A Direct Benefit of passing the IAM Advanced Test

I passed my Advanced Driving Test eight years ago, and up until now the biggest benefit to me was that it put the fun back into my driving. At my age having passed the Advanced Test makes no real difference to my insurance premium, and, as I drive for a living I had mostly got bored with driving so I took the test as a means of putting the enjoyment back into it.

Since then something happened which showed me that passing the IAM test can have real practical benefits too. In a driving incident last year it prevented me from being injured (or worse, killed) in an accident. I was travelling towards Toomebridge on the A6 behind a white van man and two cars, being followed at a distance by an articulated lorry. The white van man indicated to turn right but was unable to do so because of a long line of oncoming traffic, so he stopped, as did the two cars behind him. Following the guidance I had been given while on observed runs, I had left myself plenty of room between my vehicle and those stopped in front of me, and instead of sitting in the queue daydreaming I was looking around, in front, to the sides, and checking in my mirrors to see what was happening behind. In my mirrors I spotted that the articulated lorry, the driver of which had obviously not been paying attention to what was going on in front, was bearing down on my car, braking heavily, and there was no way he was going to stop without hitting me. Fortunately I had left myself a good safety gap and was able to move forward into it. The articulated lorry managed to get stopped with literally millimetres to spare and the driver got out in an obvious state of shock. 'I'm sorry mate, I thought I was into the back of you there'. Had I not been through the preparation for, and passed, the Advanced Test I wouldn't have even thought to leave a gap for safety (or watch what was coming up behind me for that matter). I would have been stopped right up close behind the vehicles in front, and so would have had nowhere to go when the articulated lorry arrived - a totally different result!

For this reason alone I'm happy to vouch for the fact that the IAM Advanced Driving Test is well worth doing, and is money well spent, and might even one day save your life. I also recommend that having passed the test you undertake further training to become an observer.

Paul Henry (Qualified Observer)
North Down Group - AMNI

If you would be willing to submit a testimonial on our website,
please contact our webmaster by email on webmaster@amni.org.uk.