Safety: Could Santa put driving skills in your sack?

Motoring charity the Institute of Advanced Morotists is reducing its Skill For Life advanced driving and riding programmes by ten per cent this Christmas, to £125 from £139, on special Christmas gift voucher purchases.

Skill For Life is available for car drivers and motorcyclists, and consists of regular coaching sessions with one of 200 regional volunteer groups. Your group allocates a local observer who, when you’re ready, will put you forward for the advanced test. 85 per cent of drivers and riders pass first time.

Passing the advanced test also qualifies you for insurance discounts from IAM Surety, which beats other competitive quotes in 93 per cent of cases for IAM members.

IAM membership also offers a host of other benefits, from breakdown cover through to discounts on weekend breaks. You’ll also learn green driving techniques, which save up to 15 per cent on fuel costs.

For drivers or motorcyclists who want a refresher, DriveCheckPlus or RideCheckPlus is a short on-road assessment with an IAM examiner. This one-hour course improves confidence by identifying what you’re doing well and where you can develop. For those who have held their licence for a bit longer, DriveCheck55 gives older drivers an opportunity to check their driving is still up to scratch.

Momentum is a two part assessment for young drivers, online and on-road with an IAM examiner. It raises awareness of dangers and improves the experience of our highest-risk road users.

And for riders of scooters, mopeds or sub-125cc machines there is RoadRider Plus – a half-day assessment which gives a clear indication of current skills and abilities, and is a great way of progressing after the essential Compulsory Basic Training (CBT).

The IAM cycling membership gift voucher costs £15 (normally £19.99) and includes the How to be a better cyclist book – a comprehensive guide to better, safer and more confident cycling – and a range of benefits including cycle insurance cover.

How to be a better cyclist can be bought separately for £9.99, and makes a great stocking filler. We also offer three levels of cycle training to suit anyone from the real beginner, to those wanting to increase their confidence in busy traffic.

And if improving your driving or riding while learning more about the limits of your vehicle is your thing, why not try one of our Skills Days? These events are held at five major circuits around the UK and include at least six separate ‘on-track’ sessions with the focus on anticipation, cornering, planning, smoothness and understanding how your vehicle performs in a variety of situations.

IAM Christmas gift vouchers are available from your local IAM group or can be purchased by clicking here.