Bryan Goes for Gold
Bryan Willcox of Doulting has become one of the youngest drivers ever to pass the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Advanced Driving Test. Not only did he pass, but he attained the highest Gold Award at just aged 17.
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Above : Sandra Pennyfather, Mike Wells and Bryan Willcox |
Bryan, initially trained as a learner with Sandra Pennyfather, Chief Instructor at Shepton Mallet based Driving Ambition. Sandra, who holds a National Diploma in Advanced Driver Instruction and is part of RoSPA’s Headquarters Diploma Training Team, added; “I recommended the RoSPA test to Bryan as it is generally regarded as the most comprehensive and challenging test of its kind available to the general public. The Drive must be safe, systematic, progressive and smooth. Driving at this level requires expert use of the vehicle’s controls and the driver must demonstrate the ability to plan well ahead. RoSPA require that a retest be taken every three years to ensure that standards are maintained.”
Unlike many of his peers Bryan saw passing his ‘L’ test as a milestone in his driving education not the end of it. He became an associate member of RoSPA’s South West Group and almost immediately started his advanced training. Bryan attends the group’s annual series of lectures in Yeovil and was treated to a demonstration drive by Mike Davis the group’s senior observer. Bryan’s development has continued with several drives overseen by Sandra Pennyfather and RoSPA South West Group observer Julian Tucker.
Bryan summed up his feelings as follows:-
“I am amazed at how much I have achieved in just one year. I was lucky enough to meet Sandra (my driving instructor) through my involvement with the Scouts in Shepton. Her expert instruction not only saw me pass my ‘L’ test but showed me the importance of driving defensively at all times. I remember Sandra saying on the way home from my test, that your pass certificate is just a piece of paper that means that you can go out and continue to learn on your own. I now know how correct that comment is.”
“Sandra and Julian Tucker, who I knew from school, encouraged me to go to the local RoSPA Group and see what it was like. I was a bit wary as I had a preconceived idea that Advanced Driving would be unexciting and dull, I needn’t have worried.”
“I received a warm welcome from the group who are very keen to help young drivers stay safe on the roads. The ‘lectures’ turned out to be fun evenings and opened my mind to all sorts of issues that I had not considered in the past.”
“Then the demo drive, ok so I had a bit of an idea now but I was not prepared for the skill of Mike Davis who took me out. Mike drove with safety as his first concern, but produced power and performance from his vehicle that I would have not believed possible. Using the ‘system of car control’, careful planning and positioning he showed me how to make brisk progress with loads of pace. Wow!”
“Now it was my turn, Sandra and Julian would train me jointly. I had to work very hard, yes I made mistakes but received all the encouragement that I needed. It was great working with Julian, Sandra and Mike as I was able to pick up different hints and tips from each of them.”
“Test day arrived and of course I was a bit nervous however the examiner put me at my ease. We went out on a route that included all classes of roads and carried out one or two reversing exercises, add in a commentary (where you vocalise everything that you are doing and thinking during the drive) and this is anything but another ‘L’ test. It is unbelievable how many tricky situations you have to handle during the drive.”
“At the end of the test the examiner asked me all sorts or tricky questions about roadcraft, the Highway Code and general driving. He then gave me a complete de-brief before informing me that I had achieved Gold, what a feeling!”
Mike Wells, retired traffic police instructor and Bryan’s RoSPA examiner said “the biggest challenge to Bryan now is maintaining his gold standard. He has achieved so much in such a short time that it would be all too easy to let things slip. I look forward to watching his skills develop further with experience. Bryan should consider himself to be an Advanced Driving Ambassador and encourage other young people to follow is example.”
Bryan is keen to encourage young people of his own age to improve their driving skills. He says “so many of my friends have been involved in accidents, one being admitted to hospital. Indeed I myself was involved in what could very easily have been a head on fatal collision involving a driver that had passed his test just a month earlier. This knocked my confidence for a while. Looking back my training allowed me to anticipate what was happening and avoid the vehicle that had strayed onto my side of the road by ‘running away’ as far as I could to the side of the road. Yes my vehicle did receive some damage but I am here to tell the tale. I think it is vital that new drivers seek extra coaching after they get their full licence. I have now doubt, given my recent experiences, that this would reduce collisions, injury and fatalities on the roads.”
Bryan is keen to develop his learning even further and would love to go to RoSPA headquarters and be the youngest ever to take up the challenge of the Diploma course. He is hoping to join the police and go on to carryout traffic duties and would like to find part time employment that he could fit in around his studies and scouting commitments. He would ideally like to utilize his driving skills in his work but is finding that his age, despite proving that he is a safer driver than most, is standing in his way.
Bryan closed by saying that “Improving your driving need not be expensive and is a huge amount of fun, I would recommend it to anyone.”
RoSPA have many highly trained and experienced tutors willing to offer, free of charge, advice, support and driving assessments to develop your driving skills. If you are interested in taking up the challenge of a RoSPA Advanced test and would like to find out more information on your nearest local group then visit our RoADA website.
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RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
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