On Monday 31st July, Solihull Advanced Motorists and the Shirley Venture Scouts joined forces for an evening of advanced driving assessment, advice and guidance.

Venture Scout member Jenny Clements passed her 'Institute of Advanced Motorists' 'Advanced Driving' test in the spring and having enjoyed learning the techniques and developing her driving skills, invited SAM to give a talk to her fellow scouts.

Instead of merely giving a talk, SAM organised for 10 of their Observers to go along and take the scouts on assessment drives around Solihull. SAM Chief Observer Oliver Turley gave a short talk on the problems facing young drivers and how learning the techniques of advanced driving can help all drivers, especially young drivers, to be better, safer, more proactive and thinking drivers. The scouts then drove a preset route whilst the Observers assessed their driving, giving them feedback and making suggestions on where they could improve their driving, and how advanced driving techniques could help them develop as drivers still further. The SAM Observers then gave each of the scouts a demonstration drive over the same route.

After the drives, Nova Storey from the driving charity 'Brake' spoke briefly about young drivers and the personal and family impact of accidents involving young drivers.

The evening finished with some discussion about the drives, the scouts being pleased with their general standard of driving, but realising how much more knowledgeable, better and safer drivers they could be, saying the best part of the evening had been the demonstration drives given by the SAM Observers.

Further information about Solihull Advanced Motorists can be obtained by contacting Brian Irons on 0121-704-2135 or by visiting www.advancedmotorists.co.uk . The Shirley Venture Scouts can be contacted through Tom Jupe - Leader - 07843 677 260 or Jenny Mellor - Secretary - 07813 709 713. 'Brake' can be contacted 01484 559909 or www.brake.org.uk

Thanks again to all involved.

Oliver Turley, SAM Chief Observer