IAM RoadSmart


The Institute Of Advanced Motorists Limited, trading as IAM RoadSmart, is a charity based in the United Kingdom, whose objective is to improve car driving standards, motorcycle riding standards, and enhance road safety by using the British police's system of car and motorcycle control. The System was devised in 1937 by racing driver Mark Everard Pepys, 6th Earl of Cottenham, to reduce accidents in police pursuits.
Results between those who do and do not pass the IAM test vary in frequency of crashes on the road.
The IAM was formed in 1956 and has over 77,000 members, all of whom have taken and passed an advanced test in a car, commercial vehicle or on a motorcycle. In 2006, the charity took over the work of the AA Motoring Trust, which had been established in 2002 by The Automobile Association. The charity brought its different activities and programmes together under one umbrella called IAM RoadSmart in 2016.

History

The organisation was formed in March 1956.
In 2006, two new assessments were introduced: DriveCheck and RideCheck. These checks provide the opportunity to have your driving or riding ability assessed by an IAM observer. DriveCheck and RideCheck are not, however, a test. There is no pass or fail. The IAM later added DriveCheck55, which offers the opportunity for people over the age of 55 to have their driving checked and receive tips from a police Class 1 driver. This was later renamed Mature Driver Review.
At the end of 2006 the organisation formed the IAM Motoring Trust and took over the work of the AA Motoring Trust which had been formed by The Automobile Association in 2002.
In 2010, the IAM published "How to be a better cyclist". However, the organisation no longer offers cycling training; this role is undertaken by Bikeability in the UK.
Market research suggested the title Institute did not appeal to younger drivers, and the charity rebranded itself as "IAM Roadsmart". In 2011, reducing the queue for the advanced test itself become a priority due to growing popularity.
The IAM also has a commercial subsidiary that provides occupational driver risk management products and services to the UK business community.
The IAM began a modernisation programme in 2015 updating its driving standards and increasing its services. On 4 April 2016, as a result of a rebrand, the charity brought its different activities and programmes together under one umbrella brand called IAM RoadSmart. None of the changes affected its charitable status.

Structure

The Institute of Advanced Motorists Limited was incorporated on 10 March 1956 as a company limited by guarantee. A separate "Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists" was registered in 2006, although it rarely or never features in IAM publications. IAM is privately owned, holding no shares. It is registered as a charitable organisation in Scotland, England, and Wales. Its official purpose is to improve the standard of driving and the promotion of road traffic safety for the public benefit, in particular by, the operation of an advanced driving test.
The institute is organised on two levels: there is a head office in Welwyn Garden City and around 180 local groups in the UK. Other groups are in Australia, Bermuda, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal and Turkey. Local groups are largely independent, setting their own fees, meeting times and places. Some groups cater for all vehicles, while others may be car or motorcycle-only.
Significant people
Nigel Mansell, a former World Champion in Formula One, became President in 2006. The Chief Executive Officer is Antony Kildare who succeeded Tony Greenidge in February 2022. Tony succeeded Mike Quinton in December 2020. Mike succeeded Sarah Sillars OBE in 2018, who replaced Simon Best in 2015.
Ambassadors
In 2017 IAM RoadSmart had a number of Ambassadors performing various roles for the charity.
Former World Rally Championship winner Paddy Hopkirk was an advocate for the Mature Driver Assessment and later became the charity's Mature Driver Ambassador.
David Gallagher was the charities Young Driver Ambassador.
Catie Munnings was the charities Driver Ambassador.
Maria Costello was the charities Rider Ambassador
and Ash Hall was appointed in 2018 as an ambassador for disabled drivers.
The charities ambassadors had varied involvement with the charity. On rare occasions such as a project with the BRDC's young racing drivers at Silverstone, they were all present.
Maria Costello as rider ambassador did about 5 engagements per year with the charity and was mostly active at the charities skills days. Catie Munnings and Ash Hall both attended large PR events but weren't hugely active within the charity. David Gallagher was the only paid ambassador and visited IAM Groups, schools, colleges, sixth forms and universities as well as representing the charity at events. Paddy Hopkirk was incredibly generous with his time and represented the charity at his ambassadorial engagements with other organisations such as BMW/MINI, BRDC, Silverstone and other organisations that he dealt with when carrying out business for his company Hopkirks. Paddy also worked very closely with Young Driver Ambassador David Gallagher and together they delivered a co-presentation to groups around the country as well as continue young driver education work once the IAM's ambassadorial programme finished.
Today none of these roles are fulfilled by any of these individuals and it seems the ambassadorial programme is no longer active within the charity.
Chairmen
Stuart Donald was elected chair in 2021 succeeding Derek McMullan, who was elected chairman in October 2019 - taking over from Ken Kier, former executive vice-president of Honda Motor Europe. Current vice-presidents of the IAM include former BBC Crimewatch presenter and safety campaigner Nick Ross and former transport minister Sir Peter Bottomley MP.
Antony Kildare was appointed chief executive officer of IAM RoadSmart in August 2022.

Membership

Anyone with a full driving licence can join IAM Roadsmart as an associate member. Full membership requires passing the IAM's advanced test. Trainees are called associates, and instructors observers.
Membership fees are paid to both head office and the local group. Full membership is renewable annually at £38 to head office, and many local groups charge around £20 yearly. Associates pay £149 once to the Head Office to join, which includes the first attempt at the advanced test.
Despite the name Advanced, only a few months' experience are necessary to become an associate. Many people report the value in joining the IAM early in their driving careers, because it helped them to avoid typical new driver accidents.
There are four levels of IAM membership, which represent the increasing skill levels. IAM entry level is considered a foundation in advanced motoring, which is easily achievable by most people. It requires only a rudimentary grasp of the police system of driving. At a higher skill level, a F1RST is awarded to those who pass their advanced test and achieve a score of 1 in virtually every category. An IAM F1RST is considered to be at least as high as standard as a RoSPA Gold. Moving up to a much higher skill level are Masters and Masters with distinction.

Notable members

The IAM's objective is to increase road safety by improving driving standards. Many people find their increased skills bring more enjoyment to driving.
The charities three main charitable aims are
  • To reduce the number of those killed and seriously injured on the roads.
  • To improve the standard of driving on the roads.
  • To administer the advanced test.

    Advanced driving test

The IAM offers an advanced driving test. It is run independently and does not affect the driving licence from the country where the associate lives. The test is significantly more difficult than the standard driving test but is within the reach of most drivers with the right guidance. The techniques are based on the UK police driving manual.
Reasons for attempting the test include improving skills, safety or simply for fun. Motor insurers normally award a small discount on premiums, but a greater insurance discount is usually found with . It may also appeal because the associate can improve their skill as an individual, avoiding default assumptions of risk based on statistics.
It is marketed under the name Skills for Life to emphasise the purpose of preventing fatalities and enhanced skills.
Research has shown advanced drivers to be safer and have better fuel efficiency too. For example, a study by Brunel University found advanced drivers who had been through the IAM system of car control were nearly 70% better in all aspects of their driving – from steering to judging distances and speed. Earlier research by the Transport Research Laboratory that concluded drivers are less likely to crash if they have reached a measurable higher driving standard. Unpublished research by IAM Surety showed that insurance claims by IAM members were far cheaper than comparable non-IAM members, because IAM members generally didn't have big accidents. Additionally – according to the Association of Motor Insurers – there is a reduction in claims for the first four years after passing the IAM test. In short, IAM members are safer drivers.
Around 400,000 people have attempted the advanced test, and the pass rate is around 75%.