Training for the IAM Masters - The hardest driving test you can take ! 

Very proud to announce after lots of training I had my IAM Masters car test today over near Ferrybridge in Yorkshire,a Masters Distinction achieved , can’t praise my mentor and all the Bolton group for all the excellent training 👍👍

Hi Ped. As a current Police advanced TPAC driver of about 12 years I enjoyed watching this video. I remember having to be all over my mirrors like a rash during Comms to ensure I fully conveyed what information I was taking in. Not just to the front but also the sides and rear. It looked like you stopped using your mirrors when on comms. A little tip. It's important to ensure your eyes are on full beam all the time looking up the road and recognising when your eyes start to drop as you try to talk about too much in a bid to 'prove you've seen it' and inadvertantly start talking about things you've already driven past. Recognise this early, take a brief pause and reset your eye line before continuing on comms. Good luck and this is something I'd be tempted at doing myself. Just need a better car first! Also made me chuckle watching Marks face as you put your nearside in the ruts and drains through that 30 limit.

Just to add my own contribution..... Having already done my advanced motorcycling course, under the tutelage of a police Class 1 motorcyclist, I subsequently went to visit the Metropolitan Police Driver Training school at Hendon in West London. After a tour and a spell on the circular skid pan (4 different levels of slip!) we then went out onto the back roads in a motorway pursuit vehicle for an experience of high speed driving combined with the commentary from our driver, all the while maintaining the principle of "maintain adequate progress"! An understatement if there ever was one!!! Although I knew all of the individual items/hazards that were identified in his commentary, to be honest my brain had only recognised a mere 80% of them by the time our driver had already spoken them!! The level of discernment was truly astonishing! And if anyone thinks, even for a moment, that the AIM is for cautious old dodderers who wouldn't recognise excitement if it bit them on the ARSE, could not be more wrong!!! It's a finely developed skillset, not unlike snooker - but played at high speed!! I would encourage ANYONE to get in touch and, if possible, get taken along on a session with an instructor driving. NOTHING else ever gave me as much satisfaction AND enjoyment as advanced training - better than a track-day!!! Having now watched the rest, including the commentated section, my ride with the police Class 1 instructor was done at around 20-40 mph faster throughout AND the commentary was about twice as fast and caught a lot more - specifically EVERY change of road surface/condition and EVERY potential hazard (eg kids in the rear seat of the car 3 cars ahead or overhanging trees for damp or leafy road!). And every manhole and road surface repair! A VERY memorable day!!

Best advice I could say is if you want to become a better car driver learn to ride a motorcycle. Opens your eyes up to so much more. Takes much more skill to ride than drive a car imo. Great content as always Pete. 👍

Man, you are doing well. I passed my Advanced in 1999. I passed my F1rst in 2019 with a perfect score of no faults. I would love to do my Masters but I am disabled and so far I am too ill to sign up for it. I always do my commentary when I am driving, either in my head or aloud, dependent on who is in the car with me. As I am on a medically restricted licence I have to retest every three years and I find the confidence IAM give me is very important to keep me driving and maintain some degree of independence. I am looking forward to seeing more of your Masters videos. Maybe you will encourage me to go for the Masters.

I have been a Masters Mentor for just over 7 years now and one of the most common issues is the lack of progress. We are really looking for the ultimate implementation of the System (IPSGA) with sparkle! Good luck - it should be fun!

Well done. Absolute praise for you taking such an interest in your driving skills. I was a Class 1 Police Advanced Driver, plus VIP and Diplomatic Protection, loved driving then, lifetime skills, love driving now. Next challenge. LGV. I was offered the opportunity to become an LGV Driving Instructor (I already had a full LGV D/L) and when I asked the question, 'I've got an LGV licence, but I've never taught anyone to drive one', the reply was 'It's a big car, same rules'. Absolutely right. I applied those same Advanced Car Driving techniques to the truck, taught all my students exactly same way, and it works. So, get that LGV under your belt.

