National Driver Improvement Scheme (long)

[BillyC]

Well, following my pulling over by the cops in November (see here), I finished my Driver Improvement course today.

Avoiding Court, it certainly seems like a soft option, and it is. However it is a bit of a pain in the ****. At £180, and two days out of work, it's not necessarily a cheap option either.

So my course was held up in Buckhurst Hill, on the far reaches of the Central Line. Not exactly convenient to get to. It was based from the Holiday Inn Express, which wasn't exactly great. There was 20 people on my course, plus 3 interpreters! Those attending ranged from some 18 year old kid who'd just passed his test, all the way up to gents in their sixties. Of all those attending, just two of us hadn't been in an actual accident - me and one other guy. Ironically we were both bikers - read into that what you will.

The morning of day 1 was spent in the classroom, being drilled with the usual ****. All stuff you know, and a few bits of pieces that you didn't - nor did you need to know but at least it was interesting.

The afternoon of day 1 saw three people to one car with an instructor. So I spent two hours sitting in the back of some guy's astra being driven around who knows where in Essex. Finally got about 45 minutes behind the wheel - not exactly allowing a good assessment of one's driving - the roads were getting busy, the light was fading. But nevertheless, comments had to be passed like accellerating too quickly, not braking soon enough, blah blah blah. I didn't feel it was a particularly sympathetic commentary of the drive, but I think I was conscious all the time that I had to give him something to comment on.

This morning, day 2, started out with a basic Highway Code test - 14 multiple choice questions clearly designed to catch those out that passed their tests 40 years ago and pay little attention to the details of the road. Passed that, so off we head to the cars again. My turn behind the wheel first, and now I've a much better idea of what this instructor wants to see. So 50 minutes of commentated perfect smooth sunday driving later, I'm given "good" ticks in all the categories and signed off. Another two hours in the back of the car later and we get back to base and are sent on our way after a rather pathetic debrief.


So do I feel I got anything out of it? Not really. Did I learn anything new? Nope. Generally I think that for £180 we should have received a one-to-one instruction and assessment. These courses are being run by a private company that must be raking the cash in - and the cops are generating them loads of business.

One of the boys there slid his van on some diesel in the road, and bumped a parked car at 5mph. He got out, appologised to the driver waiting in the car, gave her his details, and got back in his van to drive away - it had only been a little bump. Passing plod on the street stuck his nose in and decided to do him - totally unnecessarily it seems. Another guy there, truck driver pranged a lady in a car who was trying to undertake him and go off a slip road despite his indications. The lady was prosecuted and he was given the all clear in writing by the cops - but suddenly finds himself being hauled on this course.

And the other biker? Caught doing a wheelie down Oxford St.

If I learnt anything - don't give the cops an excuse to pull you over.

[Biker Biggles]

All done and dusted.No conviction,and clean license.You will save what it cost you come insurance renewal time and the private firm rakes in the dosh.Everyone's a winner,except it leaves a nasty taste.What a corrupt system.

[Luckypants]

Well given your views on the merits of being pulled over and the reasons other folks are on the course, perhaps you should have disputed the 'claim' you were driving badly?

My daughter was sent on one of these courses and found it of value (she was a relatively new driver) and had committed an act of bad driving which injured a biker (was a SMIDSY), so for her was a good way to avoid points. It also reminded her she was not a good driver just cos she passed her test and that she needed to keep learning. Three years later, she is a quite good driver.

I think the above shows that for some folks, the course is useful.

Did you happen to meet an older gent called Brian by any chance who a security manager!! A colleague from work was on a course today too, and I think it was the same centre!!

You do wonder on the value of some of these courses.

After a shockingly bad day (long story, don't ask), I was driving out of the maze that is Milton Keynes and got flashed by a speed camera. Knowing how the day had gone, I knew it was going to give me a ticket.

