New driving phenomenon

Peter, to certain extent I have to agree with Mark.

I pbutted the advanced test and six months later I took observer training. This included how to "observe" and a lot of extra driving training. This was the bit I liked the best as we went out on many drives with serving police drivers. Without trying to be big headed about it (my recent NIP was an eye opener for me), I was very good on the driving side. All the police officers and examiners I drove and had de-briefs with, all said my driving was of a very high standard.

However, the "observer" training left a lot to be desired. How to pbutt on the knowledge to others was severely lacking in my view. I don't think I did too bad, and indeed the only person I put forward for the test did pbutt, but I knew observers there that I thought were diabolical drivers.

I left the IAM after six months due to politics at my local group.

I completely disagree with this statement. It is far too easy for somebody to pbutt the IAM test and gradually revert back to poor driving. As there is no need to retake the test, it is not surprising a drivers standard may drop.

Again, I don't mean to be big headed, but my driving standard is as good as its ever been. I drove tired a few weeks back and got a nip for it - ironic after many years cabbing, driving up to 18 hours a day! Apart from that, I apply roadcraft all the time. For me it is automatic now and I have not allowed bad habits to creep back in. I have no doubt at all I would pbutt the test if I took it again. I regularly read roadcraft and continue to be active in this group. On my observer training, I saw many examples of atrocious driving by other trainee observers, yet they all pbutted! Some of the other observers scared the life out of me when I drove with them.

I was on the waiting list with RoADA but will not take it up as I have lost interest in any further improvement after getting a NIP.

-- MrBitsy