Advanced Car Driver Training

Our driver training is open to any qualified driver over the age of 18 and is based on the information and techniques described in Roadcraft: The Police Driver’s Handbook and The Highway Code. We would urge you to prove to yourself how far you have come by then taking the RoSPA Advanced Driving Test but if you are just seeking to refine your existing skills, learn new skills or build confidence then we are happy to help you with that.

The first thing to do is to join us. Once your membership has been processed you will be sent an email asking you to contact our Driver Tutor Co-ordinator who will then try to assign a Tutor who lives nearby. Sometimes you may be offered a Tutor who is further away so you can chose to start your training earlier or you can wait until a closer Tutor becomes available.

All of our Tutors are all volunteers who give their time freely but they are covered by insurance provided by RoSPA. Inevitably this insurance comes with requirements so you will be expected to produce your licence along with evidence of tax, insurance and, if required, MoT for the vehicle you are driving. There is also a disclaimer form which we need you to read carefully and then sign which your Tutor will keep until you have finished your training when your Tutor will return it to you or destroy it. The form is self-explanatory and requires you to maintain the vehicle in a safe and legal way. Your Tutor will also check your eyesight.

You and your Tutor will agree a mutually convenient time and place to meet and then you will drive your car following your Tutor’s direction. Generally your Tutor will just do an assessment drive for your first meeting so that can then plan how best to help you in the following sessions.

It generally takes about 10-15 sessions to become ready for test but this can vary depending on previous driving experience and your ability and determination to practise. Each session lasts for approximately an hour and your Tutor will provide feedback at the end about what went well and what things they would like you to practise before the next session. Most Tutors also offer a demonstration drive in their own vehicle at some point to show how the techniques you have been shown work once you are trained.

When your Tutor believes that you are at test standard you will be offered a check drive with a different Tutor. This is partly to give you experience of being observed by somebody different as will happen when your RoSPA Examiner is with you and partly to pick up anything that your Tutor may have missed.

If everything goes well you will be encouraged to take the RoSPA Advanced Driving Test but this is only for your own satisfaction to prove how good you are. The test does involve a fee although it does include your first year’s membership of RoSPA. The test booking form and costs can be found at https://www.rospa.com/shop/products/advanced-driving-riding-test.

The test should be very much like the check drive, you will have a different person sitting next to you who will give you instructions on where to go and who will chat to you politely while you are driving around for about an hour. The big difference is that at the end of the drive the Examiner will tell you whether you have obtained a Bronze, Silver or, hopefully, Gold pass.

To help you maintain the driving standard you have achieved we would encourage you to maintain your membership of RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders Cambridgeshire and take part in the meetings and events that we provide. If you would like to become more involved then you could consider becoming part of the Committee to help run the Group. We occasionally have vacancies for Tutors so you could also help by becoming a Tutor when one arises.

If you also maintain your RoSPA membership then your 3-yearly re-tests are free and we will help you prepare with a couple of check drives beforehand.