RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders (RoADAR) aims to reduce road accidents by encouraging an interest in road safety and by improving driving standards, knowledge and skill. To accomplish this goal, RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders has more than 50 local groups that will provide free training to help you improve your driving skills and prepare you to take the ultimate Advanced Test.
Everyone thinks that advanced training is expensive but joining a local training group can cost you as little as £20. You will meet other people, take part in social activities and work with a personal trainer to devise a training course in preparation for the Advanced Test.
So, the website says……, what’s it really like?
Having chatted to Gemma from ROSPA who has “kindly volunteered” to pop along to Uffington in March 2019 and with this in mind, I thought I would give it a go to see just how rusty I was following my IAM assessment 10 years ago……
I met up with my instructor Mark Benians at North Oxford Garage and was immediately put at ease, with a gentle chat about experience, riding style, etc!
An initial introductory assessment then took place, simply following me as I went North towards Blenheim and then further into the countryside. A quick stop allowed me to catch up with Mark’s first observations which focused heavily on safety first, safer to speed up a little and maximise information and observation. Using the information before me, I could accelerate progressively and safely after the speed limit signs. The detail and information available was amazing, contributing to a safe, enjoyable and progressive ride – I was catching on that forward observation and a more progressive attitude using the available information was making progress more swift!
More sessions followed over the summer and into the autumnal months covering bike preparation, highway code (rule 130 is my favourite!) IAmSafe, IPSGA, overtaking etc and I suddenly realised just how much information I was now taking in and how self-critical I was becoming having been shown the techniques.
It was a fascinating reminder into how useful these courses are in really sharpening up your riding, observation and awareness! Well worth the couple of hours investment each time and terribly nice people too, who seem to know excellent motorcycling routes and the best coffee shops……
Off to have a check ride prior to having a Police Officer following me, hopefully without the blue lights…..
ROSPA: https://www.rospa.com/safety-training/on-road/advanced/drivers/
Highway Code https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/The-Official-DVSA-Highway-Code-2015-by-Driver-and-Vehicle-Standards-Agency-DVSA-Great-Britain/213444186?iid=292003416295&chn=ps
Originally posted 2018-12-19 12:30:56.
