The Institute of Advanced Motorists is a road safety charity and the Local Group, the Telford and Wrekin Group, operates in this area. The Group objectives are to benefit the public by promoting the improvement of driving standards and the advancement of road safety, with the aim of: -
·  Giving drivers more skill thus making them safer.
·  Increasing their enjoyment of driving or riding.
·  Lowering insurance and other driving costs.

 The Local Group runs a course that will take about 10 hours of a person’s time over a few months. Almost 100% of those completing the course pass the Advanced Driving Test. The course has two elements, a classroom session to discuss the basics of Advanced Driving and then a series of ‘runs’ in your own car with an ‘Observer’ riding with you. The Observer is a Group member who has passed their Advanced Driving Test and has undergone further training. They will help you to improve your driving up to the standard required by the Institute. When we think you are ready to take the Advanced Driving Test, following a pre-test with a Senior Observer or Chief Observer, you will proceed to the full test with an Institute appointed examiner who will be a Class1 Police Driver.

The test is taken in your own car and lasts about one and a half hours. It covers both town, country and motorway driving. At the end of the test your driving will be discussed with you and if you have reached the required standard you will be recommended for admission to the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

All observers give their time freely so the costs are for books, the test itself, membership of the Local Group and of the Institute for the first year. Membership of the Institute and the Local Group is renewable by subscription annually once you have passed the test. The one off all-inclusive cost is £85 with a £10 reduction for those under 25 years of age. You join the Local Group as an Associate Member and you can progress at your own pace by negotiation with the Observer appointed to guide you. We usually find that about 6 runs are needed to bring a driver up the required standard but some take more time and some less.

It is difficult to know what to say to people to persuade them to become Advanced Drivers. The sorts of things that people tell us are many and varied. Some say that they feel so much safer and that as an Advanced Driver they are able to stay clear of danger, some say it makes them feel happier that their partner, son or daughter is less likely to have an accident. Some tell us of near miss situations that they are convinced that before they became and Advanced Driver would have been a serious accident. All say that the skills they have learnt will stay with them forever. What we hope to do is to change the way people drive, not just the attitude of the driver but also techniques of driving. This makes the driver much less likely to have an accident and makes driving more enjoyable.

The Local Group produces a newsletter and organises social events linked to driving throughout the year. There is also a thriving Motorcycle section and riders can take their Advanced Motorcycle Test in broadly the same way as for the car drivers. Our Motorcycle section arranged a ride to Germany last year and there are rides organised during the summer months.

A committee manages the Group and there is a Chief Observer for cars and one for Motorcycles who organise the training of Observers and monitor the progress of all Associates. Once an Associate has passed the test and has been recommended for membership of The Institute they will receive the Institutes magazine three times a year and will be eligible to purchase car regalia. There is also the possibility of reduced insurance costs. We would hope that some would undertake further training to become Observers and pass on these valuable skills to others. We hope all will remain active members of the Group.