Hi Pete, what a great subject to share your development with us 👍 I’m a retired police officer and I was an advanced instructor at our driving school for a few years. I thought your commentary was very good - you’re looking at the right things but you can’t talk about everything. Eyes up the road and talk about what you can see of importance. The way I described the road signs and the markings, they are like pace notes. If you get SLOW written in the road and a hazard warning sign at the same point, this bend is more sever than the previous ones you have driven. What is difficult for your instructor and I, is to appreciate how difficult a task it is for students to understand, and adopt Roadcraft as we’ve been driving like this for 30years! but every day is a school day! Just remember one bite at a time - very encouraging too 👍👍

If you took an EFAD test in a fire appliance, you may think about changing the title of this video to "The hardest driving test you can take in a car". 😎

I can't think about the Institute of Advanced Motorists without thinking about the Top Gear outtake with the "Wheel Shufflers" 😂 I must say though, I wish there was something like this in the USA. This is VERY fascinating!!

Looking forward to you 'making progress ' on your way to a Masters. Been driving vans fitted with Masternaut for a couple of years, so observation skills at a high level. Making progress up to restricted National speed limit is considered to be harsh acceleration. 😂 Wishing you every success and enjoyment with this challenge. BTW great to see a RU-vid driver who treats driving as a skill and art rather than thrash the nuts out of a car at every chance.

I went in for my Masters last summer, 25-plus years after I passed the IAM Advanced. Came away with a distinction! Haven't come down from the high yet... Good luck with your programme and demonstration drive. It's eminently doable.

They used to make you do this commentary driving as part of Speed Awareness courses many moons ago.Me thinks they should do this as part of driving test to.

Almost like being a rally co-driver and driver at the same time. 1.5 hours, that sounds exhausting!

I expected Leslie Nielsen to be funnier. Good driver though. 😜

Wow, massive respect to you Pete, that is some tough task.

Great stuff Pete, huge respect to you. Makes for unique content too. Enjoyed he video.

As a masters mentor I thoroughly enjoyed that. I am confident you will get an excellent result. Thank you for a positive story about IAM Roadsmart.

The examiner will also expect you to mention the time and day of the week, why?…. School days and possibly of kids going to and from schools. Your footage also showed wheelie bins at the end of driveway, therefore could be bin collection day and you may meet the collection lorry with workers working around it. My final tip, watch out for utility vehicles ie Water, phone etc they generally work in pairs and you must be mind full of the work happening around them. Great commentary Pedro, practice practice practice. I still do it daily and have been for years and years. You know what I do for a living and it comes with the territory;-) Have fun and enjoy.

Great insight to the whole IAM masters process, good luck on completing it, I also have had to do cometary driving at my work, it's part of the training and needed for our end assessment, we are also encouraged to use it as a ongoing means to help mitigate incidents.

Found that really interesting PP. Love the way he says make progress and get upto speed quickly aka don't faff about! The commentary as you say is hard work indeed but I though you did a stellar job mate. Wishing you all the best as you progress.

Very interesting. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I had to commentate my own driving on the Alpine route at Millbrook and the instructor praised me for how well I did but wasn't surprised that I do sales for my day job - involving lots of talking! Looking forward to seeing your progress

Thank you for bring that book to my attention, I have just bought a copy from Amazon. I have been driving for nearly fifty years but you are never too old to learn something new.

Good luck Ped - I just passed my Masters with a distinction in December.

Very interesting! i know when we all drive with any real experience behind us , we kind of have that running commentary going in our heads, but to do it and drive and be overseen by an examiner, plus filming it , Is as you well put it difficult, but looks good well done ! 3 cheers for our Mr PED!

Through all that video, I couldn’t help but think Mark looked a bit like Leslie Nielsen (comedy actor), therefore I was constantly waiting on him cracking the one-liners !! Very interesting vid Pete. 👍

Absolutely fascinating and looking forward to watching your progress Pete - whole new way of driving

As a former police driver trainer of all levels, DSA examiner and instructor I'd like to comment on your video I didn't notice any reference to the following during commentary by yourself or tutor. It's difficult to see everything from the recording, but here are some of my observations Making use of cross views, especially when approaching junctions and bends and acting on what you can or can't see including anticipation of other road users Identifying observations links and what they mean to you, such as direction of power cables, building lines, brake lights of vehicles ahead and many others Advance driving should include looking for information and acquiring full situational awareness only then will a sound driving plan be possible Hope my comments are helpful and good luck with your test

Congratulations on pursuing your IAM Masters. So well respected. Simply the best. I am confident your in very safe hands with Mark and his team. Personally not embarked on IAM, however Police Advanced Grade One.

