I would've thought a long line of traffic breathing down your neck at 4mph would make the cyclist feel worse. I just boot it round them at the first available gap.

I prefer it when cyclists ride on the path to be honest. They dont have mirrors or indicators and they're horribly unpredictable. A car is going to go one of a few ways, you can plan for it but a bicyclist who's legally allowed on the highway with no training, licences or tests can do anything.

The truth is that cyclists and horse riders have a right to use the roads

I wish the latter didn't. They are a real pain and should only be transported by horsebox.

Surely this is not meant as advice to the IAM membership but is for general consumption. Intended to be picked on by the national and regional press giving them some free content and the IAM some free publicity.

You cannot call yourself the Institute of Advanced Motorists and then proceed to give rather basic advice on basic - not advanced - issues. It just makes them look like morons.

Something tells me you have already formed your own opinion of the IAM. They give advanced driving lessons, but it is a sad fact that they do feel the need to offer basic advice to the general motorist. And I would say that it is needed. But most drivers do seem safe in relation to cyclists, and those that are dangerous are unlikely to listen to the IAM, so in the sense they are weeing in the wind.

They give advanced driving lessons,

Oh its that time of year again is it.

Perhaps I should try asking the following question for the 147th time on the HJ Backroom as the previous 146 have failed to yield an answer.

What do they teach which is advanced?

They produce a book which will tell you what they teach. But there is a lot of useful stuff. Such as using gears more effectively, including block changes, and changing down to a low gear and declutching as you approach a red light, keeping a safe distance (obvious perhaps, but ignored by most road users), how to test that your rear brake lights work, why you shoud brake when slowing down, using brakes to slow, not gears, using the hand brake better (not making it click loudly) and so on. This is not advanced in the sense of police driving, but it is above the standard driving test, and it is useful. I have avoided some nasty scrapes thanks to IAM tuition, and I very rarely have incidents, which I think is due to the guidance I received. I sue the gears much more effectively too. No doubt some of the information is pointless, such as doing a three point turn without bumping the kerb, for goodness sake who cares other than a pensioner with a string of IAM awards.

Such as using gears more effectively, including block changes, and changing down to a low gear and declutching as you approach a red light,

Standard stuff, not advanced.

No it isn't. The standard instruction covers more basic information. And people tend to forget or ignore what they learn as the years pass, and they slip into bad habits.

keeping a safe distance

Covered on first driving lesson before you're allowed to drive on a back road. Just because so many people drive at towing length distance on the motorway doesnt mean keeping a safe distance is 'advanced.' Its just rare.

Getting people back into a good habit is not a bad thing.

how to test that your rear brake lights work,

Pretty obvious isnt it?!

Not really. Add in lots of little things like that and you get useful knowledge.

why you shoud brake when slowing down, using brakes to slow, not gears,

Instructors haven't taught the 'use gears to slow down' method for about 20 years.

Nonsense. Some instructors do not even know why it is bad to engine brake.

using the hand brake better

And people pay for these lessons?

I've been in plenty of cars with drivers who make the handbrake click away merrily. It is only a small example, but not useless.

but it is above the standard driving test

You haven't listed anything which isn't covered by an ordinary driving instructor.

Nonsense.

I have avoided some nasty scrapes thanks to IAM tuition

Then you were obviously a terrible driver to start with and despite your claims to the contrary, you are still not advanced.

You do express youself in a very direct, arrogant and aggressive manner., with some nice put downs I was an okay driver before taking IAM lessons, according to the instructor. I made no claims to be an advanced driver, so don't put words into my mouth.

and I very rarely have incidents

Same here and I've never had IAM tuition. Does that mean I'm just a better driver than you?

That is a pointless statement. I know nothing about you, and vice versa. Do you know why so called advanced driving came about?

No doubt some of the information is pointless, such as doing a three point turn without bumping the kerb

They still teach three point turns? Everybody else changed it to 'turn in the road' years ago upon discovery of the fact you cannot do it in three points on a very narrow road.

I disagree with almost everything you have said. The driving test is about giving someone basic proficiency. IAM tuition does not get anywhere near police advanced driving - so I am told - but it does go beyong the basic driving test. I've been in more than a few cars with people who openly describe themselves as very good drivers, and been scared stiff by appalling driving. Whether or not you describe IAM tuition as advanced is irrelevent, given that there are more than a few people who could benefit from their teaching. And having someone sit next to you and observe your driving is not a bad thing.

Have you actually read the IAM book? Or similar books?

