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Once you have passed your driving test, you are free to head out on to the roads unsupervised. This may be a liberating feeling, but it is also quite dangerous.
It is a shocking fact that traffic accidents account for almost half of the accidental deaths in the UK and are the largest single cause of death and injury to young adults [source: www.roadar.org].
While the driving test may seem rigorous, it is really only a basic standard test. It doesn’t cover driving on motorways, or night driving, for example.
According to the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), 95% of accidents on the road are due to driver error. So, one of the best ways to reduce the chances of you or anyone else being hurt in an accident is to improve your driving by taking an advanced driving test.
The Advanced Driving Test is run by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), although other organisations such as RoSPA also run their own widely-respected courses and tests.
Contrary to what some drivers seem to think, being an advanced driver is not all about learning to handle high speeds. On the contrary, an advanced driving course teaches you primarily about defensive driving, or as RoSPA puts it, 'the art of avoiding preventable accidents'.
The IAM course uses driving principles first pioneered – and applied with great success – by the Metropolitan Police. The System of Car Control, or 'the System', as it is known, is a way of driving that allows you to approach all situations and negotiate all hazards on the road in a methodical and flexible way that leaves nothing to luck or chance, therefore making it much safer.
An advanced driving course will teach you that safety must always override all other aspects of driving. Even when you are in a hurry, position and speed must always be sacrificed for safety. Basically, if you put your car in danger, you will fail the advanced test.
Also, if you learn the System efficiently then your handling skills will be properly co-ordinated, along with observation, to make your driving smooth, as well as safe and systematic. The vehicle should be stable with little bounce or roll on the road and any passengers should be comfortable in the vehicle and have the utmost confidence your ability as a driver. Nothing you do should look or feel rushed or hurried.
Driving like this will result in the most economical use of fuel, so it will also save you money and reduce the environmental impact of your driving.
The best way to prepare for the advanced test is to join one of the local IAM groups (of which there are over 200 throughout the UK). With a local IAM group you can prepare alongside others, receive guidance from group members, and even participate in social activities organised by the groups.
RoSPA also organises similar groups for people preparing to take its advanced test.
Driving a car may be one of the most dangerous things you do in a day, so taking the advanced driving test can help you to minimise the risk of being involved in an accident. Not only will you be 25% less likely to be involved in an accident [source: www.roadar.org], you and your passengers are more likely to enjoy a smoother ride.
