The North East Thames Group of R0SPA's Advanced Drivers Association is run entirely by unpaid volunteers to promote road safety. This is accomplished mainly through driver training and encouragement to undertake an Advanced Drivers Assessment, run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Membership of the Group costs £15 per year. The cost of membership of RoADA and any of their tests is in addition to this fee. Once a member of the group you can undertake both Bike and Car training.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS (those who are not RoSPA Advanced Drivers or Riders)
Predominately, this free training is provided on a one to one basis in your vehicle. Whilst you drive a Tutor will sit beside you and provide feedback on your driving style and skills. We encourage you to use the System of Driving, detailed in Roadcraft the Police Drivers Handbook, which is a proven method of vehicle control used in advanced motoring.

For bikes, the Tutor will follow you on their bike and you will be expected to donate, to the Tutor, £5 at the beginning of each run to go towards covering their bike costs during your training.

During each run, which will last between one and two hours, the Tutor will guide you through a series of types of road to help test and improve your driving skill. At the end of each run the Tutor will discuss your overall performance and provide you with a detailed assessment. Over the course of a number of these drives, and through your own practice, it will be expected your standard will improve to a point when you will be able to confidently undertake your Advanced Driving Assessment with RoSPA.

Each driver is different as so are the number of runs required to bring you up to standard. Like so many other things in life this will be mainly dependant upon your commitment and ability.

Once you have joined as an Associate Member of the Group you will be allocated to a Tutor who will contact you, then agree a mutually convenient time for your first run. Generally you will need to drive to pick up your Tutor, (but then that will give you an opportunity to practice and warm up). Subsequent drives will be normally arranged at the end of each session.

All the Tutors are unpaid volunteers who have commitments just like everybody else. Please, if you need to rearrange an appointment with your Tutor, do so at the earliest opportunity.

All vehicles used must be roadworthy and all driving subject to current traffic law. Whilst driving or riding, you are solely responsible for the control and handling of your vehicle, the Tutor is only there to observe and advise.

We employ two of three HMSO publications to help improve your driving skill, they are:

Please ensure you have obtained and studied both of them before your practical training commences. As a tip, don'™t just read the Highway Code. Look at each paragraph and ask yourself why has this rule been implemented. Once you understand the why, they become easier to remember and obey.

COSTS

In the first year you would expect to pay your membership subscription to NET RoADA and your Test fee to RoSPA. (Between £53 and £65.) Then, in the next and subsequent years, your annual subscription to NET RoADA and annual subscription to RoSPA's Advanced Drivers and Riders, (RoADAR) at £32.50 yearly. The cost of your triennial retests is included in your RoADAR subscription; as is any check drives or rides with the group.

Please remember, motorcycling is undertaken by Tutors following the Associate on their own bike. To help defray the costs for running their own machines we ask for a contribution (normally £5) towards the cost of their petrol, etc., used during your training.

FULL MEMBERS
Once you become a Full Member, after passing your assessment, either at Bronze, Silver or Gold, you will be able to keep or improve your standard with our mutual help. Bronze, Silver and Gold holders are all reassessed every three years so check drives can be arranged through our Training Team.

You can also train to become a Tutor*, to help others attain their advanced badge and further improve your own skills. By becoming a Tutor you will find your driving standard will improve. If you are a Silver, you will have a better chance of attaining that Gold next time round and Golds will find there is more chance of retaining their grade.

* for Silver and Gold holders only - Gold for motorcycle tutor training.