Respect Pete. Not sure if it was just me, but my driving instructor when I was learning to drive always asked me to be giving a commentary on what I was seeing and doing as I went along driving. Admittedly, it took me three attempts to pass my test. But strangely, the third attempt is the only time that I gave a commentary with an examiner sitting in the car and was explaining what I was seeing as I went along, to show how this effected how I was driving on the day. The examiner, said that it was the best commentary he had heard and actually made the experience for him more enjoyable.

Nice video, enjoyed watching, I passed the advanced driving test in the 90s, since then taught my sons to drive, they've all grown in to men now but still a joy to watch them accelerate out of bends

Huge respect for you doing the IAM Masters. As many have said here, the commentary is hard, and keeping it up for 90 mins must be really tough. Very interesting to see the use of paddles for engine breaking like that. I was always very conscious that 'progress' was a a big weak point for me when I was on the IAM programme. My examiner was much keener to get me pushing on than my observer was, so I can see that they would put more emphasis on that for the Masters.

Well done for your IAM promotion. If the same resources were put into driver training and improvement as punishment and enforcement, the roads would be a lot, lot safer, I feel. Nowadays, all you're seeing is councils reducing the speed limits on roads by 10mph in the name of safety. It's frustrating.

Great video Pete. Although our brain does a lot of these things naturally as we get more experienced as a driver , vocally giving a commentary raises the bar. My work van has advanced black box fitted measures everything it takes a lot of concentration to keep all the limits. At the moment I’m top driver out if 300plus fleet at 99.6% . You’ve got this 👍👍👍

Good luck! Makes you rethink your driving skills!

That was very useful. Rooting for you!

Excellent content Pete, i did my advance driving test with them and its very helpful on defensive driving.

Great to see you doing your masters Pete I did my IAM many years ago don’t think I could do my masters as my memory is so bad I can’t remember what things are called. We have a friend who is a high sped specialist driver for the police he took me out a few weeks ago because I was getting worried about my driving and he said that I drove very well so I’m calling that a success he said if I’m worried he will always take me out. Good luck with your masters I’m sure that you will pass with distinction first time it will be great following your progress 👍🏻🚲

This looks amazing, we don't have options like this in NZ, and even our Priority driving is a very basic course. Aiming for distinction is great. Aim High!!

this is the same sort of thing i did when i did my ROSPA driver assessors course. i have to redo mine again in April. every 3 years. definitely well worth it

Hi Pete; great video. I’ve just done my Further Advanced test (a Bristol Advanced Motorists ‘stepping stone’ from the Advanced to Masters and Observers course. The FAD was a big step change from the Advanced test. My observer used to be the UK National Observer and his demonstration drive was like yours. Good on you for promoting this; I think improving the general standard of driving in the UK is a must!!

Thanks very much for this and was nice to meet you over the weekend at the meet, it was a good day and nice to have the 2min silence it was so peaceful and moving Passed my ROSPA Advanced a few years ago so this vid was really interesting. I did commentary for about 20mins of the test and that is hard enough. I bought the Chris Gilbert DVDs which are a good watch out of my own pocket. James Ward is another good one on RU-vid.. I did the test in a Auto but somehow dreading doing in a manual even though driven manuals 28 years out of 32 driving, lol.

Found that fascinating, especially the commentary aspect, as I kind of do that in my head anyway. Cayman looked great making progress on a favourite road, and I'll definitely be revisiting Mark's tuition on how to drive the hill.

I support you all the way. Looking forward to the updates. I really like the process of dictating every thing on the road, the conditions of the road surface and which way the road changed direction.

Just passed my advanced test. This upload was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!!

Enjoyed this video Pete. Had my licence for 45 years but you have inspired me to enrol for my Advanced Driving Test and attended my first meeting tonight and looking forward to my first assessment drive.

A belated good job done, what you have learned will probable save your life as a master driver.Todays traffic conditions are not what they were fifty years ago when I passed the test. Today you need eyes in the back of your head.

I haven't taken any extra qualification but have been riding motorcycles for 40 years now, and have been a disciple of 'Roadcraft' (for motorcyclists) for decades. These riding/driving manuals are simple, yet extremely effective. I can highly recommend them to anyone with an interest in improving their skills (especially observation).....

