What are the benefits?
These are some of the benefits enjoyed by advanced drivers and riders after training with Gloucestershire Advanced Drivers And Riders:
Increased safety; keep yourself, your passenger(s) and other road users safe
Reduced risk; using anticipation and planning skills
Increased awareness; being more observant and using enhanced handling
skills to anticipate changes around you
Increased passenger comfort; with good forward planning and anticipation,
your driving / riding will become smoother and more relaxed
More enjoyment; experience the satisfaction of driving / riding from A to B more
smoothly with more time to react to the unexpected
Greater control; by understanding and knowing how to deal with the various
forces that affect your vehicle
Increased confidence; learn how to anticipate and deal with expected and the
unexpected road and traffic situations
Reduced wear and tear; get more out of your vehicle by learning advanced
machine control methods
Discounted insurance; many insurance companies offer a discount to
advanced drivers / riders
Save money on fuel; using defensive driving / riding and forward planning
techniques to achieve greater control and better fuel efficiency
Enhance your CV; gain a professional qualification you can put on your CV
What is advanced driving / riding?
Advanced driving / riding is the ability to control the position and speed of the vehicle safely, systematically and smoothly, using road and traffic conditions to progress unobtrusively with skill and responsibility.
This skill requires a positive but courteous attitude and a high standard of driving / riding competence based on concentration, effective all-round observation, anticipation, and planning. This must be co-ordinated with good handling skills.
An advanced driver / rider will always have their vehicle in the right place on the road, at the right time, travelling at the right speed with the correct gear engaged and can always stop safely on their own side of the road in the distance they can see to be clear (DSA, RoADAR, IAM, 1997).
What will you learn?
Our driver / rider training is provided on a one-to-one basis. All our tutors are volunteers and have passed the advanced driving / riding test, hold a current tutor qualification and are registered with RoADAR HQ.
You will learn how to drive / ride:
Safely – By being safer you give yourself more time to react, to both expected
and unexpected situations, and improve your own and passenger confidence in
your ability.
Systematically – By doing things in a systematic way, one thing at a time,
you will learn how to ensure your vehicle is in the right place, at the right speed,
in an appropriate gear and capable of being stopped, on your own side of the road,
in the distance you can see to be clear. We use the Police System of Car /
Motorcycle Control acronym IPSGA (Information, Position, Speed, Gear, Acceleration).
Smoothly – By learning how to use vehicle controls in a smoother, and more
controlled, way you and any passenger will feel more comfortable and relaxed.
At an appropriate Speed – Learn how to drive at the appropriate speed, making
progress and showing restraint when necessary.
Training is free for car drivers who use their own vehicle with an assigned Tutor.
Motorcyclists pay a £10 contribution toward the Tutor’s costs per training session.
It’s important that you to commit time to regular training sessions.
The RoSPA advanced test is widely regarded as the highest civilian driving / riding standard available. The test is based on the Police Foundation publication 'Roadcraft: The Police Drivers Handbook' or 'Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Riders Handbook' and the Highway Code. A thorough understanding of both Roadcraft and the Highway Code will be required to pass the test at a high standard.
Gold is only awarded to the driver / rider who shows a consistently high standard of driving / riding throughout the test. The driver / rider will demonstrate a confidence in their ability together with a thorough understanding of the principles contained in Roadcraft / Motorcycle Roadcraft and how to apply those principles to situations that occur during the test.
Silver is awarded to candidates who display a skill level well above the average. They will show a thorough understanding of the principles contained in Roadcraft / Motorcycle Roadcraft and how to apply those principles to situations that occur during the test. The driver / rider will make safe systematic progress however not demonstrating the consistency, final polish and smoothness of the Gold grade candidate.
A Bronze grade will be awarded to those candidates who show that they have an understanding of, and the ability to apply, the principles of advanced driving / riding demonstrating a good level of observations and anticipation, but not doing so consistently throughout the test. They will however drive / ride in a safe and legal manner, to a standard that is significantly above that required to pass the appropriate DVSA test.
