| The IAM Today 
 No matter what age you are or the type of vehicle you drive, the general
standard of driving/riding is the UK should be and could be much better. Despite the reduction in road deaths, under 3000 last year, even more and many more road users are still seriously injured. Young drivers who have recently passed their ‘L’ Test are not getting any safer and young males are most at risk. All young drivers need further guidance after they pass the ‘L’ test because although they have fast reactions to impending disaster they don’t have the experience to anticipate hazards or know how to avoid them. Mature drivers and riders have more experience and less prone to accidents even though their reactions become slower. The government and organizations like the IAM are always seeking ways to make our roads safer for all users, whilst the volume of traffic is increasing all the time. Statistics indicate your chance of having an accident is cut by two-thirds if you pass the Advanced Driving or Riding Test. Advanced drivers and riders are not experts, but they developed higher levels of concentration, anticipation, hazard perception and planning. Therefore, they are far less likely to have an accident than other drivers/riders. They are more relaxed, in better control of their vehicle’s, less inclined to be annoyed or irritated by other road users and are more courteous. If every driver/rider passed the IAM Test and maintained its standards for the rest of there motoring/riding life, there would be a dramatic fall in road deaths and serious injuries.
When you sign-up for an advance driving/riding course you become an Associate Member of the IAM, which is the largest independent road safety charity in the UK. You will also be a member of the Moray Group, which is a charity that’s affiliated to the IAM. The experienced and dedicated members of the Moray Group are called ‘Observers’ and they will help, encourage, and guide you to become advance drivers/riders. If you’re a driver, the first theory lesson and advance drive are provided without obligation. On the second week you will be asked to join the IAM and receive eight weeks further guidance both in the classroom and on the road. You should then be ready to take the advanced driving test, but if you’re not quite ready you will be paired with an ‘Observer’ who you will meet regularly in order to reach your ultimate goal of passing the Advanced Test. The ‘Bikers’ run their course somewhat differently and you should contact Bill Ford, their secretary, via the CONTACT US page on this website to find out more.
 After you become a full member of the IAM you might want to consider further training
with a view to becoming an Observer yourself and pass on the vital skills of safer
motoring/riding to new members. This also ensures you will continue to maintain and
develop your own motoring/riding knowledge and abilities to an even higher standard.
If you would like a flavor of what advanced motoring is about before committing
yourself you can ask for a “Demonstration Drive”, which is free. During this demonstration one of our Senior Observers will give you a 30-minute drive in his/her car to explain what Advanced Driving is all about. At the end you will be offer practical advice on your performance and ways you could improve your skills.
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