• You’ve passed your Advanced Driving Test, so what’s next?
• Find out about becoming an Observer

After you pass the Advanced Driving Test you may be thinking about what’s next. How about training to become an Observer for MYAM? It is one sure way of keeping those skills refreshed and is thoroughly rewarding, especially when you get that call from your Associate to say “I’ve passed”.

If you are interested, read on.

Firstly you need to make your wish known to any of the Observers, who will then put you in touch with the Chief Observer.

After an initial discussion about what it means to become an Observer, we’ll register you with The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) which oversees the IAM RoadSmart Observer qualification. You’ll also receive a copy of the latest Advanced Drivers Course Logbook and most importantly the Car Observer’s Guide. These contain the detail and the theory that you’ll need to learn and put into practice.

Initially the Observer training starts with sitting in the back of an Associates car with an Observer sitting in the front. There will usually be 2 or 3 drives like this giving you the opportunity to listen to the Observer and take notes of how they interact with the Associate. After each drive the Observer will debrief you giving you opportunity to ask questions. Once they are happy that you understand the basics you will move onto the next stage.

This will be on the road training and you will sit in the front of an Associate’s car, with an Observer in the back. Using what you learnt from the first part of the training, you will deliver the observed session as a front seat Trainee Observer and provide guidance for the Associate to an advanced standard of driving in order for them to pass the IAM RoadSmart Advanced Driving Test. The number of observed drives you need at this stage will very much depend on your own progress and the effort you put into reading the training materials.

Once the Chief Observer feels that you have reached the required level of competency you will be required to go out with an IAM RoadSmart representative who will assess what you have learnt and if they are satisfied then you will qualify as an Observer and you will then be able to take out Associates on your own.

Whilst training and after you become an Observer you will need to attend occasional Observers Meetings. These are meetings are used to openly discuss all manner of observing, processes, concerns etc.