The group was approached by the Hartlepool Mail asking for information so they could write an article about driving in winter conditions, with the local area being covered in snow and ice it is a timely reminder of what you should be doing! It's great that the local press looks to seek our opinion on such matters! To read the article click HERE for the link to the Mail's website.
Xmas meeting - Scaletrix Night
After the success of last year's December Group meeting we held a 'fun' night with a free buffet and scaletrix competition on the night. With members from Sunderland Group providing the entertainment in the form of the scaletrix track and cars it was a change from the usual Speakers we have during our Group nights. The winner of the Scaletrix driving challenge was Ian Lawther from the Sunderland group - below is a picture of our Group Chairman Derrick Howe presenting him with his trophy: Some say the trophy contained bubble bath, all we know it was the Stig! A few other photos of the night are here as well.
New Committee Members
At the core of a successful group must be a successful committee. We have this year managed to press-gang, oops recruit, 3 new young members to the committee. James Black, Rachel Mincher & Phil Carter are all newly appointed to the committee and hopefully one of them will take on the role of our Young Driver liaison - subtle hint guys!
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OOPS! We did it again ♫
In addition to our award in 2008, our Group was nominated this year as one of the best groups in the IAM for 2009. Our award is recognition from IAM House for dedicated service in promotion and commitment in preparing people for the standard for the IAM test during 2008/2009; lets see if we can go for 3 in a row!
Here is a picture of the award:
IAM Chief Examiner comes to Hartlepool
On Wednesday 13th January 2010 Hartlepool IAM is proud to announce that the IAM's Chief Examiner is coming along to give the group a presentation. Invites have been sent to all surrounding Advanced Driving and Riding groups so their members can also attend. Please see the Calander section for group meeting details.
Job sharing - well not quite, but close
Hartlepool & Sunderland Advanced Motorists have entered a reciprocal agreement where both groups are benefiting from joint training of Associate members. Hartlepool has a bit of a waiting list for new members to start their training and Sunderland did not have enough to keep all their instructors busy, so through Ged from our group and Helen from Sunderland 2 of our associate members have now started their observed runs with Observers from Sunderland! A great example of group co-operation
In the local news again!
Hartlepool Advanced Motorists once again were in the Hartlepool Mail detailing their exploits after the Teesside Skills Day.
Teesside Driver Skills Day
In recognition of the groups work with under 26 year old driver we have been presented with 5 free spaces at the next Driver Skills day to be held in Middlesbrough. The 5 free spaces have been allocated to 5 young drivers in the group who help support us by attending group meetings etc. To be held on June 26th we hope to have a story to 2 to post here afterwards.
Congratulations
To Tim Ellingford and Rebecca Wheatley who have recently passed their Advanced Driving Test. Rebecca passed her test shortly before her 18th birthday and is the Group's youngest ever Advanced Driver since we formed in 1981! Well done.
IAM PROPOSES LARGE PRICE INCREASES
It has been announced that the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is proposing to increase it's prices. This has nothing to do with any local groups, we have to abide by these decsions, no matter if we agree or not with them!
The IAM has decided that all Skills for Life packages shall from May 1st 2009 cost £139. This is for bikes and cars alike and the previous discount offered to drivers under 26 year olds has been abolished. This means that for a young driver the cost is going to rise from £79 to £139 - No, messers Brown and Darling are not in charge, maybe its their clones!
BUY NOW AT THE CURRENT PRICE OF £99 (£79 FOR UNDER 26 YEAR OLDS) YOUR PLACE WILL BE GUARANTEED AT THAT PRICE, BUT NOT FOR LONG!!!
Hartlepool Advanced Motorists will still pledge to refund the fees for any young driver, but due to the price increase we will not have as many places left after this. Please, buy the Skills for Life pack now!!!
IAM Driver Skills Day - Mallory Park
Our Secretary took part in this day. It was a chance to drive at speed and in a controlled environment where there are no dangers of pedestrains, buses, cats, dogs children etc. The purpose of the day was two-fold - the have fun and improve your driving skills. A repeat of this day is being planned and a focus on getting younger (Under 26) drivers involved is being made. A short video demonstrating what went on is below. In the Secretary's defense he does drive a tank, well a big heavy Volvo - so there was never any danger of getting up to high speeds!!
Group Makes Local Press
We are hoping to get some more under 26 year old drivers into our group via this article - watch this space.
