Your journey towards improving your driving and riding skills starts here!
​Do you want to:
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​​improve your skills and knowledge of driving or riding?
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drive/ride in a way that keeps risks to a minimum?
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improve your confidence and enjoyment in driving or riding?
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improve the use of your vehicle’s controls and technologies?
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If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Central & South Devon RoSPA Group of Advanced Drivers and Riders is here to help!
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We provide advanced tutoring to help you develop into a highly proficient, confident and safe road user. We pride ourselves on being a fun, friendly, all-inclusive and supportive Group who are passionate about our driving and riding.
We can help you refine your existing skills and knowledge, minimise the risk of accidents, get the most out of your vehicle and maximise the enjoyment of driving and riding, for both you and your passengers! While you could just watch videos and read books on improving driving/riding skills, being a part of a supportive Group and having one of our tutors to help, gives you highly beneficial feedback about your driving or riding.
Soon after you join, you will be allocated an experienced tutor who will help you achieve your driving or riding goals. Your tutoring will be based on the car or motorcycle editions of Roadcraft; the police motoring handbook, and will prepare you for the Advanced Driving or Riding Test, should you wish to take it. The tests are approved by the DVSA; "RoSPA Gold" is widely regarded as one of the highest recognised civilian driving standards.
We hold many events, including social drives/rides on a variety of routes that challenge our abilities; masterclasses (eg on airfields where we can, for example, practise manoeuvres and emergency braking in a controlled environment) and regular informative meetups with our Group of like minded people, featuring occasional guest speakers and quality refreshments!
What makes an advanced driver or rider?
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An advanced driver or rider is someone who can identify their own driving or riding characteristics, including their strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement. They adapt their style and actions to the current situation and learn from experience. An advanced driver or rider will identify and adjust for changes during the drive/ride itself, such as weather, traffic conditions, potential hazards and how they feel in themselves.
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A good drive or ride is one where the driver or rider:
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​is fully aware of their surroundings.
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takes-in information about the current situation, uses this to plan actions in a timely way and gives appropriate information to other road-users. This planning helps keep potential risks to a minimum.
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progresses at a speed which is appropriate to the situation.
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positions themselves on the road appropriately.
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uses the vehicle’s controls and technologies skilfully and in an optimal manner.
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stays legal, behaves in a courteous manner, and sets a good example to other road users.
These are things we should all strive for but may not always achieve, after all, no drive or ride is ‘perfect’! Being an advanced road user means that you never stop reflecting, evaluating and learning.
A ‘definition’ of the attributes of an advanced driver/rider has been agreed by RoSPA, the IAM and the DVSA: "Advanced driving/motorcycling is the ability to control the position and speed of the vehicle safely, systematically and smoothly, using road and traffic conditions to progress unobtrusively with skill and responsibility. This skill requires a positive but courteous attitude and a high standard of driving/riding competence based on concentration, effective all-round observation, anticipation, and planning. This must be coordinated with good handling skills. The vehicle will always be at the right speed with the correct gear engaged and can always be stopped safely on its own side of the road in the distance that can be seen to be clear."