North Coast Devon Advanced Drivers launched to promote safer motoring

Advanced driving enthusiasts in North Devon have formed a new group to promote road safety, reduce accidents and improve driving standards in the area.

North Coast Devon Advanced Drivers is affiliated to RoSPA, (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) and offers training for RoSPA’s advanced driving test.

All of the group’s volunteer tutors are highly-experienced and are re-tested every three years to make sure their driving is still of a high standard.

Mark Knibbs, chairman of North Coast Devon Advanced Drivers, explained: “Every time you put the radio on, every time you put the TV on, you hear about a death or car accident, somebody seriously injured, or a bike accident. And this is what we want to prevent. 

“We want to hopefully train the car driver to the point where they can see it before it happens, and keep themselves safe.

“Also, it builds their confidence for them to go further. So we're even quite happy to take youngsters who have just passed their test.”

Indeed, the group believes that new drivers can make the best candidates for advanced training. 

Mark said: “Basic beginner is fine. The beauty of taking them on when they've just passed their test is they've got no faults or bad habits. So you've got a clean sheet to start on with them, and it's a case of just changing things. So it does make life easier.

“If you've been driving for 25 or 30 years, you tend to get the bad habits.”

Advanced training with the North Coast Devon Advanced Drivers is open to drivers of any level of experience and any age – its current oldest member is 84. Training comprises a series of theory sessions followed by practical one-on-one drive-outs with a tutor, taken at the trainee’s own pace.

As well as the Highway Code, the textbook used by trainees, or ‘associates’ as they are known, is ‘Roadcraft’, which is the training manual used by the most highly trained police drivers. This book trains drivers in ‘the system of car control’, a methodical, safety-focused approach to driving, designed to minimise the risk of accidents by providing a structured way to approach and manage hazards.

Practical driving sessions typically last an hour, on different types of road, and the group’s tutors aim to make them as friendly and informal as possible. An associate does not have to take the RoSPA advanced test, but if they choose to, and they are ready, their driving will be assessed by Mark or the group’s secretary, Alan Setherton, before they are put forward. 

RoSPA advanced driving tests are conducted by an external examiner, and passes are awarded in three levels, bronze, silver and gold. A re-test is required every three years to keep the qualification.

According to Mark, there are many benefits to taking advanced driving training: “Firstly, it is the running of the vehicle - so brakes, clutch, gearbox, you’re going to cut down on the wear and tear.”

The second, he said, is insurance, with many companies now offering discounts to drivers who have undergone advanced training.

“And thirdly, the test is the icing on the cake,” said Mark. “One of the biggest things is you're learning a new life skill. You've gone along driving to a DSA standard (the ordinary driving test) and happily bimbled along, then taken it to that next level — of putting a system and putting a plan into place how you drive to make you safer on the road.”

Mark says that driving in North Devon offers unique challenges that may not exist in other parts of the country. “There things about North Devon that make it unique for driving,” he said. “The type of roads that we've got — we are country with mainly wide roads, motorways and urban roads. But down here, we've got country roads and single track lanes. We have got the North Devon Link Road (A361)  — when it splits into two lanes, some drivers think it's a 70mph limit when it's still a 60mph limit. And we have a lot of people that have problems with narrow lanes.”

Other hazards unique to North Devon include beautiful scenery which could prove distracting and, during the tourist season, large numbers of motorists who may not be sure of where they’re going. Mark says all of these factors are reasons to consider doing advanced driver training.

So what makes a good driver? Mark said: “It's somebody who would always be self-critical of themselves, be willing to learn, and be open-minded. 

“That would make a good driver, especially open-minded. If they come with a closed mind and say ‘oh, I know better’, they're not going to do as well. If they come with an open mind, then brilliant. That would be a good driver. 

“And you learn every day. Even myself — I always pick something up. And I'm very self-critical myself.”

If you would like to find out more about North Coast Devon Advanced Drivers and improve your driving skills, you can visit https://www. 

northcoastadvanceddrivers.com/