Shout From The Roof Tops

I want to shout from the rooftops about an excellent half–day TVR motoring tuition that I had recently with Ride Drive. For four–hours it was just me, a serving police driver (who was great company), our 4–litre Chimaera and the open road. By the end of the session I had gained confidence and road awareness more than I could have imagined. Excellent value at just £130!

So, what’s a nervy female doing driving a Blackpool Beast in the first place? Well, 4–years ago I had a humbling 5–points on my driving licence due to a careless incident, when I drove our Ford Probe (which was lovely, so don't ridicule) into a car I didn’t see. The accident broke the car and my pride, but not bones thank goodness.

I Thought I Was a Good Driver

I thought I was a good driver, as I did have an unblemished record, but eventually I pulled myself back together, recognised my fallibility, took ‘advanced’ driving lessons and passed the IAM test in our ‘ordinary’ motor.

This is the first thing that I would recommend to ANY driver, whether they have a Chimaera or a Corsa. Attending better driving courses, and taking the advanced test, takes one to a new level of road awareness and encourage progressive, assertive driving.

Positive driving is achieved without the rage and the aggression that is so easy to develop on any school run, let alone motorway trip. And no, I am not typing this with a head–girl attitude. I thought I was a great driver before I had my mishap, but I don’t now. I am not complacent just because I have done a few extra lessons.

Once the IAM was behind me, it was time for more creativity and fun to feature on the motoring front. At the time I took the Ride Drive course I had driven the TVR only a handful of times. I did this deliberately so that (hopefully) I hadn’t developed many bad habits, and I recommend this strategy to ALL newcomers to TVR’s to do the course as soon as you can, because £130 is much cheaper than the emotional and financial cost of repairing a damaged car and damaged pride.

The Ride Drive 4–Hour Advanced Driving Course

The 4–hour session with Ride Drive focuses on the things that you personally want to get out of driving, therefore there is no point droning on about what I did. Basically we covered a great deal on being relaxed behind the wheel, road positioning and overtaking, which were my weaker points, and without breaking any laws of the Highway Code I had fun and I learnt a lot.

The Ride Drive advanced driving course is also relevant to more experienced drivers, especially those who don’t fancy the idea of IAM training; the observers, who are all serving or ex–traffic police, go over the critical aspects of progressive driving, road positioning and awareness. We all think we do these brilliantly until someone more expert points out (tactfully) what we can do much better!

If you want to take the car beyond the constraints of the Highway Code, you can take a course with Ride Drive that involves track and road work. This sounds excellent for anyone who wants to know what they are doing before they go on a proper track day. I am saving up for it.

It Isn’t The Car That Makes The Driver

Just because you own a fast car doesn’t mean you should always drive it at the limits. Even if sitting in a TVR makes you look like a good driver, it doesn’t mean you are good driver. There is nothing self–righteous about improving your driving skills and learning about your strengths and weaknesses behind the wheel.

Advanced driver training doesn’t make you infallible, but there is no coincidence that people with advanced skills have fewer accidents and are being given discounts on motoring insurance – even if like me, they have had points on their licence.

Linda Edmondson
Rustington,
Sussex

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This page was last updated
Thursday, 09-Dec-2010

Shout From The Roof Tops