The aims and objectives of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (the IAM) are very simple:-
- To improve the standard of driving (and riding) on the UK roads.
- The Advancement of Road Safety.
- The Administration of an Advanced Test.
We try to match those aims and objectives by working in the following ways:-
- We are a totally independent organisation (as a registered Charity).
We are therefore not "owned" or financially dependent on any commercial organisations who might have a vested interest in a narrow aspect of road safety. Our financial support comes from our >112,000 Members throughout the UK (and beyond) who pay a small annual Membership fee to retain their membership of the IAM (having already passed the IAM's Advanced Driving or Riding Test) and support what we do. Because of that support from people who have taken an interest in their own driving standard, we have a tremendous depth of practical knowledge available.
- We can offer a "rounded" approach to Road Safety because we are not a "single issue" body.
Our staff have a wide background in Road Safety and the background of the Trustees of the IAM cover many of the areas and emergency services vital to Road Safety. As a body, we are widely respected throughout the Road Safety industry because of our background, expertise, and experience. We are consulted (and advise) all the major players, including the Government, on all aspects of Road Safety because of our genuine interest and involvement in Road Safety.
- The IAM's Advanced Driving Test is recognised and accredited by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).
The Advanced Driving Test has been in existence since 1956 (and the Advanced Riding Test since 1976) and details of those are described in the "Advanced Test" link on the left With in excess of 200 local IAM Affiliated Groups throughout the UK, all charitable organisations in their own right, the support for people wanting to prepare for and pass the IAM's Advanced Test is unparalleled throughout the UK. The support of these Groups mean that the Advanced Test is available and probably achievable for ANYBODY who has an interest in improving their driving skills.
By "improving their driving skills" we are not talking about those who want to enter motorsport but anybody who feels the way that drivers are left to their own devices once they have passed their "L" test is not good enough, or even that the nature of driving has changed since they passed their "L" Test, especially in todays unforgiving traffic and roads.
Those aims were set in the late 1950s and are still relevant today. Too many people are being killed or seriously injured on our roads each and every year and it is well known that the majority of accidents are caused by Driver Error. Educate the driver into a better way of driving and the accident rate will fall - it's drivers that cause accidents, not cars. While educating drivers is not explicity one of the IAMs objectives, that is what we try to do (and do the best) because that meets all the other objectives.
