Now that I've retired from official service to them, I can comment freely. There are two IAM RoadSmart clubs in Gloucestershire. One is Cheltenham and Cotswold Advanced Motorcyclists (CCAM), of which I was a founding member, and I recently stepped down as Chief Observer from Severn Advanced Motorcyclists (SAM), due to health issues. This is no reflection on the club at all - I'd been with them since passing the 'test' in 2007, and I'm still a member. The 'test' is actually not a test in the sense of the ministry test that you take to get on the road - the only real 'consequence' of not passing is the hit to your pride. If you pass it, it means you're invited to join the IAM RoadSmart as a full member. If you don't pass, you can re-do it as many times as you like (but have to pay each time for the test, but not the overall training). SAM makes sure that people are well above test standard before they apply for test so that even if they're having a bad day they will still pass. The historical problem that IAM had was that different clubs applied the syllabus in different ways, to different levels of rigor. A while back (2012 ?), this was recognised and steps were taken to make better, more structured, more easily repeatable training. About 4/5 years ago, it underwent an overhaul and became much more corporate, with the qualifications becoming 'proper' (i.e. an external examination body for the trainers and a much more formal structure for progression - much more akin to an NVQ) and the manual being given an overhaul. It's not perfect but it's getting better and better all the time, with feedback from the Observers/candidates, but the key thing is that the level of training is now absolutely standardised and should be very, very similar from club to club (which really wasn't the case 10 years ago).
Thanks for that. You say that there are two clubs but you mention three: one in Chelts, CCAM, and Severn Advanced Motorcyclists. I'm in Berkeley and so Gloucester is closer than Chelts. Which would be the nearest club to me (I am about 12 miles south of Gloucester)?
Wouldn't make any difference. I still have a claim against me and no driving license. My sol is off this week but I've asked for advice. As everybody is waiting with baited breath, I'll share the answer!
Passed my IAM test last year, well worth it IMO. I've been riding for 50 years if you include off road prior to getting my FS1E. Have done a few days training with various organisations along the way, Bike safe for example, and ridden with many riders who are either IAM or ROSPA trained/qualifed/observers etc. including Mac Brushing up skills and honing a system of forward observation and planning has surely got to be a good thing? Not only did I get a First but have apparently been made associate of the year 2019 by my group for getting 100% on test. Can't help but be pleased with that. They only found this out early this year and I didn't make the meeting to be presented with the award and then lockdown happened. No doubt I'll fall off in the car park of the Motorcycle Museum (I'm with the Birmingham group, BAM, we have our meetings there) leaving when we meet again. There is still some disparity between groups, maybe not so much in the training these days but certainly the characters that make up the committee and the general membership. Some stuffed shirtedness still abounds, it's inevitable. I find BAM a good mix TBH and despite moving a little further away will certainly be continuing with them for my Masters.
