A new year a new start as we re-commit to help make our roads safer and help people to become more confident, skilful and saver drivers. For the members and friends of the Group who are receiving this newsletter I know that you ‘get’ our mission so in many ways I know I’m preaching to the converted. For those of you who have been on one of our Advanced Drivers Courses think back to how it felt at the time and how pleased you were to see your driving improve. Passing the Advanced Driving test was a period in time where you demonstrated that you had reached the standard.

For me, anyone passing the Advanced Driving Test has made a fantastic achievement but its not the be all and end all. Not achieving the standard should not be regarded as a fail. I know many people over the years who have not achieved the test standard but have walked away from the Group pleased with what they have achieved and eager to tell others about us. It’s the journey of improving driving skills that really matters. Its far better to train a poor driver to be safe driver with a good attitude to maintain their improved skills for the rest of their lives than to temporarily create an excellent driver to tick their box to pass the advanced test but their poor attitude leaks out over the longer term resulting in poor driving – St Helens Group of Advanced Motorists Working to make our roads safer every day… but then they say “I’m an advanced Driver”!

So, advanced driving is really underpinned by a good, life-long, attitude to driving. From a good attitude stems good driving behaviour. If you buy into our mission and want to help the Group, in a practical way, to succeed in this mission then please contact me. I’m not concerned if you are an IAM RoadSmart member or not. This doesn’t matter. What does matter is your passion to help the Group succeed to help drivers and riders in the St. Helens / Merseyside area.

Mark Farnworth

Group Chairman