That was especially interesting for me to watch as I'm Mark's other Masters trainee!! I've just completed what looks like the same route today and also run 2! I totally agree with your suggestion that more people should challenge themselves with advanced driving training. I share your pain, I'm exhausted!!

I've got a license, but have driven in 20 yrs. I'm rusty. This video was very useful, especially the commentary! Thank you

Very interesting, stayed in middle of the road to see round the blind bends, not unbalancing the car in the bends. Good luck with the commentary, that will be toughest part while trying to concentrate on the driving. Assume the more practise you do at commentary it will become easier. Oh, don’t rest your elbow on door or undertake anybody!!😂 excellent vid 👍

Only just come across this vid - superb thing to do. I took my basic IAM test in CRX coupe a long time ago in my early twenties. CRX VTEC was a superb handling car that kept me safe for 8 years till it was traded for an S1 Elise that I still have. The Elise was not so forgiving but I've had that 20 years now and have learnt a few things.

Great vid a lot to take in Hope you pass👍

Man thats seem very intense, well done Pete!!

Thanks for sharing the process

This is what train drivers (and train conductors) are trained to do...talking their way through tasks..it maintains concentration

I did advanced for my car and motorbike. I think the commentary is one of the hardest parts to master, especially on unfamiliar roads. Good Luck Pete. 👍

Pete, I’ve been doing the IAM course since November and I’m just about to sit the test. Thank you for sharing your insight into the next level up! I’m sure you’ll pass with flying colours.

Hi Pete, it is like being a navigator in a rally car, plus commentating on what the driver is doing, plus actually driving. Wow, no wonder your bandwidth cannot add RU-vid commentating as well 😂

I have passed the IAM advanced driver course in a manual car. I now have an electric car with all the toys (regen braking, lane assist, active cruise control, brake assist). You would think this makes it easier to drive, but perhaps adds complication and distraction. I would be interested to see how you drive an electric car after your masters adventure.

nice vid! been thinking of doing the IAM course for a while now, and as i'm hoping to get an rs3 it would probably be a good idea! more skill is always a good thing to "have in the bank".

This is quite simply brilliant stuff 👍👍👍

Hi Ped I recall watching your IAM video, so interesting to see the next step, and your progress to masters. When I passed my driving test many years ago, I was fortunate to have further tuition from two friends, both police drivers. What stayed with me was observation, reading the road, commentary to myself during the course of a journey. Mrs P often comments that I do not converse on a long journey, I am not anti social but I will admit “conversation” from passengers distracting. If she reads this I am in trouble. Unable to follow all of Mark’s comments re auto, but with the SQ5, a tourer rather than a sports car, I do select manual particularly on downhill runs for better car control. Wish you luck.😘

Having passed my IAM test some years ago, in a manual, I admire you filming this for your Masters journey. I personally, found the commentary the most difficult, so doing it on film and training for a Masters is admirable. I passed my test in my A3 TDi Quattro Sport which was a manual. I now drive an Auto with Paddles. I did look at having my driving re-assessed and doing my Masters and very much appreciate the information in your video, as it is a good insight as to the differences you mention. I wish you all the very best and look forward to seeing you graduate. Thank you for inspiring me to go for it! Anyone who puts themselves forward for something so very difficult, is in my eyes, a brave person. All the best of luck Peter!!

I really like your commentary! Nice and clear and details your driving plans nicely. My only comment (and I do it too which is why I say) is to look at how to get succinct phrases for things. I do sometimes find I give a lot of dialogue to something really small and that takes up brain space! Really really enjoying the series though and think you’re easily the best RU-vid driver out there!!!

Very interesting and very intense.Well driven as well.I have often thought about the I.A.M but have never taken it any further.I would like to become the best driver I can be so maybe I should look into it and see.I'm sure you will ace it.

Good luck with your Masters test Pete. I past my driving test in 1967 and 2yrs later took an advanced test with my company to road test vehicles at high speed. This was provided by an ex Police driving instructor using the principals laid out in Roadcraft which I passed. I've also competed in various forms of motorsport rallying, autotesting and trials etc. The last 20yrs working to retirement in 2011 I covered on average 40k per year with no accidents or speeding tickets. In late 2018 I decided to refresh my driving and take the IAM test. I know I have some bad habits a bit too relaxed on steering and gear changing but following the "system" I didn't feel was making me a better driver but worse so when it came to cornering I through the towel in. The instructor contacted me and and asked to meet to explain why, I agreed but the day before he cancelled and said he would re-book but never did. I would still talk to someone if they wanted to contact me.

