications and DVDs can be purchased to help you achieve your goal of becoming an Advanced Driver. Presentations on a wide variety of motoring-related topics, are given by members of the Group and invited guest speakers. Primarily a social activity, the meetings are an ideal opportunity to meet other members, who are always happy to provide support and encouragement to new Associates.

In person meetings are currently suspended. Group meetings may be held on Zoom.us in the mean time.

GROUP NEWSLETTER

Shortly before each Group meeting, every member of the Group is sent a printed or PDF newsletter containing items of Group news, an update on membership, recent test passes, forthcoming Group events, and articles of general interest submitted by members.

CHARGES

As a non-profit making registered charity, we charge subscriptions only to cover our running costs. An annual subscription is payable by all members, which for Associates covers insurance and administrative costs for your observed drives (note that the first year’s subscription is included in the Advanced Driver Package). It is a condition that Full Members of the Group also retain their membership of iAM RoadSmart, for which a separate subscription is payable. Should an Associate take the Advanced Driving Test but not reach the standard required to pass, a fee is charged for a re-test.

ASSOCIATE INDUCTION TRAINING

Preferably before being allocated to an Observer, all new Associates are invited to attend an Associate Induction Training session. Normally held at the weekend, and run by the Group Training Manager and/or Chief Observer, the morning comprises a theory session to provide an introduction as to what Associates can expect during the coming months. Lunch is provided, after which Associates go out on the road with a Group Observer firstly to drive a route themselves, and then to see it done by the Observer!

ALLOCATION OF OBSERVERS

Having joined the Group, your name is automatically added to the Awaiting Associates list for allocation to an Observer when one becomes available. The Observer Coordinator normally allocates Observers from within your local area, although should you be prepared to travel further afield, this gives more flexibility.

INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED TO THE OBSERVER COORDINATOR

It will help the Observer Coordinator if you can provide the following information:

• How far you are prepared to travel to rendezvous with your Observer
• Times when you are NOT available for observed drives (note that this may limit the duration of your drives especially during the winter months)
• Details of the vehicle(s) in which you wish to conduct your observed drives e.g. make, model and transmission type.
• Any disabilities you have
• Any licence endorsements you have, and if so, for what offence(s)
• If you are a student away at university, in which case, please advise when you will be available to receive a more intensive period of observed drives between terms.
• Whether you have a preference for your Observer to be a specific gender or in a particular age group

Remember that being too selective could delay the allocation of your Observer.

OBSERVERS AND THEIR DUTIES

Observers are volunteers who give their services free of charge. All have passed the Advanced Driving Test and have had further training in observing leading to an approved qualification. An Observer’s main aim is to help you improve your driving by giving constructive feedback and possibly also by providing demonstration drives. Observers performance is, in part, measured by you passing the Advanced Driving Test (you owe it to your Observer to take and pass the Test).

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOUR OBSERVER

Usually, you will meet your Observer at his or her home, or at a public place at a mutually agreed time. Please arrive promptly, and should you be unable to keep an appointment, please notify your Observer as far in advance as possible. You will be expected to have completed any study and driving practice requested by your Observer. You will be expected to commit to the overall approach of building and developing your skills progressively over a series of regular observed drives, with practice of new skills and techniques between drives.

PREPARATION FOR OBSERVED DRIVES

You are responsible for ensuring that you comply with all legal driving requirements and that your vehicle is legal and roadworthy. An Observer can refuse to accompany you if not. Ensure that your windows, lights, mirrors and registration plates are clean, and that the interior is tidy with no loose items rolling around, especially in the foot wells. Ensure that you have sufficient fuel to cover at least 50 miles.

OBSERVED DRIVES

Observed drives usually last 45-90 minutes, and are normally conducted in daylight. Routes will vary as determined by your Observer, and will include driving on all classes of road in town and country, as well as carrying out a number of manoeuvres. You will do the driving in your car, and you will be encouraged to develop a running commentary which although not compulsory, greatly helps your Observer (and later your Examiner) to assess your observation skills and your ability to think and plan ahead. Throughout, the principles contained in the course notes are used, so you will be expected to be familiar with all the topics effective from your first observed drive. During observed drives you are legally in control of your vehicle. You will not intentionally be asked to do anything illegal and the onus is on you to drive lawfully at all times, including complying with the speed limit. Safe driving is about being comfortable, so comfortable clothes and sensible footwear are recommended. There is no need to dress formally.

