IAM Pass if you just break the speed limit within tol

[Ian]

Hi Guys

I was on the train a few weeks back and I was speaking to a chap who had passed his advanced driving test some ten odd years ago through the IAM.
He said that at one point on the test whilst going down a steep hill that he just went over the speed limit by about 10%+ 3mph. So for a split second he hit 33 or 34 mph. He immediately looked at his examiner and he was looking out of the front windscreen and did not see. I was wondering what the officially policy is on this and also on the current standard DSA test. Should he have passed? What would be RoSPA's view on this as well?
Hope all have had a good Christmas.
Ian

[martine]

Ian,

It's at the discretion of the examiner...most will allow a small transgression and they have the flexibility to look at the overall drive. I think it's fair to say that if someone habitually drove in excess of the limit even by a small amount, they would fail however.

DSA? I was with a learner on test and even though they were heading 25+ (in a 20 zone) the examiner still passed them - but did comment on it during the debrief.

PS 10% + 3mph in a 30 would be 36mph.

[Horse]

During my IAM bike test I had to do almost 60 in a 30 limit to catch up with the examiner . . .

I passed, BTW.

[TripleS]

During my IAM bike test I had to do almost 60 in a 30 limit to catch up with the examiner . . .

I passed, BTW.

Well bikers are something else, ain't they!

... but not as bad as a certain (though unquantified) proportion of cyclists.

[MGF]

I was a little over 40 long enough for the examiner to comment in debrief. Advised that as it wasn't repeated and it wad marginal it was acceptable.

[Horse]

During my IAM bike test I had to do almost 60 in a 30 limit to catch up with the examiner . . .

I passed, BTW.

Well bikers are something else, ain't they!

... but not as bad as a certain (though unquantified) proportion of cyclists.

It was quite surreal; we were approaching a T with one lane each for left and right. Left lane busy, right empty, so although we were heading left I filtered up the right lane and merged four cars or so from the lights.

As I reached the line the lights changed, I stopped, examiner whizzed past and turned left.

I expected him to stop and wait. I was wrong!

[true blue]

When I did my test in Cambridge earlier this year, the examiner told me that where it was appropriate for me to be travelling up at the speed limit he would tolerate minor transgressions provided that they were minor and short-lived. Seemed like a perfectly sensible approach to me...

[Zebedee]

the examiner told me that where it was appropriate for me to be travelling up at the speed limit he would tolerate minor transgressions provided that they were minor and short-lived. Seemed like a perfectly sensible approach to me...

I believe this is normal practice for IAM 'entry level'. Seems sensible to me too.

Remember there are different IAM levels. I'd expect more accuracy would be required to achieve a F1RST and more accuracy still at Masters level.

[Graham Wright]

PS 10% + 3mph in a 30 would be 36mph.

Perhaps he missed the shift key (=/+)?

[Stephen]

I allow a certain use of discretion in this area but anymore than 5mph twice above the posted speed limit on the speedo ,then they fail as this is down to a number of competancies to be marked those being apart from legality are Observation,restraint and could incorporate Planning dependant on the circumstances.
Stephen

[martine]

I allow a certain use of discretion in this area but anymore than 5mph twice above the posted speed limit on the speedo ,then they fail as this is down to a number of competancies to be marked those being apart from legality are Observation,restraint and could incorporate Planning dependant on the circumstances.
Stephen

Sounds fair enough and matches what I believe happens "down 'ere in Bristol".

[waremark]

I feel sure that some Examiners adjust whether or not they notice the excess over the limit depending on how they assess the quality of the rest of the drive. If they are not entirely comfortable with the rest of the drive, the easiest way to explain a fail to the candidate can then be to mention the excess over the speed limit (at least one Examiner has mentioned taking this approach).

[WhoseGeneration]

WG, IAM test 1990, Examiner pre test briefing, "I expect you to obey speed limits but you can go up to 70mph to overtake". In a county with, on the route used, no NSL Motorways or dual carriageways.

[TripleS]

WG, IAM test 1990, Examiner pre test briefing, "I expect you to obey speed limits but you can go up to 70mph to overtake". In a county with, on the route used, no NSL Motorways or dual carriageways.

Hmm, sounds sensible. I expect it was North Yorkshire.

[WhoseGeneration]

WG, IAM test 1990, Examiner pre test briefing, "I expect you to obey speed limits but you can go up to 70mph to overtake". In a county with, on the route used, no NSL Motorways or dual carriageways.

Hmm, sounds sensible. I expect it was North Yorkshire.

Nope, not North Yorkshire.