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The assessment drive will normally last for about half an hour, and you will go on a short drive (about twenty minutes) with a Group Observer who will advise you on any aspects of your driving that do not satisfy the requirements for the Advanced Driving Test. You will receive a brief written summary of your performance along with any recommendations for further training, or even to apply for the test directly if your driving already meets the necessary standard.
At this point, you are under no obligation to join any IAM group, nor even apply for the test. It is entirely your decision whether you join the Group and prepare for the test, or simply not return again. The recommendations given are just that, and the decision to continue is yours alone.
We hope that you would wish to continue though, and to go on and take the test, as many other people have done in the past.
Once you have undertaken an assessment drive, and you have decided to join the Group as an Associate member, you will be taken on check drives by trained Observers to prepare you for your Advanced Driving Test.
These are held on a Sunday morning, between 9am and 11am. [See the Diary for dates this year]
Each check drive will last for about one hour (this is normally made up of a 45 minute drive, with a 15 minute debrief afterwards), and will be along varying routes (depending on the Observer) covering a wide selection of roads and situations.
You will be encouraged to follow the System of Car Control as set out in the IAM publication Pass Your Advanced Driving Test. The driving system is exactly the same as used in Roadcraft (The Police Driving Manual) and taught to Police Drivers across the country. An Observer is there to help you understand the System, and to guide you through the planning and execution of this in your own driving. Your own questions are vital and you will be encouraged to ask about any details you are not sure of.
At the end of each check drive you will receive a 'debrief' of your drive from the Observer, along with a copy of a written summary detailing aspects of the system of car control and your general approach to driving during the observed run.
A check drive cannot be guaranteed for anyone arriving after 11am. If you have a genuine reason why you are not able to make Sunday mornings, the Group can make exceptional arrangements for check drives at other times and/or days. Please don't let the fact you work on Sundays mornings stop you from preparing for the test, please contact us and we will see if mutual arrangements can be made.
All of the Group's Observers have taken and passed the IAM Advanced Driving Test. So you will be trained by people who know what it takes to pass the test, and have received further training to enable them to observe and comment on your driving in order that you meet the standard required.
The number of check drives you will need to attain test standard is not fixed. Most people need six to seven check drives, but if you are ready before this you will be encouraged to apply for your test straight away. If you need longer then you are able to have as many drives as are necessary. There is no maximum number of check drives set, nor a minimum as driving ability varies from person to person and the Group's training methods are designed to be flexible.