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Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
Hi John
Took mine in June 1978....
They still insist (I believe) in the "ten to ten past" position of hands on steering wheel with shuffling the wheel between those positions, and if you are taking the test in a manual car shouldn't change gear whilst either braking or turning a corner. Of course even one breach of speed limits is an instant failure. Obvious every 30 second look in mirrors, also.
Just bear in mind most of the examiners are either past or present Police drivers, or Police examiners....
Well worth going to your local "group" for a pre-test assessment drive.
I found it a walk in the park compared with the LGV C+E heavy goods test.....
--
Accountants are like fire and water, good servants but bad masters.
Porsche 997 Carrera S PDK Aqua Blue / Black - Toyota Yaris D4D "Clockwork Rat"
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
sfo:
does IAM qualification still reduce insurance premiums these days?
Probably not on the sort of cars we drive. 
Certainly Porsche Insurance doesn't - I asked.
--
Accountants are like fire and water, good servants but bad masters.
Porsche 997 Carrera S PDK Aqua Blue / Black - Toyota Yaris D4D "Clockwork Rat"
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
Forgot to mention it earlier John, but Roadcraft, the Police driving book (which you can now get on DVD) is the IAM's driving bible. Well worth getting to brush up on the points looked for by the examiners 
Good luck with the test!
--
Accountants are like fire and water, good servants but bad masters.
Porsche 997 Carrera S PDK Aqua Blue / Black - Toyota Yaris D4D "Clockwork Rat"
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
DC - many thanks for your observations. I've ordered the 'Roadcraft' DVD from Amazon and it should be with me by tomorrow.
I'm disappointed to hear that Porsche Insurance doesn't offer a discount as it was one of the reasons I applied to be tested!!
It wasn't the only reason however - I failed the test when I was 20 years old, mainly due to excessive speed! I wanted confirmation that I'm still a decent driver even at my current advanced years. It worries me that I feel that my concentration levels appear to have diminished and I wanted a kick up the arse.... so to speak!
I have two 3.5 hours pre-test assessment drives scheduled for 20th & 29th November with the 2 hour test taking place on 30th November.
My main concern is that, in the GTS, it's just so easy, almost unavoidable, to slightly exceed the 30mph and 40 mph limits whilst concentrating on looking in mirrors etc. I've tried it for the past two days and failed miserably even though my driving has been more than safe!
For these reasons I'm not expecting to pass, but I'll be trying my best under the circumstances...
--
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
Hi John - does your wife have a more sober car that you can take the test with? Try to imagine that you've got a police car behind you for the whole duration of the test - after all the examiner is either a current or past class 1 police instructor......
Took my test in an Escort Mk2 RS 2000....
When you have your assessment drives, if your GTS has cruise control ask if you should use it on open roads. Sounds daft, but have a good read of the Highway Code, road signs, make sure you know box junction rules ( a lot of drivers don't realise that you can enter a box junction if your exit is only blocked by oncoming traffic). Sorry if I seem a bit anal but little details will make a difference, obvious things such as keeping a good distance from the car in front - keep rhyming in your mind "only a fool breaks the two second rule", drive as smoothly as you can and you should never need to use the brakes on a motorway unless someone pulls out in front of you etc. With your mirrors actually turn your head slightly when looking to let the examiner see you doing it. If on your test you see a bus indicating to pull out, let it.
PDK "normal", sports exhaust "off" 
if you use the GTS!
if I took the test now would. I pass it again? Probably not truth be known!
--
Accountants are like fire and water, good servants but bad masters.
Porsche 997 Carrera S PDK Aqua Blue / Black - Toyota Yaris D4D "Clockwork Rat"
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
Gilmour:
bluelines:
A few days at the Ring will sort out your concentration levels
And be a lot more fun
Definitely if only we UK drivers could get insurance.....
--
Accountants are like fire and water, good servants but bad masters.
Porsche 997 Carrera S PDK Aqua Blue / Black - Toyota Yaris D4D "Clockwork Rat"
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
dreamcar:
Hi John - does your wife have a more sober car that you can take the test with?
My wife has a Juke Kuro, but I've only driven it twice!
Besides, I'd like to know how my ability to drive the GTS stacks up.... never too old to learn!
--
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
dreamcar:
If your GTS has cruise control ask if you should use it on open roads.
That's a great tip..
Actually not just on open roads. I've tried using it for 30mph & 40mph limits and it works like a dream... I'm getting more optimistic by the minute...
--
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
dreamcar:
Gilmour:
bluelines:
A few days at the Ring will sort out your concentration levels
And be a lot more fun
Definitely
Amen..!!
--
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
Took my IAM test yesterday in the GTS and glad to say I passed and received some very complimentary comments from the Examiner..
The test route covered all road types and conditions and lasted around one and a half hours. The Examiner was an ex-police class 1 driver. I found that the required spoken commentary was daunting when first tried but actually improves one's concentration levels. I'll continue to use it from time to time especially if my concentration levels drop.
All in all I found it a very worthwhile exercise and would definitely recommend it. I'm now a member of the local branch which is a great place to meet new like-minded enthusiasts of all ages and sex.
DC - Thanks again for the valuable tips you gave earlier in this thread... 
--
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
John H:
Took my IAM test yesterday in the GTS and glad to say I passed and received some very complimentary comments from the Examiner..
Many congratulations John! I'm pleased for you and glad you found it beneficial. You certainly did very well to keep within the speed limits throughout in the GTS as one transgression would have meant failure.
I must admit I didn't join our local group, I took my test whilst I was on leave (I was an engineer in the Merchant Navy at the time) and never followed it up some years later after I finally "came ashore". I'm sure I've fallen back into some bad driving habits since then though
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Porsche 997 Carrera S PDK Aqua Blue / Black - Toyota Yaris D4D "Clockwork Rat"
Dec 1, 2012 7:15:03 PM
- easy_rider911
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- Loc: London , United Kingdom
- Posts: 22190, Gallery
- Registered on: Nov 8, 2004
- Reply to: throt
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
dreamcar:
Many congratulations John!I must admit I didn't join our local group, I took my test whilst I was on leave (I was an engineer in the Merchant Navy at the time) and never followed it up some years later after I finally "came ashore". I'm sure I've fallen back into some bad driving habits since then though
Never too late to join DC - there's a Group in Southampton - http://www.iam-southampton.org.uk/index.html
Maybe a visit to one their meetings would be interesting..? 
--
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."
Re: Taking the IAM test soon...
throt:
Congrats, John..
if I see a white 911GTS causing a tail back at 30mph I know it' will be you now..lol...
Hi Keith - many thanks buddy...
BTW - I know your "tail-back" remark was a joke but just to clarify that, if anyone thinks that chugging along at 30mph at all speed limits would be acceptable, then nothing could be further from the truth..
That would definitely create an 'instant fail'.. even more so than briefly exceeding a limit. One of the prime requirements is to make good progress at all times when safe to do so. This means smooth, precise and risk-free acceleration and overtaking whilst still complying with the prevailing limits..
This also means knowing the current speed limit applicable at all points along the hour and a half route... not so easy when travelling on unfamiliar roads.!
I really think that I'm a more observant and alert driver as a result of this experience..
--
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."
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