Introduction The RoSPA Advanced Drivers West Midlands Group was founded in November 1978 and supports a large area in the Midlands of England covering three counties - Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. We have members ranging in age from 19 to over 80 years. Many of them are women, all sharing the same interest - safe driving, and road safety. If you would like to read about the full history of the group go to the download pages Training. The group has volunteer tutors; they have all passed the advanced driving test themselves at a high grade and have been checked for suitability to provide training for the advanced driving test. They are all registered tutors with the RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders, as the Association have recently become called, or RoADAR for short. Many of our Approved Tutors have undertaken further training in advanced driving instruction and become Advanced Tutors. They, like all RoSPA advanced drivers, retake the advanced driving test every three years. Each new member who requests tuition is assigned to one of the group's tutors. Together they arrange mutually convenient sessions, usually weekly or fortnightly, lasting from one to two hours. During the sessions the new members drive their own cars; the tutors give advice and guidance. These sessions are free. There is no limit to the number of drives you are given as everyone learns at a different pace, and has different abilities when they join the group. Whilst your tutor can tell you when you are ready for the test, they cannot tell you at which grade you will pass, but will normally keep training you until they think you have reached your current level of competence. Even after the test, we will provide guidance to you because we believe everyone has the ability to improve and learn more skills that are needed to just keep up with today's ever-changing traffic conditions. Newsletter The group's newsletter is issued monthly to all group members. Articles from different sources together with any news and information are published. Any member can send an article to the editor and they will be happy to consider it for publishing. Events There are regular events that take place all over the area. These include driving competitions, assessed drives or training evenings, visits to places like the Police Motorway Control Centre and RAC Control Centre, manoeuvrability workshops, trivia quiz nights, guest speakers, skid control courses, off-road driving etc. If you want to get the feel of the way the group works, you are welcome to come along, once as a guest, to any of our group meetings, without any obligation. Why not join us? Becoming a Member Any person holding a full licence may apply to join the group. An Associate member is one who has not passed the RoADAR test. The membership subscription on joining is £45.00, which includes the annual membership subscription and a copy of the Police Drivers Handbook "Roadcraft". In the unlikely event that you have not passed your test after 1 year, the membership renewal subscription is £22.00 Any Associate who passes the test, becomes a Full member of the group. The West Midlands Group membership fee for Full members is £14.00 due annually. New members who are already a current member of RoADAR may join the West Midlands Group but their initial subscription will be £22.00. One or two of our members have chosen not to get heavily involved with the Group, or go through the training process, retake or take the advanced test. They just want to remain, or be involved with the Group on a social standing and receive a copy of the monthly newsletter. These people may join or renew with the Group as a Friend. The annual subscription is £10.00 Becoming a friend You may feel that you wish to support the West Midland Group but do not want to get involved in advanced driving yourself. You can also do that by joining the West Midland Group, as a Friend. The annual subscription is £10.00. You will receive a newsletter each month and be invited to all the functions. If you would like to speak to someone from our group please telephone Gerry Harrison 01527 585581 Home page |