Our Course - IAM Roadsmart
IAM Roadsmart
Our course, is designed to take your driving skills and technique to another level with improved car control, hazard perception and increased anticipation for drivers who complete the course. The course sessions have elements of classroom lecture with one of our top class lecture team and practical driving overseen by our qualified observers in your own vehicle.
We offer two options to prepare for the test. The normal method is by joining one of our centre based Sunday courses, lasting over a four-month period. Each of the four sessions commence at 0900 and finish around 1230. These are held on the first Sunday of every month at Grove Green; or third Sunday of every month at Kingston, near Canterbury (December is on second Sunday). At both locations courses commence in January, May and September.
Alternative Course
This has the same content as the standard IAM Roadsmart course but for those who can not make the Sunday Sessions. You will be assigned an observer and arrange a series of in-car sessions at times mutually agreeable to complete the course.
The Alternative course is ideal for those who already have commitments on Sundays.
Course Structure
Once you've signed up our Associate Co-ordinator will be in touch to start you off on one of our Sunday Courses or if you are unable to attend the Sunday sessions, the option to paired up directly with one of our qualified Observers will be given. The latter option may involve traveling to another area in Kent to undertake the training.
Each Sunday session will start with a short lecture from our friendly lecture team at either our Grove Green centre in Maidstone or The Barn centre near Canterbury. You will then be paired up with an Observer where you'll have in car training in your own vehicle for around an hour to an hour and half. The observer will give a de-brief after the drive of where improvements are needed and how to help with these improvements. The course log book contains helpful guides on all aspects of Advanced Driving.
The first session will focus on the System of Car Control and IPSGA where you'll learn what is the most difficult part of the course. The second session will also focus on this, but is arranged with the observer outside the Sunday hours.
The third session, after the lecture will focus on The Driving Plans, Hazards and Observations. Again the fourth session will be arranged away from the Sunday sessions with the observer. Session five will be all about Motorway Driving and major A roads, bearing in mind that until recently, most drivers have never had a formal training session on the motorway itself.
Session six will be about bringing together all those skills learnt so far and making the final preparations for test with an IAM examiner.
Each drive will be an hour to an hour and half long.
What we don't cover
- ...high speed driving (other than Motorway driving) or any driving which contravenes the current UK traffic laws.
- ...offensive style driving, like J-turns and skid control techniques. Although we do cover the subject of skids and why they happen and how to avoid skids.
- ...skid pan training. We once were able to in another course but unable to so at the moment.
- ...motorcycles. This is covered by other groups within the IAM.
- ...track days and racing. The IAM however does offer track days at various locations around the UK once a full member.
Don't just take our word...
For over 40 years we've seen hundreds become Advanced Motorists - and we have the pictures to prove it in our 'Hall of Fame'.