Information for New Associates

You are here: Home / Information for New Associates

The Purpose of the Group is:

To promote road safety
To prepare Associate members for the Advanced Driving Test of the IAM.

Communication

We will provide you with a regular newsletter that, apart from motoring-related articles, will provide contact names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of Committee Members and all of the Observers.

We expect you to read the books provided during your preparation for the Test - you should read the first two chapters of 'How to be an Advanced Driver' (was Pass Your Advanced Driving Test) before your first Observed Drive.

Please inform us of any change in your contact details.

We welcome feedback so let us know if you are in any way concerned or unhappy about any aspect of the group.

Social Events

We hold a monthly social meeting (2^nd Monday of each month at the Essex Police Social Club) with speakers on various topics - largely to do with motoring. If possible, we would like you to try and attend and take an active part in the discussions.

Preparation for the test

We will:

Put your name on our waiting list. We try to match you with an Observer in your area. This matching process along with the availability of observers means that it may be a couple of months before we can get you started.

Pass on your details to one of our observers and they will contact you to arrange a mutually suitable time and location for a first drive. Appointments for subsequent drives will be made at the end of each drive.

Your observer will give you an assessment of your current driving ability and will indicate where changes should be made in order to pass the test. This feedback will take place during the drive and, in particular, during a debrief at the end.

Arrange 'Associates Evenings' with talks and presentations - and we will provide any videos / written material thay may help in your development.

Arrange for a mock test to be conducted on you by a Senior Observer when it is felt that you are ready for test.

Continue your Observed Drives for as long as it takes (within reason) for you to reach the required standard. It is difficult to be precise in stating how many drives will be required since it can vary quite substantially between individuals but mostly it is between 4 and 9 drives.

Inform the IAM when you are test-ready. Within the following week, you will receive a confirmation letter from the IAM. Shortly thereafter, an examiner will telephone you to arrange a mutually suitable time and location for a test. Please have your driving documents (licence, insurance, and MOT if applicable) with you for drives. You MUST remember to take them with you for the test.

We expect you to:

Turn up promptly for all drives. Observers are giving their own time to help you.

Go out on practice drives by yourself between observed runs.

Inform your Observer if you are unable to keep an appointment.

Take responsibility for your driving development and advise us if you are having difficulties with your preparation.

Attend the 'Associates Evenings' where talks and presentations are arranged for your education and benefit.

When you have passed the Advanced Driving Test

When you pass, you will become a full member of the Group (and the main IAM) and you will be invited, annually, to renew your membership of both bodies.

There are five things we would like you to do:

Inform your Observer that you have passed.
Consider putting something back into the Group by becoming an Observer yourself or volunteering to work on the committee.
Continue to drive in accordance with the standard that you have attained.
If you have enjoyed the process (as most do), tell others and persuade them to join.
Come to the next Group Night to be presented with your certificate.