Advanced Driving

Driving professionally requires more than just knowing how to operate a vehicle; it's about mastering advanced skills for safety and efficiency. Gaining an advanced driving qualification can not only improve your skills but also lead to potential discounts on your insurance. Here is a brief overview of some of the leading Advanced Driving Organizations in the UK, including what they offer and how their final assessments differ.

IAM RoadSmart is a UK-based road safety charity and the largest independent road safety charity in the country. Their advanced driving course focuses on the "System of Car Control," a comprehensive framework for safe and smooth driving. The training is conducted by qualified volunteer observers who guide you through a series of on-road sessions. The course aims to make you a more confident, skilled, and safer driver, teaching you to be more observant and better at anticipating hazards. It's a comprehensive training process that can span up to 12 sessions, typically taking most drivers around six months to reach the required standard.

The Final Assessment: The IAM RoadSmart Advanced Driving Test is a single, pass/fail assessment. It is conducted by an IAM RoadSmart examiner, who is often a serving or retired police officer with advanced driving experience. The test lasts around 75 minutes, with about 60 minutes of on-road driving. The examiner assesses your ability to apply the "System" in various road conditions, and you may be asked to perform a slow-speed manoeuvre. The result is a simple pass or fail, and if you pass, you become a full member of the organization.

RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) offers an advanced driving course that also teaches the "System of Car Control" as outlined in the "Roadcraft" police driver's handbook. The program is well-regarded for its emphasis on continuous training at a high level and regular reassessment. Like IAM RoadSmart, the training is delivered by volunteer tutors who have themselves passed the advanced test at a high grade. The goal is to make you a more observant and skilled driver, capable of making safe, legal, and smooth progress.

The Final Assessment: The RoSPA Advanced Driving Test is considered one of the most comprehensive and challenging for civilians. The test, administered by a police-trained examiner, is unique in that it is graded on a Bronze, Silver, or Gold level. A Gold grade is the highest civilian driving standard available and is awarded only to those who consistently demonstrate a high standard of driving. The grade you receive determines how often you need to be re-tested to maintain your qualification (every three years for a Gold, every two years for a Silver, and every year for a Bronze).

You can find out more on the RoSPA website.

Pass Plus

Pass Plus is a practical training course designed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for new drivers to gain extra experience and confidence after passing their standard driving test. The course typically consists of a minimum of six hours and is divided into six key modules: town, all-weather, rural roads, night, dual carriageways, and motorways. Each module is designed to give you experience in driving situations that you may not have encountered during your standard driving lessons, such as navigating complex urban junctions or driving on a motorway for the first time.

The Final Assessment: Unlike IAM RoadSmart and RoSPA, there is no formal final test for Pass Plus. Instead, you are continually assessed by your instructor throughout the course. To pass, you must successfully complete all six modules to the required standard. Once completed, you receive a certificate from the DVSA, which may entitle you to car insurance discounts.

Learn more about the Pass Plus course.

The Part 2 Test of Instructional Ability

For a qualified driving instructor, the DVSA's Part 2 test is a crucial milestone that demonstrates a very high level of personal driving skill. It is an advanced driving test that is more demanding than the standard learner test. The test lasts about one hour and assesses your expert handling of controls, correct road procedure, and anticipation of other road users' actions. You must be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the principles of good driving and road safety under various conditions, including on motorways or dual carriageways. During the test, you will also be asked "show me, tell me" vehicle safety questions and be required to perform specific manoeuvres, such as parallel parking or a three-point turn. To pass, you must not accumulate more than six minor faults, and any single serious or dangerous fault will result in a fail. This rigorous assessment ensures that instructors are not only safe drivers themselves but also masters of their craft.

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The DVSA Cardington Special Driving Test

The DVSA Cardington test, formally known as the DVSA Special Driving Test, is considered one of the most demanding civilian driving tests in the UK. This voluntary test is available only to fully qualified Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and is taken at the DVSA training centre in Cardington, Bedfordshire. Its purpose is for instructors to demonstrate that they are maintaining a very high standard of driving competence and to serve as a key part of their Continued Professional Development (CPD).

The test itself is a rigorous 90-minute on-road assessment conducted by a senior DVSA staff training officer. It covers all types of roads, including motorways, and requires the ADI to demonstrate an expert, systematic, and smooth control of the vehicle. It's a test of consistent excellence, and you must display a positive and courteous attitude while showing a high level of concentration, observation, anticipation, and planning. Unlike a standard driving test, a single pattern of error or repeated minor faults can lead to a fail.

Successful candidates are awarded a grade: Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Fail. A Gold grade signifies that the instructor has demonstrated a truly exceptional standard of driving, placing them among the most proficient drivers in the industry.

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