The Associate Scheme

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

The Institute of Advanced Motorists is a national organisation that promotes safer driving and provides an advanced driving test for members of the public.  Each local IAM group runs its own scheme to help drivers to improve their driving skills and so maximise their chances of success when they take the test.

WHAT WILL IT COST ME?

Currently £139 (£20 diccount available for the under 26's).  Salford & Manchester Advanced Motorists receives ?30 of this, which covers Associate Scheme expenses (administration, insurance etc.) and entitles you as an Associate Member to the items detailed below.  The remainder is used by the Institute of Advanced Motorists to cover your test fee and one year’s subscription to the IAM, which is refunded if you fail your test 

Any application for refund should be sent to the Institute in London.

WHY DOES IT ALL COST SO LITTLE?

Our Group is a voluntary organisation with no paid staff. The Observers are unpaid volunteers, motivated by the wish to help to make roads safer.

WHAT DO I GET?

• A TRAINING PACK containing:
  - ‘How to be an Advanced Driver’ (the official IAM handbook)
  - The Highway Code,
  - Our own Associate Handbook (with notes on basic Advanced Driving techniques),
  - A test application form
  
  
• An ‘INTRODUCTORY EVENING’ to explain the five point system of Advanced Driving and give you the opportunity to have any further questions answered.
  
  
• A Series of EIGHT OBSERVED RUNS offering guidance in Advanced Driving techniques provided by qualified volunteer members of the IAM
  
  
• A CALENDAR of dates when your Observed runs need to be completed by
  
  
• A WRITTEN REPORT provided by your Observer after each session, showing the standard you have reached in some forty aspects of Advanced Driving, along with the Observer’s advice on what follow-up work and practice you need before the next run.
  
  
• THE GROUP NEWSLETTER, which is published regularly.

WHAT WILL I HAVE TO DO?

Our coach's give guidance to Associates in a series of ‘runs’. These take place at mutually convenient times, within a two week time-frame. This is to ensure all associates are at the same stage throughout the course. You will drive your own car, with your coach as passenger, on a run lasting between 40 and 90 minutes. We may ask you to share a run, being a passenger for half the time in another associates car, and driving yourself with the coach and the other associate for the other half. During the time between runs, we expect that you will work on improving your driving and do any ‘homework’ that your coach will give you. At the end of the course, you will take the IAM test.

WHEN CAN I START?

Salford & Manchester Advanced Motorists run 3 courses of eight observed runs per year, commencing in January, May and September.

WHAT’S MY NEXT STEP?

Purchase the 'skill for life' from the IAM, and then complete the on-line registration form

AFTER THE TEST

On passing the Advanced Driving Test, you become a full member of the IAM. You also receive free membership of Salford & Manchester Advanced Motorists until the April following your Test success. The Group’s annual membership subscription is currently ?9.00.

Members who would like to pass on their new skills to others may train with us as Coach's. Our groups Training Team will ensure you will receive all the support you need to develop your new skills and become a qualified Coach.

FINALLY

We hope that we have answered your questions. If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.