Surprised Experienced Biker

IAM safety course surprises experienced biker – learning skills that had never occurred to him.

Davy Cunningham from Newtownabbey Belfast, who rides a Suzuki VSTROM 1000cc, said “I highly recommend the IAM Advanced Motorcycle Test to motorcyclists – it’s taught me a great deal that had never occurred to me, like anticipation and planning my route in advance. I’ve been a biker for over 20 years and so this all took me by surprise. Overall I’m just enjoying my riding more and I’ve decided to become a Trainee Observer for the Adelaide Advanced Motorcycle group.”

Gerry Wilson, a Senior Observer from the IAM’s “Adelaide Advanced Motorcyclists” group conducted Davy’s test and commented “Davy listened to the advice given and practised in-between each training session. He passed the IAM Advanced Motorcycle Test in five sessions achieving the highest mark possible in each of the 29 categories tested. He’s the first member of the Adelaide Advanced Motorcycle group to achieve one out of five in each category.”

Sam Geddis, Director Adelaide Insurance Services, “We hear comments like Davy’s time and again. Having completed both the IAM bike and car test myself I hope it encourages others to take it up – after all it’s a skill for life.”

Many who complete this course go on to achieve reductions in motorcycle insurance premiums via the IAM’s official insurance scheme: IAM Surety, provided by Adelaide Insurance Services. IAM Surety was voted the UK’s number one insurer for Value For Money in the “Auto Express Rider Power 2012” survey beating all the UK’s best known brands.

Right To Ride Comments

Right To Rides Trevor Baird says,”Every bit of skill that riders can add onto their riding abilities can help out there on our roads. We should do our best to keep ourselves upright and our own interaction with other vehicle drivers.” adding “we need the skills, we need to practice these skills and control and our confidence shouldn’t raise above our abilities.”

The conclusion of Right To Ride’s, “Northern Ireland Motorcycle Fatality Report 2012″ from a focus group of motorcycle experts was that, “The only reliable way to prevent motorcyclist injuries and deaths is to prevent the collision in the first place, which means the rider needs to get his/her eyes up and scanning ahead, taking evasive action when a potential collision is still several seconds from happening.”

As the IAM say, “Better riding is not about riding slower, its about helping you to stay one step ahead of other road users. Knowing how to safely predict hazards, anticipate other riders behaviour and accurately assess road and traffic conditions.”

Davy also developed his skills earlier this year, by completing a First Aid For Riders course delivered by St John Ambulance Northern Ireland www.firstaidforriders.org

These courses provide the knowledge for riders to assess and manage an initial road traffic collision scene, to support comfort/reassure conscious casualties and helps to give first aiders confidence to stay calm at a road traffic collision until the rescue services arrive. Rendering First Aid to a motorcyclist involves many additional considerations that may not be “instructed” in basic First Aid courses.

As one rider said, “Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it”

Adelaide Advanced Motorcyclists Group

The main focus of the Adelaide Advanced Motorcyclists group is to help make riders safer and more responsible on our roads.

Emphasis is on getting the maximum enjoyment out of the whole riding experience by boosting skills, improving technique & increasing ability and confidence.

Once a rider passes the IAM Advanced Riding Test, they will be a more controlled, confident, and ultimately, a better rider.

The group was set up to cope with the demand for more advanced rider training in Northern Ireland.

The charity – Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has joined forces with a number of local interested parties i.e. BikeSafe, Phillip McCallen Motorcycles, the Quay Vipers Motorcycle Club, Top Dead Centre Motorcycle Club and Adelaide Insurance Services to form the Adelaide Advanced Motorcyclists.

The Adelaide Advanced Motorcyclists is one of the 200 strong volunteer IAM groups throughout the UK making our roads safer.

Interested bikers should register their interest in taking the IAM’s Advanced Riding Test by emailing the group: aam@adelaideinsurance.com or contacting 028 9044 2200.

If they prefer to rather get involved in rider training & testing (Observing & Examining) please also get in touch.

More information on the Adelaide Insurance Services website – Click Here

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  1. The IAM are right of course that one need not reduce speed in order to be better rider but on the other hand one doesnt have to ride faster either.
    On the RidesafeBacksafe website there has been some discussion recently on just that topic and the mistaken belief by some assessors/observers that one can with inpunity ride over the speed limit in order to exicute an overtaking manouver. Some members of the IAM [ and other training organisations not just the IAM] falsely believe that one has to do so otherwise its like watching paint dry. { from a recent article in RIDE magazine Nov.issue}
    One member on the RSBS site stated that on one of his assessment rides the observer, a police officer , whilst in a 50 mph limit, overtook him and waved him to follow on and proceeded to ride at speeds up to 90 mph. Though the lad enjoyed it it did make him think whether it was right to do that or not.
    The RSBS site management entered into the debate and clearly stated that if a person responsible for the safety and training of others was to encourage an act of speeding that would be against the law or any such dangerous action then those responsible should be indentified. and appropriate action would be taken.
    We must remember that the IAM was formed mid 50’s when there were no maximum speed limits and persons outside of towns could drive or ride at whatever speed their vehicle could be pushed to.
    However a maximum speed limit came into force in 1965 as the result of the construction of the new motorways and the breakdowns and increases of KSI on such roads.
    The simplest and safest rule in the Highway code is that one should ride at a speed where one can stop in the distance seen to be clear and that means on your side of the road not the other, say on a left hand bend.

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