Is there anyone out there who has recently passed their IAM test, and would be willing to write a few short paragraphs on how this went? This would then be included in the website to share with the rest of the group (particularly useful for any Associates just about to sit their test !)
GR replied : So you’ve completed your series of observed drives and had a pre-test check with a senior observer and now it’s time for the test. What’s it like? How does it feel? What should you expect?
I must confess I felt a little nervous when the big day came around – but I think that’s normal. My observer and I had invested a lot of time and effort preparing for this and I didn’t want to let us both down by messing up at the final hurdle. I got to the agreed rendezvous early, leaving plenty of time to pick out a good parking spot, and then mentally I rehearsed the cockpit drill and the resume for the umpteenth time.
When the examiner arrived he was very friendly and quickly put me at ease. We spent a good 10 minutes chatting and he explained the procedure and the things he was looking for, which he summarised as “driving smoothly, progressively and with a wee bit of flair”. There was nothing new in this that hadn’t already been covered by my observer but it was good to hear the examiner confirm he wasn’t looking for anything that I didn’t expect.
Then it was my turn. I rattled through the cockpit drill and the resume and then we were off. I think the first few minutes of the test are vitally important. If you can get off to a good start it settles you down, it builds your self confidence and crucially it creates a good first impression with the examiner. A good clean run through the cockpit drill and resume helps that. It also helps if you’ve checked out the first couple of miles around the rendezvous point so you know where all the warning signs and fixed hazards are located and have some idea of how your initial commentary is going to flow. That seemed to work well for me and from there on it was all very straightforward. The stress evaporated, the commentary flowed and I actually enjoyed the test drive.
The drive, which lasted around 80 minutes, took us along roads I’d driven with my observer and a few that I hadn’t driven on for years. Before I knew it we were back at the rendezvous and I was going through the shut-down drill. Then I heard the magic works that I would be “recommended for membership”. My examiner went through a comprehensive debrief offering useful suggestions on areas where I could make improvement, and then it was all over.
It’s really not such an ordeal. KOFG observers do a great job preparing you for the test and their success rate is very high. If your observers believe that you are ready for the test you should feel pretty confident that you are going to pass.
KA replied : Oh my goodness, I never thought three years ago after passing my driving test that I would be saying that I’m an Advanced Driver. To be honest I thought driving back then was quite scary and I just drove because I had to. My parents use to say I was like a wee old lady behind the wheel because I never went out to explore places - I basically used my car to drive back and forth to work and the shops, only driving about 4000 miles a year.
My dad, Scott Armour, is the Chairman of the Kingdom of Fife Group and this was my inspiration to join IAM as I use to look at my dad’s driving and he inspired me to do something about mine.
After being allocated an observer, Isabel McGregor, I went on some Observed Drives where Isabel would mention improvements that I could make in my driving. Before joining I wasn’t keen on the thought of someone saying do this, do that, you’re not driving properly, do as I say, but to be honest it was nothing like that at all. I felt at ease at all times and at last I finally loved driving!
After a series of Observed Drives, Isabel put me forward for the Advanced Driving Test. My Examiner on the day of the test was Ewan Pierce, who is serving police driver in Fife. He put my mind at ease right away by introducing himself, explaining what he was looking for in my driving and showing me the form he would be filling out. Yeah my stomach was in knots with nerves but it soon disappeared after I recited the Resume and went through the Starting Drill.
After moving off, the commentary felt so natural to me. We went on all different types of roads and even went into villages that I had never even heard of. Before I knew it, I was back where the test had started. At the end of the test I pulled into the car park, reversed into a space and recited the Stopping Drill. I was then glad to hear the words “I recommend you for full membership of the Institute of Advanced Motorists”. I was over the moon with my result.
If you would like to improve your driving I recommend you to join the IAM. It is fun, interesting and you can gain lots from it.
Thank you to my Dad for inspiring me to join, Isabel McGregor for being a good observer and Ewan Pierce for putting my mind at ease during my test.
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The highway code section on road signs states that warning signs are triangular, information signs are rectangular, and signs giving orders are round. So does anyone have any idea why the Stop sign is octagonal ?
Prior to this shape being adopted the stop sign was a red bordered circle with an inverted triangle (similar to a give way) within it and the wording stop (I suspect a few of our more senior members can recall them).
Does anyone have any suggestion as to what this Roadsign may be used for ?
Where you have two warning signs on the one post, one above the other, how should these be read? Is the first hazard the upper or lower of the two signs?