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[Auto Addict]

As some of you will remember, I past my RoSPA advanced driving test about 18 months ago.

It involved first of all joining the local group, attending Sunday assessment meets, being allocated a tutor, and then, when ready applying for the test.

I was lucky in the fact that my tutor was the chief instructor for the WM fire service, great bloke, and what he didn't know you could write on the back of a postage stamp.

Unfortunately, not all assessors have his all round knowledge of cars and gearboxes.

To become an assessor/tutor, you have to take a course run by the local group, to strict RoSPA standards, and if you pass you can become an assessor/tutor, it's normally run by the two most senior tutors of the group (who also need to be committee members).

Now, the bloke who tutored me is not a committee member, so is not involved with the assessor/tutor course.

I decided to take the course, but decided to drop out, as the senior guy (who has never driven an automatic) told me during an assessment drive, when I was crawling in traffic, he would like me to select first gear! I pointed out that it was in first gear as it was an automatic, but he still insisted I engage first gear.

Now, this guy is a great driver, I've sat in the passenger seat with him, but, what a plonker!

Just couldn't bothered  to argue.

[ScottieMV6]

I too have passed the RoSPA course and was very impressed with the knowledge and skills of the tutor.

My test was conducted by the then chief instructor of GMP traffic police. To say I was nervous was an understatement. Managed to get a gold award though.

I would love to be a tutor and considered the course but I can't commit to every sunday so haven't bothered so far.

Why the hell would you engage first gear in an auto though? Did he explain his thinking? Did he then want you to go through 2nd and then to D or could you go straight back to D when you moved off?   :-/ :-/

[tunnie]

when i first passed i went for a few of these meetings with similar society, the IAM i think it was?

Institute of 'Advance' motorists, i say 'Advance' because the 'tutors' there where the worst drivers i had ever seen.

Overtaking on sections i would not even do so on the bike, you could see a massive queue of cars ahead (10+) but this women still over took just 1 car very dangeriously.

[Chris_H]

There are occasions in traffic when I pull down to hold in first.  On a motorway, for instance, where there is stop/start traffic in all lanes.  The auto box cannot possibly work out what I know - that I will be pulling forward and stopping again repeatedly.

These are very simplistic devices with no look-ahead whatsoever although this could come through GPS gradient-mapping or even radar.  Heaven helps us when one of those gets faulty!

I did IAM without training in 1975 and should do an appraisal some time.  Was wondering about ROSPA for the bike just to sample a different camp.

I was on the IAM discussion list for some time.  There were some very good people on there but it was surprisingly-highly populated with people who took the law into their own hands then.  Hopefully it's better now.

[Kevin Wood]

Does this organisation have no "instructor's manual" to ensure consistency is applied?

I know that in gliding, for example, there is a very hefty manual dictating precisely how instructors teach students to fly, even down to the exact terminology to use when describing aspects of flying.

This is not because it's necessarily dangerous for pilots to have their own opinions and "ways of doing things" but because a pupil might fly with a number of different instructors and a lack of consistency can be dangerous and will be frustrating, in exactly the kind of circumstances AutoAddict has highlighted.

Personally I can't see much point in having an automatic gearbox if you're going to make the obvious decisions on its' behalf. Now, knowing the situations when an auto won't necessarily select the right gear and intervening only then is what shows real roadcraft.

How can someone who's never driven an auto instruct in one? 

Kevin

[Chris_H]

Personally I can't see much point in having an automatic gearbox if you're going to make the obvious decisions on its' behalf.

Kevin I don't disagree with your posting but it's easy to think the wrong way round about the auto box.  It is supposed to be serving me so if it does the wrong thing then there is no shame in doing it better myself.

[crazyjoetavola]

Personally I can't see much point in having an automatic gearbox if you're going to make the obvious decisions on its' behalf.

Kevin I don't disagree with your posting but it's easy to think the wrong way round about the auto box.  It is supposed to be serving me so if it does the wrong thing then there is no shame in doing it better myself.

....that's a reasonable enough point Chris but the bit you left off Kevin's original comments is highly applicable

Now, knowing the situations when an auto won't necessarily select the right gear and intervening only then is what shows real roadcraft.

[Auto Addict]

when i first passed i went for a few of these meetings with similar society, the IAM i think it was?

Institute of 'Advance' motorists, i say 'Advance' because the 'tutors' there where the worst drivers i had ever seen.

Overtaking on sections i would not even do so on the bike, you could see a massive queue of cars ahead (10+) but this women still over took just 1 car very dangeriously.

RoSPA is a more difficult test, to keep it up you have to re-take your test every 3 years.

IAM you only take the test once for life.

The less you use the selector mechanism on an auto, the less wear and tear it gets.

The current thinking amongst police and firemen is, when stationary, leave it in drive, and apply the handbrake.

[Pippin]

I agree totally with the sentiments of leaving it in gear and setting the handbrake, when i completed my advanced refresher with West Mercia we used an auto and thats what we were advised to do.

Regarding the RoSPA Advanced test, i took my three year re-test again yesterday and was sucessfully re-awarded the Gold...phew (could have been a bit of micky taking if i hadn't got it...)

Phill

[Chris_H]

i took my three year re-test again yesterday and was sucessfully re-awarded the Gold

Congratulations.  No mean feat.

I think ROSPA have the right idea but IAM is good to have there as another level of good-driving incentive.

[Vamps]

I am an IAM member.  Took my Test with an examiner from the Met Police, when I was living in Hertford. Passed in 1992 iirc.  Used to attend local groups down there, but never bothered since returning North.

My younger brother is a Rospa Instructor for Motorbikes.

[Auto Addict]

I agree totally with the sentiments of leaving it in gear and setting the handbrake, when i completed my advanced refresher with West Mercia we used an auto and thats what we were advised to do.

Regarding the RoSPA Advanced test, i took my three year re-test again yesterday and was sucessfully re-awarded the Gold...phew (could have been a bit of micky taking if i hadn't got it...)

Phill

Well done

[ScottieMV6]

I agree totally with the sentiments of leaving it in gear and setting the handbrake, when i completed my advanced refresher with West Mercia we used an auto and thats what we were advised to do.

Regarding the RoSPA Advanced test, i took my three year re-test again yesterday and was sucessfully re-awarded the Gold...phew (could have been a bit of micky taking if i hadn't got it...)

Phill

Well done

Yes Well done Phill. 

[Pippin]

Thanks all...as i said i would have been in for some pi$$ taking if i had not of got it...