About your Observers
When you join the Group, you will be allocated an observer to help you prepare for the test.
These are members of the public, like yourself, who originally took the advanced driving test. Having decided that they would like to help others, they then received extra training to be able to offer guidance, rather than instruction. Many hold full-time jobs, and a few will also hold instructor qualifications.
However, guidance is undertaken during their spare time (which may not necessarily be Sunday mornings). This is also in line with the tests, which are offered Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings as there is not enough traffic around to offer tests on a Sunday.
If your observer is unable to offer you a time convenient to you, please contact the observer coordinator, Steve Heggs on 07967181741 and he will reallocate you. Similarly, if you lose touch with your observer, or would like to discuss anything relating to your observed runs, please talk to Steve.
The IAM has a National Observer Qualification and observers are classed as Trainee, Qualified Observer, or Senior Observer. However, all observers work to the same standard.
Because of our on-going training, you may find that your observer requests that someone "sits in the back" of your car - this is not to check on you, but to be able to ensure that the observer's standard remains at that required by the IAM and the Group.
Our observers undertake the work completely voluntarily, and receive no payment at all for doing this important role.
We have split our observers into teams around the county these are:
North / west Leicestershire team: Loughborough, Rearsby, Melton Mowbray etc
Team Leader Peter French Senior Observer / Committee Member
Roger Ewens Senior Observer / Committee Member
Derek Brutnell Observer
Tony Moore Observer
Ian Robinson Observer
Mike Bogwandas Observer
West Leicestershire team: Narborough, Hinckley, Lutterworth etc
Team Leader David Hage Senior Observer / Committee Member
Darryl Hart Observer
Bill Holland Observer
Mike Vernon Observer
South Leicestershire team: Wigston, Oadby, Market Harborough, Blaby etc
Team Leader Steve Heggs Senior Observer / Committee Member
Neil Snow Senior Observer / Committee Member
Linda Hollingworth Observer
Peter Radcliffe Observer
Fred Palmer Senior Observer / Committee Member
Andy Gleadall Observer
Almost everyone thinks that they are a good car driver or a skilled motorbike rider. Whilst everybody has to take the DSA test, thereafter the novice driver/rider is plunged onto Britain’s (and the rest of the world’s) overcrowded roads with no further legal requirement of further driver training.
When you join the Group, you will be allocated an observer to help you prepare for the test.
These are members of the public, like yourself, who originally took the advanced driving test. Having decided that they would like to help others, they then received extra training to be able to offer guidance, rather than instruction. Many hold full-time jobs, and a few will also hold instructor qualifications.
We can help you to pass the Advanced Driving Test by showing you what is expected of you on the test. Our observers will show you which aspects of your driving need to be honed in order to reach test standard. You can then be confident that when you take your test you will pass.