Getting younger people interested in advanced driving.

[Nanuq]

I am trying to think of some ways to get younger people involved, interested in advanced driving. The image that only nerdy cops and old people only do it, is out of date. How do I get younger folk to think "This is something I want to do because it's fun!"

Please, any suggestions?

[Martin A]

Get people who aren't old or nerdy cops to promote it.

[Nanuq]

Get people who aren't old or nerdy cops to promote it.

Easier said than done at the moment. Looking for ideas on how to present it, where, and what (other than becoming a better driver) is in it for younger people.

[Gareth]

I think it can be a relatively easy sell when someone demonstrates a higher level of skill and precision and shows that it is fun at the same time, providing the person being shown the driving is the sort that likes to be better at things in general. A droning commentary filled justifications about why the driver is better than everyone else isn't likely to be helpful

People who don't care won't be impressed at all, and probably won't even notice the differences.

More generally I think the concept of being better at various endeavours in something our populace holds in low regard.

[playtent]

The image that only nerdy cops and old people only do it, is out of date.

When did that change?

[waremark]

I think it can be a relatively easy sell when someone demonstrates a higher level of skill and precision and shows that it is fun at the same time, providing the person being shown the driving is the sort that likes to be better at things in general. A droning commentary filled justifications about why the driver is better than everyone else isn't likely to be helpful

I have failed to get any of my own children motivated to pursue 'advanced driving' (eg, have not been able to encourage any of them to want to come to HPC YDD) let alone anyone else's children.

I don't suppose that I am any good at showing that it is fun.

How have others done with their own children?

[fungus]

I think it can be a relatively easy sell when someone demonstrates a higher level of skill and precision and shows that it is fun at the same time, providing the person being shown the driving is the sort that likes to be better at things in general. A droning commentary filled justifications about why the driver is better than everyone else isn't likely to be helpful

I have failed to get any of my own children motivated to pursue 'advanced driving' (eg, have not been able to encourage any of them to want to come to HPC YDD) let alone anyone else's children.

I don't suppose that I am any good at showing that it is fun.

How have others done with their own children?

I have a similar problem. My daughter was very keen to learn to drive but not so keen to take it further. As for my son, he only learnt to drive because I'm an ADI and he did not have to pay for lessons. He was not realy interested, and it was hard work. He only bought a car because the he could no longer get to work by bus.

[TiJay]

I did the IAM course when I was 18, but as everyone probably knows I did Fast Track as doing it over months didn't appeal to me. So if FT was cheaper or more publicised, I believe more young people would do it.

Also, learning how to be really quite quick on twisty roads and yet be safer than the muppet in the Punto behind me was a big draw, and was something I found fun

And! Learning how to overtake on single carriageway roads safely was the other appeal.

Advertise these aspects of AD to young people and I believe it'd be popular.

[fungus]

I did the IAM course when I was 18, but as everyone probably knows I did Fast Track as doing it over months didn't appeal to me. So if FT was cheaper or more publicised, I believe more young people would do it.

Also, learning how to be really quite quick on twisty roads and yet be safer than the muppet in the Punto behind me was a big draw, and was something I found fun

And! Learning how to overtake on single carriageway roads safely was the other appeal.

Advertise these aspects of AD to young people and I believe it'd be popular.

I think that for most, particularly young males, there would definately an image thing. And not meaning to tar all young drivers with the same brush, my experience is that for many, once they have passed their test they have what they need, their licence. Then the confidence grows, and after a couple of months they think they know all they need to know.

As you say, the ability to drive quickly, and hopefully safely, would appeal. But unfortunately we are currently going through a period where many local authorities are looking for any excuse to reduce speed limits, so I see advanced driving becoming less appealling to the very groups who would benefit most from it as there will be less roads where it will be legal to travel at speed.

[Astraist]

I agree, male teenagers are highly bothered by "image". The problem is that many people have the image of "Driving is nothing for me, I can lay down in the seat and reach the bottom of the wheel with my index finger". I do not teach to get over the "image", but rather encourage a better one, a professional one. People are highly attracted by the image of driving like a rally driver/track racer (in terms of some techniques) and to pose professional driving: Checking the car, adjusting the seat, decisive steering, etc...

Additionally, for these people, comfort is superior to control issues. I teach that there is no real contradiction between the two, and that a driver at ease is safer in terms of control. Where serious safety issues are concerned, you do a bit of "marking" for your claims, showing them how it works.

[TiJay]

for many, once they have passed their test they have what they need, their licence. Then the confidence grows, and after a couple of months they think they know all they need to know.

My approach to this was, once my driving had "plateaued" (wasn't improving day by day) and I'd started to pick up some bad habits, I knew I wouldn't learn any more without further training and if I carried on I'd probably get overconfident as at that point, I felt I'd learned all I could learn on my own.

[martine]

Cheaper insurance.

More skilled.

Make good 'progress'.

Drive 'like the police'.

Do a demo drive.

(don't mention safety)

[jont]

Do a demo drive.

Depends on the standard of the demo. I was rather underwhelmed by a couple of kind individuals who offered me demo drives early on in my "advanced driving" discovery from local IAM/RoSPA groups. Fortunately I also had some demonstrations that were rather more inspiring, otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered going any further.

[hir]

Cheaper insurance.

More skilled.

Make good 'progress'.

Drive 'like the police'.

Do a demo drive.

(don't mention safety)

I agree with... (don't mention safety)... and also, don't mention the word "Institute"

.

[ScoobyChris]

Imho, the biggest barriers to people not doing it is a) they don't see the benefit and b) most people don't like their driving criticised (especially by someone with pipe, slippers and string-back driving gloves ). So, the easiest way to attract young people is financially. Once they've been attracted and you can get them in the car and show them what it's all about, it's far easier to inspire them into continuing and not take feedback as a criticism.

As an aside, with the help of people on ADUK, I arrange taster sessions/days on a few car forums I belong to as a way of getting people along to see what it's all about in a friendly and more familiar environment . Once they're sold, they can then get in touch with their local IAM/RoSPA group and take it from there.

Chris