Advanced Driving with RoSPA – My Journey So Far
By Bill Gilliam

I’ve recently joined RoADAR, to work towards my Advanced Driving test, and was asked if I’d write a short blog about it for the magazine. Whatever stage you’re at in your driving journey, I hope you find it interesting.

Why become an Advanced Driver?
When I told friends and family that I was working towards taking the RoSPA Advanced Driving test, the first question was usually whether it was at the request of the Police, the Courts and/or my insurers (the answer was no, to all of those).  The real reason is simple: it’s been over 35 years since I passed my driving test, so a professional assessment of my skills and what I could improve (as opposed to unsolicited “feedback” from amateur back seat driving passengers) felt worthwhile. On top of that, I’ll soon be sitting alongside my teenage kids as they practice between driving lessons – and, since they challenge almost everything I say, I’d like my guidance to be grounded in best practice!

Getting started
After some research, it was clear that RoDAR offers the most comprehensive programme. A friendly chat with Mike Bell, Car Training Officer, quickly set things in motion. Mike arranged for me to have a Pre-Course Assessment (PCA) with Andy Richardson – an expert in both car driving and motorcycle riding.

I opted to use my wife’s manual VW Touran, rather than my automatic Audi Q7, at least for the first sessions, so that I could brush up on gears and be more in tune with what my kids will be driving.

How it works
Andy and I arranged a convenient time, and I was impressed by how flexible he was – especially as all RoSPA Instructors are volunteers. The PCA was a 90-minute drive on a varied North Yorkshire route that Andy had curated, combining country lanes, town driving, and the motorway.

If the PCA goes well (fortunately mine did, with a few useful pointers – see below), you can then move into regular lessons with an instructor – in my case, Andy again, which was great news.

What it’s like so far
Alongside lessons, every participant receives a copy of the Police Driver’s handbook, Roadcraft and the Highway Code. However, the real value comes when the theory is brought to life on the road, with an instructor sharing their decades of expertise and experience.

Andy’s feedback has been really constructive and practical. Whilst overall I did pretty well, I need to work on a few things, including:

• More obvious mirror use
• Less unnecessary gear changes
• Getting up to speed more swiftly

I’ve also picked up new techniques, including:

• Shoulder checks for vehicles overtaking, just before signs increasing the speed limit.
• Tyres and tarmac – leaving a car-space in front of me in queues at lights/roundabouts.
• Looking even further ahead on all roads, across bends and through gaps in hedges where possible.

Even after just the PCA and one lesson, I’ve noticed improvements in my everyday driving – from better anticipation to greater awareness of road conditions, other users, the weather and other potential hazards. On a US road trip over the summer, I felt sharper – looking further, more widely and acutely, enhancing my (and others’) safety. It also meant that I enjoyed the whole experience a lot more – even the 6+ lane freeways in LA!

Final thoughts
If you’re considering a PCA or lessons, but haven’t yet committed, I’d wholeheartedly recommend them. I can guarantee you’ll learn something! If you’re already an Advanced Driver, I expect you’ll recognise much of my experience. I hope to share another update as I progress through the lessons and towards the final exam. In the meantime, my thanks go to Andy, Mike, Martin and the wider RoADAR team for all the time and energy they put into helping us become safer, more skilful drivers. It’s very much appreciated!

Advanced Driving with RoSPA – The Next Stage
By Bill Gilliam

Since my first blog, my advanced driving journey with RoADAR has continued through the remaining chapters of Roadcraft and beyond. Over several sessions with Andy Richardson, and being joined by each of Glyn Jones and Mike Bell on a drive, we worked through every chapter of Roadcraft (the Police Driver’s Handbook), with regular reviews of the Highway Code.  While the books are helpful, the real value comes from applying the theory in practice – bringing it all to life on the road with instructors who have years of expertise and experience.  The sharing of that knowledge and insight is done constructively and positively – you won’t get smacked round the back of the head with a clipboard, but you will get feedback as to where you can improve.  Every week brought new scenarios, with a different route and new hazards (from potato-laden tractors to temporary road closures).  I learned and experienced something new every time.  Good practice started becoming second nature, and bad habits were left behind.

Each area was explored in depth, in a really engaging way, building on the last session every time, with practical feedback and real-world examples. I’ve been driving for over 38 years with a relatively blemish-free record, but there was still lots to learn – and benefit from! I now look much further ahead – and around and about (including cross scans and reflections) – taking that information and using it to optimise my position, speed, gear and acceleration. The training can be challenging, but that’s what makes it so rewarding – you really do get out what you put in.

I was delighted to achieve a Gold pass, with my exam conducted by Glenn Hardaker and Paul Haigh, who have over 80 years of police driving experience between them. Their feedback was invaluable and reinforced the importance of ongoing learning. So, my journey isn’t over—I’ll continue developing my skills and hope to repeat the Gold pass in three years’ time. I’m really grateful to all those in the RoADAR group who’ve supported my advanced driving journey so far. Particular gratitude goes to Andy for his excellent training and encouragement over many months.

If you’re considering advanced driver training, I cannot recommend it highly enough.   It’s a genuinely enjoyable and transformative experience, no matter how long you’ve been driving, or how much you think you already know.  If you’re not sure, have a go with an initial assessment session – it’ll open your eyes!