IAM

[osprey03]

I decided to take the IAM test and have been going out with an observer.
He reckons that it is ok to break the speed limit whilst overtaking as long as you return to the limit afterwards & use the hatch areas if there is a broken white line.
Is he correct in what he says ?

 

[XXLarge]

You can use the cross-hatched bit if the line is broken. You would prolly get away with breaking the limit for an overtake if spotted by a human copper, but a camera would not be so discriminating.

 

[Grey Wolf]

Got the Same

information from my observer
and have carried it out while been followed by a couple of
police motorcyclists, Who jest waved as that passed.

 

[Bob Pinder]

osprey

10~ish mph isn't normally a problem for a very short period on overtakes.

Excessive speed for extended distances isn't too clever :t

 

[Supabird1100]

Nearly every IAM person I have met has their heads up their arse.

Thank you for that vote of confidence Mac......could you please pay me a visit and help me remove my head from my arse cos I'm having trouble seeing where I'm going !!!! :} :}

You should not enter any hatched areas marked on the road.....unless it's necessary and is safe to do so. Areas bordered by a solid white line should only be entered in an emergency.

If overtaking another vehicle would cause you to exceed the posted speed limit you should stay where you are, but as XXL said, it would be a hard copper that pulled you for creeping up to 70mph in a 60mph limit to perform a safe overtake. But a roadside camera wouldn't be as generous !!!!

I found, while doing the IAM course, that too much emphasis was put on 'making progress'.....some of the observers had, in my opinion, dubious techniques that would put the 'not-so-experienced' at risk. I gave up riding with the group and enlisted the help of a traffic cop that I know to get me up to the test standard.

It worked.

 

[osprey03]

Thanks for all the replies, even Lumpy's, which I must say seems to be most accurate for some of the IAM lot I've met.
The observer I go out with is always saying that I need to make progress, & when I followed him, some of his overtaking was in my opinion, bloody dangerous, I shall continue 'cause most of the information is very useful

 

[Stealth Rider]

I decided to take the IAM test and have been going out with an observer.
He reckons that it is ok to break the speed limit whilst overtaking as long as you return to the limit afterwards & use the hatch areas if there is a broken white line.
Is he correct in what he says ?

Yes he is correct, Having just completed Bikesafe weekend with the West Mercia police, we were told it would be ok as long as you returned back to the correct limit after the overtake, but as others have said, make sure it's not in front of a camera

 

[skippy]

I found, while doing the IAM course, that too much emphasis was put on 'making progress'.....some of the observers had, in my opinion, dubious techniques that would put the 'not-so-experienced' at risk. I gave up riding with the group and enlisted the help of a traffic cop that I know to get me up to the test standard.

It worked.

I agree m8 the "making progress" disease seems to have far to much emphasis placed on it sometims to the extent of being counterproductive to overall safety, something I have noticed with some of the more advanced riders is an obsession with lane changes mostly uneccesary considering the proportion of accidents that happen as a result of lane changes. %$fan

 

[skippy]

Get on a RoSPA course instead :yo: I've heard a lot of things about the IAM approach that make me very wary of them. RoSPA seem to be very practical and realistic yet concentrate on safety.

Must agree m8, after several ride outs with you lot I have noticed there is a considerable difference in aproach and attitude amongst the various advanced rider camps and I feel considerably more at ease with RoSPA trained riders than some of the others.

 

[Foggy63]

Guys, having ridden with some of the BIRD members and being an Advanced member, I have to say that my training with the IAM has proved invaluable and some of you could do with some form of advanced training. As for making safe progress, surely it is a pre-requisite of riding a motorcycle.......??

 

[skippy]

Guys, having ridden with some of the BIRD members and being an Advanced member, I have to say that my training with the IAM has proved invaluable and some of you could do with some form of advanced training. As for making safe progress, surely it is a pre-requisite of riding a motorcycle.......??

There isn't a rider on the face of the planet that has nothing to learn, a good rider is one that realises that.

 

[Supabird1100]

So now you are an IAM do you feel a better and safer rider. I know your opinion of your riding is pretty poor Steve.

I passed the IAM test two years ago Mac.....only did it to see how different it was from the RoSPA one that I'd passed some time before. Also had a crack at the BMF Blue Ribband course and passed that one as well.

Do I feel a better and safer rider ??? All things are relative, aren't they ?? The approach that all the 'Advanced Courses' take is similar.... follow the Highway Code, study Roadcraft, read the DSA training manual....but even after passing test after test, I still feel I have plenty of room for improvement. I still get days that, after a ride, I look back and think "I made mistakes that I really shouldn't have made".
I'm not a 'quick' rider.....but I'm never that far behind the 'grand prix' boys that scream up to lights and roundabouts then have to sit there for 20/30 seconds waiting for a gap. So I'd say my 'forward planning' has improved, observation is better, keeping to a legal(ish) average speed my progress isn't bad, I'm far more aware of hazards than I used to be.....but does that make me a better or safer rider ???

