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As Dumfries & Galloway’s leading road safety charity, we bring decades of combined experience, passion and understanding to help improve the skills and understanding of local drivers and create safer roads for everyone.
Would you like to improve your driving skills, be safer on the road and reduce your chances of having an accident?
Maybe you would like your driving/riding to be more relaxed and enjoyable so that you can confidently handle the variety of situations that you come across.
Whether you are a newly qualified driver or have many years experience, new members are always welcome – we encourage participation from young and old at all levels of experience.
Passing your driving test is just the start, but it doesn’t mean you’re the finished article. Whether you’re a driving enthusiast, someone who enjoys a challenge, or just aware that you have room to improve, if you want to fulfil your potential as a driver you’ve come to the right place.
Our Skill for Life course develops advanced driving techniques stemming from the police’s Roadcraft driving manual, helping you to improve your skills, anticipation and enjoyment behind the wheel. To date over 400,000 people have taken our Advanced Driving Test, quality assured by the DVSA.
As a charity we benefit from a network of local volunteers dedicated to raising driving standards and making the region’s roads a safer place. They are the reason that Skill for Life is possible and will take you on as many observed drives as you need to prepare for the Advanced Driving Test.
As an advanced driver and IAM member you also will benefit from exclusive insurance services provided by IAM Roadsmart in collaboration with CornMarket, the UK’s best insurance company as voted for in the 2015 Auto Express Driver Power Awards.
Well I have always been interested in driving and eventually passed my test in 2007. I looked into doing pass plus but it just didn’t seem very good. When I heard about IAM I jumped at the chance. Naturally once it came nearer to the time of my first drive, I started getting a little worried ……… silly me because it was really interesting.
The good thing about only driving for a year is that I didn’t really have a chance to build up bad habits. I guess like a lot of younger drivers though you do start to think well I’ve passed my test so I must be pretty good at this driving malarky. After a few drives, it became clear that I had a lot to learn and my observer did an excellent job of setting the pace.
One thing I did notice that kept creeping up was my driving was just far too hurried. Gear changes and clutch control were an absolute nightmare and now with a little tlc my car loves me for not being quite so brutal. Smooth and fluid have replaced jerky and rushed. Another thing to note is that with practise and a little time my reversing is so much more confident that I can do it all the time. Fantastic.
In a nutshell the IAM got me more interested in driving. It has shown me how to be a better and safer driver. I also have more knowledge about the world of driving which i can retain for the future. The people that give up their time for this are brilliant and want to make a difference. I can but try and do the same. You would be mad to pass this kind of opportunity up.
IAM I salute you! – Richard