Good luck with your Masters Training, I started my Masters journey in November 21, hoping to complete the course in June 22, I’ve got an excellent instructor from the Bolton group

I've always been fascinated with the IAM and their test processes; it's interesting to see how Mark is like a hawk when driving, regularly checking mirrors, his speed and distilling important info about current and upcoming road conditions. Fascinating to watch. Refreshing to understand that nugget that making progress in a safe and appropriate way with 'no faffing', considering car control, is promoted (as so many people believe being 'slow is safe'). Best of luck, Pete. As an aside, I've noticed that Mark has as uncanny resemblance to Leslie Nielsen, so when you're driving I have the theme to Police Squad playing in my mind! No offence intended, just brings a smile to my face as I enjoy these videos. Cheers

Just love the variety of motoring aspects on your channel. How good would the commentary be on a normal driving test, I'm sure it have more of a lasting impact on new drivers than the hazard perception part.

I read Roadcraft many years ago when I was dating a lady friend who was a Class I driver for the Traffic section of the local Constabulary, and have kept updated with the book ever since. So much to learn and put into practice but it does make your driving better. The struggle is going from a road car into the sim-rig and braking in a different way to transfer the weight onto the nose rather than a nice progressive brake and easing off just before the car comes to a stop... "Plan to stop, look to go"

I’ll have to get wifey to watch this…..because I passed my IAM test (just the normal one) years ago, she is quick to point out when I ‘cut’ across corners and says I’m crap, even though I reason that there was no-one around, had a clear view and wasn’t going to impede anyone. Won’t make me any better a driver, but might make the journeys quieter…..😉

Another great video and so interesting to watch and see you challenge yourself, I doff my cap to you. If you’ve not checked out his channel, have a look at Reg Local, his RU-vid channel is a great source of advanced driver videos and training. I believe he’s an assessor, and he came to our local driving instructor group a few years ago and gave fascinating talk. I’ve so much respect for him and his ability, his commentary driving is next level. Good luck and maybe it’s time I gave IAM a go myself.

You’ve got this Pete!

Great insight into the process. I completed my IAM Advanced Driver training over 15 years ago now and more recently completed the Advanced Motorcycle program. The IAM are a great organisation. That said, they do have a bit of an image problem and in my experience, members tend to be white, middle-class, middle-aged with a few ££. You’ll fit in perfectly 😊

Well done so far and for wanting to advance further. One comment in comparing yourself and Mark the instructor. When he was driving, he was regularly looking to the side and rear view mirrors. This was evident by slightly moving his head, while ,when you were driving, your head was set looking forward. This is about being aware of what is going on around you. Relying on one's peripheral vision can leave gaps. Also over time on a motorway, to use your terms, this can cause you to focus too much on what is ahead of you. I spent a few years driving passenger vans and small buses. The constant use of all your vision was necessary due to the amount of space you took up, almost the entire lane, and the slow reaction of the vehicle to change speed or direction. It may seem obvious but safe driving is about vision. Be able to see far ahead and being prepared to react before something becomes a problem.

My oldest son was in the under17 car club 8 years ago . Went out with IAM and police drivers as part of the course our main driving was off road. The demonstration drives by the instructors were on road and very much in the commentary style you are showing learnt a lot . I have driven now for 40 years and thing of doing the IAM. Maybe too many bad habits. Good luck Cp

Very interesting Pedro. I recall my mum mentioning that her driving instructor asked her to do a commentary on one occasion. I don't know when that was, but I was born in '53 and I believe she was already driving by then. She was possibly the best driver I've ever met, and spent many of her retirement years towing caravans and and driving campers during fly drive holidays all over the world, (Canada, Hawaii, New Zealand etc) We both took part in a local "driving skills" contest when I was in my early 20s, and she placed 5th in a field of around 120 drivers, I was, mmm, a bit further down the list. I don't recall who set it up, but it was most likely the local car club at the time. I thought about doing the IAM a short while back, but my hearing loss is, according to the audiologist, mostly at the human speech level, and my tinnitus also messes with what others may be saying. So I've given up on that.