It looks like we must disagree.

Getting people back into a good habit is not a bad thing.

Its not advanced either.

Nonsense. Some instructors do not even know why it is bad to engine brake.

You must know some pretty bad instructors. Just because some instructors dont teach basic things properly doesnt mean those basic things are advanced.

I've been in plenty of cars with drivers who make the handbrake click away merrily. It is only a small example, but not useless.

I dont use mine at all because I am really advanced.

You do express youself in a very direct, arrogant and aggressive manner.

Thank you.

Do you know why so called advanced driving came about?

Gotta sell those magazines somehow.

Maybe you should do some research and find out. Hint: The UK police started it.

but it does go beyong the basic driving test.

You've still not provided any facts to suggest that is the case.

Whether or not you describe IAM tuition as advanced is irrelevent

Its quite relevent, given the title 'Institute of Advanced Motorists' I think its quite relevent indeed. So much so actually that its in the name!

Whether or not you think they teach advanced techniques is completely irrelevent, unless you know what you are talking about e.g. you are a certified advanced driver e.g. police class 1.

And having someone sit next to you and observe your driving is not a bad thing.

Agreed. If only we could have some sort of compulsory system whereby that happened to all prospective motorists. Imagine the possibilities.

What an idiotic remark.

Edited by Leif on 22/04/2012 at 23:19

The rule in France is that the car driver is assumed to be the guilty party unless its proved otherwise.

Yes well the French are peasants and communists so they would have ridiculous rules like that. In a democratic society nobody is presumed to be guilty for anything. In France even if they cannot prove the motorist is at fault he gets charged. Stalin would be proud of such regimes.

It should be up to the courts and police to prove the car drivers guilt, not the motorists responsibility to prove his/her innocence.

Edited by jamie745 on 21/04/2012 at 16:17

I'm going to start a rival organisation to promote road safety and awareness-Sophisticated Horseriding And Motoring.

Top tips.

Horses

1. If you intend to take your horse onto the road, it is essential that the mount the horse correctly and adopt a secure riding position. To do this, use the head of your horse as Point of Reference. Make sure that the head is in front of you. If the head is behind you then you have mounted the horse backwards and you will not be able to see where you are going. You must alight from the quadruped and remount.

Left Hand Turns.

When negotiating Left Hand turns in a motor vehicle, you must ensure that the trajectory of the vehicle follows your intended path. Failure to turn the steering wheel sufficiently will result in the car following an arc that is too wide. Conversely, turning the steering wheel too far will cause the vehicle to turn to sharply and possibly hit the kerb. To ensure that the vehicle turns the corner as intended, you must turn the steering wheel by just the right amount.

Ah, you need to consult the Sophisticated Horseriding And Motoring society for advice on left hand turns. As CEO, I am happy to conduct an audit on your driving for only £7458.99 (+VAT). Can you afford not to?

Is it? I hadn't noticed.

SHAM is based on the wikipedia model-all contrubtions welcome.

You have something in common with some BMW 3-series in that your vehicle is not equipped with indicators.

They're an optional extra on the base 3 series but come as standard on the Special Equipment versions. :)

It is inadvisable to turn right. Go left, left and left again.

I've done this before! What's wrong with it?

They talk allot of sense and looking at the standard of driving in the UK the roads are a huge mess and an embarrassment to any so called developed country.

Must be why the UK has lower accident rates than virtually any other developed country in the world-bar sweden and the Netherlands. Yes, there is bad driving, but indolence is the main problem rather than ignorance.

As the world becomes more of a global village so some traits from other countries .. either through people who moved here, or UK citizens having been overseas are being shared around.

I also consider congestion and bad (or anti car) road planning breeds frustration which breeds impatience.. the solution is not just to raise the education of the average driver but also to deal with (eradicate or minimise) the problems that they meet ....

teach driving skills such as security and anti-terrorism driving

I'm sorry what?

While we're about it, the IAM is only one such organisation that teaches numerous skills, there many other organisations who teach driving skills such as security and anti-terrorism driving, off-road, etc. Perhaps when we've mastered the art of them all can we be described as an advanced driver.

Many years ago I tried to get advanced training on a paid by the hour basis, but couldn't find anyone suitable. I did IAM training, but you are reliant on unpaid volunteers, and I wanted someone with sounder qualifications who would I hope have better skills as a teacher.

People don't invent their own uppercrust accents anymore either, like the one Brian Sewell has.

Do you mean: filmed at 24 fps, transferred to video at 25fps?