For all you guys thinking of taking advanced training, consider the following which I wrote about 8 months ago for my monthly magazine piece!
Is Your Instructor Qualified?
In the last few years, advanced rider training has become more popular than ever before, as a result of which, an increasing number of motorcycle rider training schools have themselves jumped on the bandwagon and started to offer advanced training.
Now, the last thing I want to do is criticise those individuals who give up a lot of their spare time and do their best to make our roads a safer place, but, what I would urge, is that anyone who is contemplating taking an advanced course ensures that their instructor is suitably qualified.
At the moment, unlike CBT and Direct Access learner training, advanced rider training is unregulated. In simple terms what this means is that anyone who feels so inclined can offer advanced training, and you may not get the level of instruction that you hoped for.
There are a number of riders out there who have either taken one of the recognised advanced tests, or have attributes they consider sufficient to qualify them to teach at advanced level, when in fact riding to a standard and being able to teach to a standard can and often are miles apart.
So what are the options?
Well, you could join a local group such as those run on behalf of organisations such as RoSPA the IAM or the BMF. These groups have much to commend them in that, not only do they offer a structured training programme, but they also run a number of social events during the course of the year as well. The cost of joining these groups is relatively cheap, have a good social side and offer a recognised advanced test at the completion of what is often a 1 year course. The downside of joining such a group is that there is no guarantee as to the quality or experience of the instructor allocated to you, and as with any form of teaching there are good and bad in all organisations.
You could go to a professionally qualified instructor or training school, however costs are invariably higher as they have overheads to meet and a living to make. Being professionally qualified does not always mean that they are capable of teaching at advanced level, they may hold a certificate issued by the Driving Standards Agency authorising them to teach CBT and Direct Access, but they may not have the first idea about the requirements of an advanced test.
So, how can you ensure that your instructor is suitably qualified and can be trusted to give you the information and instruction you want? Well, quite simply by asking a few simple questions that a genuine person will normally be more than happy to answer. So what are the questions?
1. What advanced qualification(s) do they hold? Well the recognised standards are in the main Police class 1, RoSPA diploma or gold grade, IAM observer, a holder of a Btec level 3 or 4 in advanced motorcycle instruction, or belong to and instruct for a training scheme such as the BMF Blue Ribband.
2. How many students do they teach at advanced level? If they only teach one or two perhaps there is something you need to know about.
3. What advanced test do they recommend? If you are talking to a RoSPA or IAM group, then this will not be a relevant question, but it will be relevant if you are talking to an independent instructor. If they favour one test over another, what sort of results have they had over the previous 12 months?
4. What type of course do they offer? What you want to see is whether they have actually structured a course syllabus, or whether it is something they have just cobbled together ad hoc whilst talking to you on the phone.
5. What formal training have they done to attain their current position? Some are self taught and believe that is sufficient, I have even heard of one guy who believes that 10 years as a courier is sufficient on the basis that having survived for so long he must be doing something right. Ex racers are often the worst offenders, and are of the belief that race craft is a good aid to staying alive on the road.
6. Can they provide references? Perhaps past students or organisations they are affiliated to? Recommendation and approval from your peers is often the best form of advertising.
7. Do they get their own riding and instructional ability checked on a regular basis? Many don?t and end up teaching dangerous practices.
Although not a definitive list, it should at least give you the opportunity to make your own mind up whether the person you are talking to is in fact someone you would trust to teach you what for many is a completely different way of riding. If you have any doubts, walk away, there are plenty more qualified fish in the sea.
Is Your Instructor Qualified?
In the last few years, advanced rider training has become more popular than ever before, as a result of which, an increasing number of motorcycle rider training schools have themselves jumped on the bandwagon and started to offer advanced training.
Now, the last thing I want to do is criticise those individuals who give up a lot of their spare time and do their best to make our roads a safer place, but, what I would urge, is that anyone who is contemplating taking an advanced course ensures that their instructor is suitably qualified.
At the moment, unlike CBT and Direct Access learner training, advanced rider training is unregulated. In simple terms what this means is that anyone who feels so inclined can offer advanced training, and you may not get the level of instruction that you hoped for.
There are a number of riders out there who have either taken one of the recognised advanced tests, or have attributes they consider sufficient to qualify them to teach at advanced level, when in fact riding to a standard and being able to teach to a standard can and often are miles apart.
So what are the options?
Well, you could join a local group such as those run on behalf of organisations such as RoSPA the IAM or the BMF. These groups have much to commend them in that, not only do they offer a structured training programme, but they also run a number of social events during the course of the year as well. The cost of joining these groups is relatively cheap, have a good social side and offer a recognised advanced test at the completion of what is often a 1 year course. The downside of joining such a group is that there is no guarantee as to the quality or experience of the instructor allocated to you, and as with any form of teaching there are good and bad in all organisations.
You could go to a professionally qualified instructor or training school, however costs are invariably higher as they have overheads to meet and a living to make. Being professionally qualified does not always mean that they are capable of teaching at advanced level, they may hold a certificate issued by the Driving Standards Agency authorising them to teach CBT and Direct Access, but they may not have the first idea about the requirements of an advanced test.
So, how can you ensure that your instructor is suitably qualified and can be trusted to give you the information and instruction you want? Well, quite simply by asking a few simple questions that a genuine person will normally be more than happy to answer. So what are the questions?
1. What advanced qualification(s) do they hold? Well the recognised standards are in the main Police class 1, RoSPA diploma or gold grade, IAM observer, a holder of a Btec level 3 or 4 in advanced motorcycle instruction, or belong to and instruct for a training scheme such as the BMF Blue Ribband.
2. How many students do they teach at advanced level? If they only teach one or two perhaps there is something you need to know about.
3. What advanced test do they recommend? If you are talking to a RoSPA or IAM group, then this will not be a relevant question, but it will be relevant if you are talking to an independent instructor. If they favour one test over another, what sort of results have they had over the previous 12 months?
4. What type of course do they offer? What you want to see is whether they have actually structured a course syllabus, or whether it is something they have just cobbled together ad hoc whilst talking to you on the phone.
5. What formal training have they done to attain their current position? Some are self taught and believe that is sufficient, I have even heard of one guy who believes that 10 years as a courier is sufficient on the basis that having survived for so long he must be doing something right. Ex racers are often the worst offenders, and are of the belief that race craft is a good aid to staying alive on the road.
6. Can they provide references? Perhaps past students or organisations they are affiliated to? Recommendation and approval from your peers is often the best form of advertising.
7. Do they get their own riding and instructional ability checked on a regular basis? Many don?t and end up teaching dangerous practices.
Although not a definitive list, it should at least give you the opportunity to make your own mind up whether the person you are talking to is in fact someone you would trust to teach you what for many is a completely different way of riding. If you have any doubts, walk away, there are plenty more qualified fish in the sea.
