Why choose the IAM RoadSmart Advanced Rider Course?
Today, we asked why choose the IAM RoadSmart Advanced Rider Course?
There are various choices out there, often advertised within your local motorcycle dealership or cafe. What makes the IAM RoadSmart Advanced Rider Course stand out from the rest?
Let’s break it down...
Shaun Cronin, Dorset Police, retired as a police inspector. He spent a fair chunk of his 20 year career particularly involved in all things road and traffic division. He is the Regional Service Delivery Team Manager for IAM RoadSmart. Additionally, he has been involved in delivering BikeSafe, DocBike courses and more during his time in the force and after. He does it for the sheer love of helping others during his spare time.
The important thing to note when you’re considering booking a course like this is where does this information come from? Who has written this course and what factual backing does this course have? We’re going to take a look at what sets it apart from the wider market. Shaun massively emphasised the importance of understanding how the Advanced Rider Course logbook was born, so that’s where we’ll start.
Firstly, as is used in police forces across the UK, there is a version for both 2x wheels and 4x – the Motorcycle Roadcraft Handbook. This book is studied by officers and emergency services, working across the nation. It ensures a wide variety of skills on the road and teaches how to make the most of the road related to their vehicle.
“The provenance of what we do in the Advanced Rider Course is all pulled from the Motorcycle Roadcraft. So it has a provenance in the teaching that is given to emergency services riders. Of course, excluding response and pursuit!”
“Our Advanced Rider Course logbook is an easy read, distilled from the learnings and skills taught in the Motorcycle Roadcraft handbook to be used in day-to-day life. This book is brought to life by our qualified Observers, who also have extensive knowledge of the bigger book – Motorcycle Roadcraft.”
The Advanced Rider Course runs across the UK with a host of individuals running the course in all areas. These folks are called ‘Observers’. You may have heard of this, often found in motorcycle dealerships on test ride days offering a pre-planned route. But who are the Observers?
“The crucial thing about our national Observers is that they’re all qualified volunteers. A team of only 7 of us in the UK ensures our volunteers are qualified by the IMI (Institute of Motor Industry). So our volunteer Observers have to reach an IMI standard before they’re allowed to help others with their motorcycle.”
For example, I’m Suffolk based. Therefore, we’re lucky enough to have the Suffolk Advanced Motorcyclists and they’re formed of a huge team of Observers. They often offer the IAM RoadSmart Advanced Rider Course out of local dealerships, attending test ride events. This includes a taster of the course with a pre-planned route to get the most out of the motorcycle and more. The Observers have to renew their IMI standard checks every 5 years, so you’re in capable hands.
We asked Shaun if there is anything that commonly surprises people about doing these courses. Given the wide range of different ages, experience and size motorcycles this is open to. It was a very simple response: CORNERS!
“Cornering, without a doubt. It does not take the work of a genius to ride fast in a straight line, you just open the taps and keep heading to the horizon. That’s easy! It’s when it comes to the corners. Cornering is by far the biggest thing that people go away having improved their skills on. It’s looking far further ahead than they ever thought to. We talk about OAP – not old people! Observation, anticipation and planning. Getting our vision as far as the eye can see, gives the rider time to observe, anticipate and plan.”
“We want to give people the skills that will allow them time to react. We can help riders work out a safe speed to see them through a corner, once you’re confident in this skill – it’s truly what motorcycling is all about! We all want to be on the twisties, but we want to do it with confidence. That’s what we aim to instill in riders who do this course, confidence in themselves, confidence in the machine and confidence in the corner.”
Another delivery point the team aim to touch upon is overtaking. This can be a slightly taboo subject when it comes to 2 wheels and 4. This is partly down to the small minority who do this in an unsafe, risky manner. It involves everyone else.
“You don’t get to explore overtaking properly at the learner stage. Once you’re out in the big wide world on the big roads, how do we plan for this? It marries directly into cornering too. If you’re on a left hand bend and your speed of approach is too high because nobody has taught you, you’re potentially exiting stage right into oncoming traffic and street furniture.”
I”n my experience within the force for years, the things that kill motorcyclists in single vehicle traffic collisions are cornering and overtaking. Good cornering and the skills to prepare your speed and vision into a corner leads hand in hand to good overtaking skills.“
The aim of mastering these skills, with the advice given from the qualified Observers, is not to be ‘taught’. Instead, it’s to engage in key learnings from emergency service derived information to make the most out of the road safely. The aim in delivering these courses is to give riders a structure to improve their riding. It helps them get the best out of themselves.
“Ultimately, we want people to get out on their motorcycle, have loads of fun but most importantly – make it home at the end of the day”.
Something that runs deep in the veins of IAM RoadSmart is that every single person, whether this be a local Observer or even folks like Shaun, they are delivering these courses out of the sheer desire to help. They aim to improve road safety and rider skills. They are not doing this to benefit themselves; it is purely out of the want to help others. It keeps our roads a safer place as folks will have the skills to adapt to varying conditions. Whether this be in terms of high traffic, corner speed, overtaking and more.
Shaun’s final point, as we will address fully in our next article, is that the IAM RoadSmart Advanced Rider Course does not discriminate against age, gender, size of your motorcycle or experience. The only single requirement is that you hold an A2 licence as a minimum. It doesn’t matter if you’ve spent 5 years on your 125, or that you’ve gone straight to a 600 machine. Perhaps you don’t feel as confident as you did when you sat through your test. This is what the course is about. Or perhaps you’ve had a break for 10+ years, so your skills are there. It’s just a case of refreshing your confidence. These courses are a great asset for everyone. Every rider walks away learning something they didn’t know before.
The IAM RoadSmart Advanced Rider Course costs £219. With this, you’ll be paired with your local Group and spend the course with a qualified local Observer. You’ll have the opportunity to learn some of the framework Shaun has outlined and put it into play in your local area.
“It’s not what you ride, it’s how you ride it. That’s where we can help. Sportsbike, 125 (with a minimum of an A2 licence) we can help improve your riding, your confidence and vitally, ensure you are going home to the folks waiting for you.”
“If you’re on the fence, IAM RoadSmart offers taster sessions. To see how the rider feels and to see if they think it’s for them. Alternatively, you’ll also find that we offer the Skills Days – we truly have something for everyone but the Advanced Rider Courses are a great introduction.“
With all that in mind, take the leap. You never know what you might walk away with in terms of confidence growth, improved skills and meeting some great people on the way. All local groups run a variety of events. You might just find you meet some new friends.
You can view more information on the IAM RoadSmart Advanced Rider Course here: IAM RoadSmart Advanced Rider Course