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| Institute of Advanced Motorists | |
|---|---|
| Name | Institute of Advanced Motorists |
| Formation | 1956 |
| Type | Charity |
| Headquarters | London |
| Region served | United Kingdom |
| Leader title | Chief Executive |
Institute of Advanced Motorists is a United Kingdom-based charity promoting road safety, advanced driver training and safer driving standards through testing, membership services and campaigning. The organisation operates a network of local groups, professional examiners and partnerships with motoring bodies to influence policy, public awareness and corporate fleet standards. It engages with legislators, transport authorities and international road safety organisations to disseminate best practice and evidence-based interventions.
The organisation was founded in 1956 amid post-war road safety debates influenced by events such as the aftermath of the Suez Crisis, changing transport patterns around London and the expansion of the M4 motorway. Early patrons and supporters included figures from Royal Automobile Club circles, advocates from AA and activists associated with Transport for London debates. In the 1960s and 1970s the group responded to inquiries triggered by incidents like the M62 coach bombing era security concerns and policy shifts following reports from the RAC Foundation and reviews tied to Department for Transport advisory work. Through the 1980s the organisation adapted to trends driven by legislation such as revisions to the Road Traffic Act 1988 and collaborated with municipal authorities including Greater Manchester and West Midlands councils. In the 1990s and 2000s it engaged with campaigns shaped by analyses from entities such as Transport Research Laboratory and policy initiatives from the European Commission. Recent decades saw involvement with modernisation efforts linked to projects around Smart Motorways and responses to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic that affected transport behaviour.
The body is governed by a board drawn from members with backgrounds in Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, Institute of Directors, and transport consultancies that have ties to firms such as AECOM and Arup. Executive leadership liaises with national regulators including Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and collaborates with charities like Brake (charity), insurers including Zurich Insurance Group and fleet managers from corporations such as Transport for London and British Airways. Local groups operate under regional coordinators who interact with county councils like Lancashire County Council and city authorities such as Bristol City Council, while professional examiners maintain standards aligned with international bodies including Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and European Transport Safety Council. The organisational model includes charitable trustees, operations teams and volunteer assessors linked to networks including Motability and motoring academies run by providers like Institute of the Motor Industry.
Membership is open to drivers and riders who seek accreditation; the scheme issues qualifications validated by trained examiners accredited in processes comparable to assessments from Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency programmes. Members progress through levels with credentials that are recognised by employers such as Royal Mail fleets, municipal services in Leeds and logistics firms like DHL. Accreditation pathways reference standards familiar to assessors from bodies like City and Guilds and training curricula comparable to programmes at institutions such as University of Nottingham transport research units. Corporate memberships include arrangements with public sector organisations including National Health Service trusts and private fleets operated by companies such as Tesco and Sainsbury's.
The organisation offers tailored training courses ranging from advanced driver training to fleet risk management modules developed in consultation with academic centres like Imperial College London and Loughborough University. Courses incorporate techniques influenced by research from TRL Limited and curriculum design practices found at Open University professional development units. Delivery modes include in-vehicle coaching, classroom sessions and e-learning comparable to offerings by City & Guilds and commercial providers such as First Group. Specialist programmes address motorcyclist safety with input from groups like British Motorcyclists Federation and post-test coaching used by emergency services including London Fire Brigade.
The charity conducts and commissions research into collision reduction, driver behaviour and speed management, publishing findings that complement studies from Royal Society initiatives and reports by European Transport Safety Council. Campaigns target issues such as distraction highlighted in inquiries similar to House of Commons Transport Committee reports, drink‑drive reduction efforts aligned with campaigns by Drinkaware, and vulnerable road user protection referenced alongside work by Sustrans. The body has contributed evidence to consultations involving Department for Transport policy reviews and partnered on projects funded through mechanisms related to Horizon 2020 research grants and industry collaborations with companies like Jaguar Land Rover.
Regional groups maintain links with county partnerships including Surrey County Council, Essex County Council and city alliances in Glasgow and Cardiff. Internationally, the organisation is affiliated with road safety networks and federations like Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and engages in knowledge exchange with entities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and EU member states such as France and Germany. Collaborative projects have involved exchanges with transport safety researchers from University of Melbourne and policy teams from Transport Canada, and participation in conferences hosted by organisations like World Health Organization regional offices.
The organisation administers or receives awards recognising driving excellence, partnering with insurers like Admiral Group and event organisers such as Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for ceremonies. Honours conferred to members and volunteers draw on endorsements from public figures linked to House of Lords transport committees and industry accolades from bodies like Road Transport Media. Its training and research have been cited in prize lists alongside recipients from Transport Research Laboratory and universities such as University of Oxford.
Category:Road safety organisations in the United Kingdom