Under 26 Year Old Driver Campaign relaunched for 2009
Still in todays modern age of safe cars do we see the tragic and untimely deaths of youngsters on our roads. Locally in Hartlepool there has been recent instances of these tragedies. It is statistically proven that the 17~25 year age group is most at risk from having an accident resulting in injury or death. This is a priority for us to reduce and hopefully stop in Hartlepool. Being an Advanced Motorist will reduce the likelihood of being involved in an accident by 70%. To encourage more young drivers to become Advanced Drivers we have set aside £2000 to pay for the test fees for under 26 year olds who want to be Advanced Drivers. The current fee is £79 which is payable 'upfront' by the young drivers. on successful completion of the course and passing the Advanced Test this money will be given back. For more information please check our dedicated YOUNG DRIVERS PAGE.
Hartlepool Group wins Group Achievement Award at IAM National Conference.
Due to the efforts of our Committee this year we were nominated as one of the best groups in the IAM for 2008. Our award is recognition from IAM House for dedicated service in promotion and commitment in preparing people for the standard for the IAM test during 2007/2008.
Here is a picture of the award:
Skid Control Day a roaring success!
This year we are running not one, but two skid control course. The first was held on September 14th with 18 people attending. Everyone who did the course said it was good fun, increased their skills and knowledge of skid control and wanted to know when the next one is! The next one is on October 19th, but unfortunately all the slots are already booked. Local members, other IAM Groups and guests were invited to take part in the course and are now looking forwards to their next go at it!
Many thanks! Hartlepool Volunteer Development Agency
Thank you very much for awarding us a grant to continue with our work in promoting safe driving in and around Hartlepool.
More Advanced Driving Test Passes!
Well done to Ged Terry, Dave Penn and Matthew Lyons. Matthew is the first Under 26 year old to pass the test under our Sponsorship Scheme. He will receive a cheque from the group re-imbursing his test fees when he is presented his certificate. Well done to everyone
Awards for All - Lottery Funding
A Big thanks to the Awards for All team. We have had a significant grant from this team to fund our Skid Pan events - click on logo for more information.
Skid Pan 2008
We have now raised sufficient funds to run 2 skid pan days - these will be held in Seaton Carew car park, behind the golf course on September 14th 2008 & October 19th. Further details TBC and there will be a page dedicated to this shortly online. The team running the event are called Driving Dynamics - click here for their website
Congratulations
To Anne Holmes & Brian Kane for passing the Advanced Driving Test - well done both of you
and.... to Ron Collings and Ged O'hare for requalifying as Senior Observers in the group.
2008 Campaign - Drive Check
In 2008 the IAM is going to be running a new Drive Check Campaign. the intention is to target groups of drivers who will benefit from this scheme and who hopefully will go on further to become Advanced Motorists. The Groups we are looking to attract are parents of new born babies, parents on the School Run and people who may have a lack of confidence when driving. These groups would benefit hugely from becoming Advanced Driver, the Drive Check is the first step on the ladder.
14th November 2007
The National Groups Committee have proposed to the IAM Council at the meeting on the 7
th November that
the Skill for Life package for Cars be increased to £99 and the Skill for Life package for
Motorcycles be increased to £109 for applications from Friday 1
st February 2008.
APPLY NOW AND STILL GET THE EXISTING RATES
17th September 2008
PRICES SET TO RISE FOR TEST FEES!
The IAM have announced they are considering increasing the prices for the Skills for Life package in the near future. If you are interested in doing the Advanced Driving Test NOW is the time to get it at its current price of £85 or £65 for under 26's - remember our sponsorship deal for under 26's! Click here for more details.
1st September
We now have a number of associate members in the group - 8 at the moment and climbing! Any Group members who wish to help out as Group Observers should contact the secretary.
23rd, 24th, & 25th August
The group held a roadshow in Middleton Grange - many thanks to the members who assisted with manning the stand. A good deal of interest was generated over the event, so hopefully we will have some new Associate members soon.
18th July
A great big thankyou to The 1989 Willan Charitable Trust for their recent donation. Many thanks and gratefully received.
6th July 2007
Congratulations to Dean Cooke and Andy Abernathy. They have both recently passed their Advanced Test - certificates are on their way! Andy is now a full member of the Committee. Well done to both of them.
1st June 2007
Our main project for 2007 is to encourage young drivers (under the age of 26) to become Advanced Drivers. This project is also encouraged by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). They have reduced the fee for the Skill for Life pack from £85 to £65.
Hartlepool Advanced Motorists have secured funding to re-imburse this test fee to any young drivers who join our group and undertake the Advanced Test in the upcoming year.
This is an ideal opportunity for young drivers to increase their skills and competence behind the wheel of their cars and with more advanced drivers on our local and surrounding roads can only help to make them safer.
Use the contact us page to find out further information