Six years RPU here. Good to see you are making progress with driver education 👍

Wow awesome! The audio was a bit hard but this is really great! Commentating really looks to be a tough job so I understand you don’t want to be bothered with cameras as well. Looking forward to updates on the progress, maybe you can do that during the midweek 180’s?

Who knew Leslie Nielsen had come back as an advanced driver! In all seriousness, loved the video and will be interested to follow your progress. Good luck.

Well done sir. And good luck. I did my IAM test in 2008 too! Also been thinking about doing the masters. But not sure any of the IAM observers would want to spend hours with me in my only car - a Caterham...

I have my Police response training soon and commentary is my biggest issue. Interesting to see yourself struggling with it too, considering your profession. Makes feel a bit better if I'm honest LOL

Leslie Nielsen at the wheel. ✈️😎

An ex-police advanced driver who worked in Dorset....I'm gonna hazard a guess that it's a Mr Doug Miners who ran your test as he taught my advanced driving a few years back on my emergency driving course (I'm a paramedic) what a smashing bloke he is too...an amazing and inspiring teacher with a unique character and teaching style! Interesting fact...Doug wrote most of the Roadcraft manual that all us emergency drivers adhere to!

Would really like to do an advanced Motorist course. Did a "drive & survive" one day course a few years ago and it was brilliant, definitely made me a safer and more aware driver.

Well done, I've done the advanced and still carry on with the commentary, my problem is I either get tongue tied or run out of things to say, especially as the journey goes on. Like the terms and descriptions you use, will start using them myself now. Anyway wishing you all the best and I will be interested to see further videos and updates. Mark.

Hi Pete hope your well Just a quick note about as an IAM advanced motorists myself and also an hgv class 1 driving assessor remember the basics of road craft road bends to the right I can see the limit point position the vehicle to near side speed and gear are good driving through the bend remember mirror checks and what's bend too Not just what's up in front Keep it up it will click into place 👍🏻

I can see how being in automatic would be more challenging. The “engine braking” is so different to a manual & varies greatly from car to car much more than a manual. All the cars I have had upto now have been fully automatic. However, my Ford Focus (which you saw on Sunday) has flappy paddles. What a difference! Good luck when it comes to your test.

Was lucky to put through IAM by my bus & coach firm and past it in a coach. Found the commentary the most challenging.

Fantastic… I wonder if there is an equivalent here in Australia. When I was 17/18, just after I passed by test I had a number of sessions with my local IAM group near Worthing. Also the company I was working for back in the late 1990s had an arrangement with a advanced driving school and we , with company cars, had an intense 2 day driving safety assessment with an ex police driving instructor…. During the second day we had to do a commentated drive. I learnt so much.

Well done! I first passed the RoSPA test at Gold level 20 years ago. If it was practical I think all drivers should be retested at intervals - maybe every 5 years.

I done my IAM commercial about 25 years ago that was bad enough, let alone the masters, good work 👍🏻

Well done, I just passed my IAM on Tuesday, didn't score as well as I hoped but a pass is a pass.

I did standard response years ago and when we got auto cars and vans we didn't get any further driver training which is a shame considering the number of accidents the emergency services have. I enjoyed watching the system of car control in an auto, good luck with the test.

It's been very interesting watching you and also have watched the early episode of your advanced driving lessons I am thinking about doing this and I wonder how it cope with someone who is dyslexic

Our emergency driving course lasted 3 weeks and was one of the most intense tests I've ever prepared for! You don't realise how much you don't know about driving and the highway code until you do something like this and realise how bad a driver you were! The best thing about doing it as an emergency driver is we're allowed to break the speed limit! 😜 Although trying to overtake on a country b road in a 5 ton ambulance on an unfamiliar road requires some massive cojhones! Lol

Great Drive. I would add road markings and road surface into your commentary. If you carry on as you are I think you will be on target for a Distinction.

Hello pal, good luck going forward.

Great insight into the Masters Ped. I encourage every driver to do, at least, the Advanced course. It seems that the only policy being pursued by government and local councils is to to keep reducing speed limits - no mention whatsoever of improving driver capability. If every other driver held Advanced status, the roads would be significantly safer. The Masters is the icing on the cake.