I don't suppose I'll ever know.....I won't do 'group riding'...I ride alone or with Trace on the pillion, so as nobody will ever follow me that could pass comment it will remain to be seen. I love to meet up with peeps at a venue but I'll always meet you there....I won't meet up and do a group ride-in. I'll always leave either before the group or after the group, nothing against other riders, but it's just the way I like to do things.

So can I have my head removed from my arse now ???? :dunno:

 

[chuck]

IAM I have to take issue

Having read this thread it follows many others in this forum that seem to be incredibly diparaging about IAM people. I am an IAM member, I took it, not because I have any illusions about being an IAM member but simply to continue to improve my riding. My club 'Birmingham Advanced Motorcyclists' has a heavy police presence with police class 1 riders and instructers. If any of the members of BIRD can ride as quickly, safetly with the awareness of class 1 riders then I have yet to meet one or would doubt their real ability if they thought they were as good. My own observer was a police class one rider and I learnt shed loads from him, and our chief observer is a police training instructor. I am sure the odd person does have their head up their backsides but in my experience they are in the minority.

If anyone CANNOT pass the IAM test they really need to get some more training or qusetion whether they ought to be riding on todays dodgy roads/conditions because the IAM test is actually very very easy and ONLY common sense with a deal of good observation thrown in. It is though, only the BEGINNING of advanced riding. I paased mine 3 and half years ago. I am better now than when I passed but I still have oodles to learn. I pride myself on smooth riding but I am never satisfied. I am shit in the wet. Thats one area I need more confidence.

Perhaps the ones that do have their heads up their own arses are IAM people who once they have passed, think they are brilliant and can't improve or non IAM people who could'nt come up to test standard and therefore condem it.

 

[Supabird1100]

Totally agree with you Chuck. You were fortunate in the instructors all being Class 1 police riders in your group....my local IAM mob seem to comprise of self taught BMW riders and ex-couriers who know a bit about riding.

The instruction that you receive is only going to be as good as the people delivering it....I wasn't happy so I went elsewhere. I've passed the IAM test, RoSPA, BikeSafe and BMF Blue Ribband....but still know I've plenty to learn. Unless asked, I don't advertise the fact I've done advanced training (no stickers on the bike, no IAM polo shirt, no sew-on badges)...but I still like to think I take pride in my riding.

Most people will benefit from advanced instruction....come to that.....some I know would benefit from re-reading the Highway Code !!!!! :} :}

 

[skippy]

some I know would benefit from re-reading the Highway Code !!!!! :} :}

Or even reading it for the first time might be helpfull :}

 

[Supabird1100]

Or even reading it for the first time might be helpfull :}

LOL@Skippy !!!! :}

It's true though, ain't it ??? Ask most people when they last looked at the Highway Code and they will answer "When I did my test" !!!!

Rules do change !!!!! :}

 

[Aidey]

Whats this highway code thing then?

 

[bishbosh]

Late to the party

I've been doing the IAM thing, got one more ride before the test and have to say it has improved me greatly (always room for improvement). On the original question, you can use chevrons if it has a broken line and if it is not protecting a right hand turn. That means on an open road with chevron-right turn area-chevron you can use the second chevron. As far as speeding whilst overtaking is concerned I have been told you can't do it for the IAM test. Evidently the IAM pushed the Police for an answer on whether you can go over the limit whilst overtaking so that they could give their students a definitive answer. The Police's response to this grey area was to play on the caustious side and say there can be no going over the limit as they didn't want to be seed advocating speeding. In the IAM book, it's comment next to a picture of a rider overtaking a van is that some brisk acceleration is called for to get past safely (skirting the speeding issue). What the actual legal position is I dunno - like the others on this thread I'll go with briskly through and watch for cameras man8um .

Bishbosh

 

[Aidey]

Ive done my car and bike IAM test simply cos I wanted to get a check on myself basically. I think it was worth doing, and so probably would be RoSPA and any other form of training. After I did the car test (14 years ago) I went to some of the monthly meetings and there were a few there who definetly had their heads up their arses and appeared to consider themselves superior to everybody else on the roads and as a result I left due to their snobbery. About a year after, I met the police guy who conducted my test and he asked me why I never went to the meetings anymore so I told him the above. He said he agreed with me!
One thing about solid white lines though, is that they were designed mainly for cars and larger vehicles and in a lot of cases a bike could easily go where these can't without being a danger. I'm not condoning it of course and no copper would be lenient, but there is often no danger for a bike, apart from blind corners. Opinions?

 

[Bob Pinder]

White Lines

Treat them like brick walls then everybody is playing/riding/driving/whatever to the same set of rules.

What if an oncoming road user ignored them as well?

They are there for a reason.

You shouldn't be overtaking on solid whites unless:
you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road
you are passing a parked (stationary) vehicle
you are overtaking a bicycle
you are overtaking a horse
you are overtaking a road maintenance vehicle travelling at 10 mph or less

Of course you can pass over them where you like - just tell us which A&E Dept you will be in so we can send in some fruit and a get well card!