Sure enough, it did- 37 in a 30. So I got the option ("However, it is our intention to educate rather than prosecute")- a speed awareness course (Ask Frank?! ) for £70, or 3 points and £60.

You can see where this is going, can't you?....

Some of it was quite educating regarding speed and accidents, it was my first go of one of the DVLA interactive tests (like the hazard awareness), based on things like speed and distance to car in front. But the trouble with this whole thing is that no matter how potentially enlightening these courses can be, you always feel like you are being condescended to and that a portion of the presentation is let down by the impression that the person doing the 'teaching' is a bit too matter of fact about it, so it's quite easy to feel like you came away feeling that you wasted your time and money...

Still- better than having points I spose

I'd have rather done that then my 4 points 250 quid, or the 5 points and 450 quid. Come off this year... woo hoo.

Billy, am I reading that correctly- they busted you on a bike, but your course and appraisal was conducted for cars?

What a silly idea. I can see that we have a dual car and bike licence, but really the two have little to do with one another. I know people who regularly do "go to prison" speeds on bikes, but seldom speed other than on motorways/dual carriageways when in a car (and even then only by 10-15mph). What if you hadn't had a car licence and only rode bikes, would it have still not been to do with bikes?

Did the instructor know why each of you was there so they could focus on fixing your particular bad habits(?) (not saying what you did was wrong billy- I reckon you needn't of been there)

I also think the £180 is taking the mick a bit. IAM's skills for life course including test costs that and that's about 20 hours of assessed 1:1 rides and about 8 hours of classroom sessions spread over 6 days. This course hardly seems good value for money.

[BillyC]

Ceri

Yes, you read absolutely correctly. <prepare>

I was pulled up on my bike, but allowed to do the course in a car. I could have done the course on a bike - but I would have had to provide the bike. Being that my bike is currently off the road (pending MOT and gixxer front end), and I would still have had to pay £180 - I opted for them to provide the transport.

The instructor's communication skills were poor at best. It is no surprise to me that he does not teach Learner drivers any more, as I can see that he may have had little success explaining to them the necessary concepts and skills to pass their tests. Most of his communication with us was inferred - "you know what I mean", "...like", "...isn't it" etc.

I found his instruction hesitant, and badly timed. Giving "turn right at the roundabout" when I've already had to assume I'm going straight on, and then have to recheck my space, indicate, change position etc etc. isn't very helpful when under "assessment".

He initially showed an interest why we were all there, but this obviously wore off after talking to the first of the three of us. I'm concerned that he openly explained that he wouldn't try and get us out of any "habits" we'd developed with our driving - clearly missing the other two drivers missing basic checks like lifesavers/blind spots, indication, steering technique etc. On the second drive that was supposed to involve a commentary - one of the guys didn't utter a word, and clearly didn't get anything out of it. I'm not saying I'm perfect, but at least I know lane discipline, how to go around a roundabout, what the speed limit is on a motorway etc etc.

Finally, it's appalling value for money. It is a token push in the right direction, and an opportunity for a private company to make a killing, and benefit from business opportunities supplied by the Police. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few dozen traffic cops on back-handers by this company for the number of people they successfully referred to this kind of course. For £180 I could have had a day long one-to-one advanced driving lesson - more personal, more effective, more constructive, and considerably more beneficial - no concept of pass/fail, just overall improvement.

Yes I'm a bit bitter about being there in the first place, but as a "customer" I wanted something a bit more thorough for my cash. In my situation, as a biker, they should have put me on a Bikesafe - more would have been gained from this without any question.

Meanwhile, the people who sit in the middle lane/outside lane of clear motorways, those who don't indicate, those that read a paper whilst driving, those that don't know what a mirror is apart from looking at themselves, are perfectly good enough to be considered good drivers..

Makes you laugh doesn't it.....

I would really consider being a driving insructor, but having to pay out for the course, then the extra for advanced courses etc, and that most young people wouldn't want that extra tuition due to the costs, it just isn't worth it