THE PRE-TEST DRIVE

This is an observed drive carried out by a nominated Pre-Tester from the Group, to ensure that you have achieved the standard necessary for the Advanced Driving Test. It also gives you experience of having someone different sitting in the car beside you. You will be given feedback on your driving, and should you be considered ready to apply for your test, the Pre-Tester will confirm this to you and advise you to complete your test application form and send it to IAM Head Office. Associates are expected to continue with their observed drives up to their test to maintain their readiness and to obtain the “polish” required. The Pre-Test gives a good indication of your skills, but it is not a guarantee of you passing.

THE ADVANCED DRIVING TEST

Advanced Driving Tests are conducted by serving or former Class 1 Police Drivers, at various locations throughout our Group area. Tests are normally held Monday through Friday between 09:00-17:00. Once an Examiner is assigned for your test, he or she will contact you directly to agree a mutually convenient date, time and rendezvous point. Please arrive in plenty of time, ensuring that you have all the necessary vehicle documentation and your driving licence. Your vehicle should be clean inside and out, and you should have completed all the necessary vehicle safety checks. The Examiner will not be in uniform, and the Test usually lasts 60-90 minutes, some of this time being for questions and a post-drive debrief. The Examiner will advise you of the Test result, which you should convey to your Observer and the Chief Observer.

IAM Head Office prepares a certificate for each successful candidate, usually within 28 days of the Test. These are sent to the Group Secretary, and you are strongly encouraged to attend the next Group meeting to be rewarded with your certificate. It is an opportunity for the whole Group to acknowledge your success and that of your Observer!

AFTER THE TEST

Having passed your Advanced Driving Test, you may wish to consider passing on your newly gained skills, by becoming an Observer yourself. If this interests you, please contact the Chief Observer for more details.

THE ON HOLD LIST

The onus is on you to maintain regular contact with your Observer, as Associates that have not made contact for a four-week period, may have their name added to the on-hold list without prior notification. You can ask to be transferred to this list if, for example, work or family commitments prevent you from taking up or continuing with your observed drives. In both cases, once your name is on the on-hold list and you wish to be reinstated to the Awaiting Associates List, please contact the Observer Coordinator. Note that in cases where you had already been allocated an Observer, it may not be possible to allocate the same Observer unless you are willing to wait until he or she becomes available. This procedure is necessary to minimise the backlog of Associates waiting to be allocated to an Observer.

RECOMMENDED LEARNING MATERIAL

To assist your progress, the following material is available for purchase at discounted prices at the Group meetings:

The Highway Code

The official guide to using the roads safely and legally. Note that this is essential reading. You will be expected to be conversant with the Code effective from your first observed drive.

Know Your Traffic Signs

More comprehensive than the Highway Code, this guide focuses on information about the most important traffic signs.

Course notes

These deliver all the information needed to become an Advanced Driver, and also provides details of what the Examiner is looking for. Note that this is essential reading. You will be expected to be conversant with the topics covered effective from your first observed drive.

Roadcraft - the Police Driver’s Handbook

Used for police driver training, this book contains a more comprehensive definition of the system of car control on which the IAM’s definitive guide is based.

Roadcraft DVD - the Police Drivers Course on Advanced Driving

A DVD which tracks police candidates on an Advanced Driving Course run at the Metropolitan Police Driving School in Hendon.

If you would like more information or would like to raise a specific issue, please contact the Group Secretary. The Group Newsletter gives contact details.

Also, please feel free to visit the Group website at: www.tvgam.org.uk, which contains a wide range of information about the Group, including a calendar of forthcoming events, an archive of the printed newsletters, and frequently asked questions.

We wish you every success in achieving your goal of becoming an Advanced Driver!