dj_efk
A2OC Donor
Hello all,
With my return from Singapore after a 9 year hiatus, during which time I barely drove at all, I have been thinking that now my wife and I have 3 young children and hence a lot more to lose, we should think about getting assessed / some tuition to improve our driving standards from a safety point of view.
This has been brought into sharp focus by an incident I had over the weekend with a full complement of wife and little ones on-board the Touran: Approaching a roundabout on an "A" road from a minor one at about 20 mph after a fun day on Charmouth beach hunting for fossils, I slowed to what seemed a reasonable speed; glanced right and it was clear, so I went for it - however just at that moment a BMW Z3 going like a bat out of hell appeared from nowhere on the previous entry, which forms part of the A road (the approach to which was concealed from where I was, apart from a short stretch immediately before the give-way line): It shot onto and squealed round the roundabout on collision course with us - necessitating an emergency stop on my part that was hard enough to almost trigger the ABS and throw everyone forwards in their seats. Cue angry wife having a go, saying I should have been more careful and slowed down on the approach etc.
Even allowing for the 1st rule of marriage (the wife is always right), she really was right upon reflection - and having calmed down and having heard myself utter the words "but he was going too fast!": It really should have been obvious that a very cautious / slow approach was needed to counter the lack of visibility down the (national limit) entry onto the roundabout - and as no matter what, the rule is we give way to the right on roundabouts regardless of whether the car involved is actually already on the roundabout or not at the time of your entry, I had to admit that I was not concentrating enough to clock the potential hazard and act accordingly. I'm determined not to make such a silly and potentially dangerous error again.
And so to my ask - who here has experience of professional assessment and tuition, would you recommend it? I did look at the IAM but if I'm honest I'm put off by the fact that it's volunteers and also the time commitment for the sessions (I understand you need at least 2 hours each time, which when added to the journey time to my nearest centre and back would represent half a day out).
Not sure whether there are other options - I found these guys but that was all really: Bespoke Driving Courses For Private Individuals (advanced-driving.co.uk) - The rest I found are either aimed at new drivers (pass plus etc.) or else at drivers who are rusty and lacking in confidence, which doesn't fit how I see myself.
Thanks!
EDIT: Quite like the sound of this one - EcoSave Eco Driving Course - Reducing Your Carbon Footprint When You Drive (advanced-driving.co.uk) - it could eventually start paying for itself in fuel savings too, plus it fits with my aim of Merlin being an eco-express; as the best eco gains start with the driver!
With my return from Singapore after a 9 year hiatus, during which time I barely drove at all, I have been thinking that now my wife and I have 3 young children and hence a lot more to lose, we should think about getting assessed / some tuition to improve our driving standards from a safety point of view.
This has been brought into sharp focus by an incident I had over the weekend with a full complement of wife and little ones on-board the Touran: Approaching a roundabout on an "A" road from a minor one at about 20 mph after a fun day on Charmouth beach hunting for fossils, I slowed to what seemed a reasonable speed; glanced right and it was clear, so I went for it - however just at that moment a BMW Z3 going like a bat out of hell appeared from nowhere on the previous entry, which forms part of the A road (the approach to which was concealed from where I was, apart from a short stretch immediately before the give-way line): It shot onto and squealed round the roundabout on collision course with us - necessitating an emergency stop on my part that was hard enough to almost trigger the ABS and throw everyone forwards in their seats. Cue angry wife having a go, saying I should have been more careful and slowed down on the approach etc.
Even allowing for the 1st rule of marriage (the wife is always right), she really was right upon reflection - and having calmed down and having heard myself utter the words "but he was going too fast!": It really should have been obvious that a very cautious / slow approach was needed to counter the lack of visibility down the (national limit) entry onto the roundabout - and as no matter what, the rule is we give way to the right on roundabouts regardless of whether the car involved is actually already on the roundabout or not at the time of your entry, I had to admit that I was not concentrating enough to clock the potential hazard and act accordingly. I'm determined not to make such a silly and potentially dangerous error again.
And so to my ask - who here has experience of professional assessment and tuition, would you recommend it? I did look at the IAM but if I'm honest I'm put off by the fact that it's volunteers and also the time commitment for the sessions (I understand you need at least 2 hours each time, which when added to the journey time to my nearest centre and back would represent half a day out).
Not sure whether there are other options - I found these guys but that was all really: Bespoke Driving Courses For Private Individuals (advanced-driving.co.uk) - The rest I found are either aimed at new drivers (pass plus etc.) or else at drivers who are rusty and lacking in confidence, which doesn't fit how I see myself.
Thanks!
EDIT: Quite like the sound of this one - EcoSave Eco Driving Course - Reducing Your Carbon Footprint When You Drive (advanced-driving.co.uk) - it could eventually start paying for itself in fuel savings too, plus it fits with my aim of Merlin being an eco-express; as the best eco gains start with the driver!
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