ADUK Archive

More for your CV and less space in the card holders of your wallet!

What is attractive about Roada is that you are graded so can try and improve and also you have to be re-tested every three years. This fits more with the ethos of advanced driving that we are all still learning.[/quote]

Is there really any advantage to being a member of both groups?[/quote]

Totally agree with both the grading and retesting advantage of RoSPA. I went on the RoSPA Dipoma course as an already 'qualified' IAM Senior Observer and found I had LOTS still to learn and improve on.

That said, if you are thinking of joining a local group both IAM & RoSPA groups vary considerably in size/ethos/professionalism so it might be a good idea to 'sample' your local groups for both organisations (you may even have more than one of each fairly close) and get a feel for which local group you feel happiest with and make your choice of national organisation based on that.

Best of luck with whichever route you choose, B

Mike B said:
........ I would say that a Rospa silver is somewhere near to an I.A.M. pass although some who I have known to pass the I.A.M. test where, I think, nearer to Roadar bronze level.

I have been told on several occassions that the I.A.M. test
is worthy of a high pass at RoADAR Bronze level.
I assume in educational terms that this means a C plus,
a B being the Silver, and an A for the Gold!!!!

If you were in the USA/Canada and wanted to join the ADA
(Advanced Drivers of America) you would be offered
their Bronze Membership as equivalent for the UK I.A.M. pass.
RoADAR Silver or higher will get their full membership
More about their awards at:
http://driveandstayalive.com/z-ada/ada-memb.htm

Be interested to know if anyone knows for sure how these
awards are graded.

Alan

NalaGee wrote:I have been told on several occassions that the I.A.M. test
is worthy of a high pass at RoADAR Bronze level.

I think the way to look at it is the way to achieve a pass in either of the tests is the same, however, the advantage of RoADA is that you can be recognised for driving better than a pass standard, unlike IAM

Chris

An IAM pass is about the same standard as a RoSPA Silver. To gain either a driver has to drive 'systematically' as per Roadcraft. If they can not drive systematically for the duration of the test they should fail the IAM test but could get a RoSPA Bronze grade. A RoSPA Gold would be awareded to someone who can drive to a high standard for the duration of the test with no blips in the standard.

Which really is not difficult. It just takes a bit of time. There should be very little errors if you call yourself an advanced driver.

keats52 wrote:Is there really any advantage to being a member of both groups?

I did it purely to get more observed driving. Has worked out quite well although obviously more money to begin with.

Thought it might be a tad unethical as the observers' time is given free. Hopefully I should get through my first test a bit quicker to compensate though.

MGF wrote:Thought it might be a tad unethical as the observers' time is given free.

Why unethical? I had no qualms about doing RoADA after IAM.
There's always more stuff to learn and tips to pick up.

I just thought maybe i'm taking up an observer's time that could be spent on someone else.

One Roada group told me there was a 5 month wait for observers.

I take your point though, so long as you're taking it seriously and learning then that is the main thing.