AA are going to be introducing PRACTICAL defensive driving courses!!!

[myvice]

Can’t believe that it’s all theory, be like teaching someone to read over the phone!
I wonder what sort of tests they will set up?

[Rashika]

I did defensive driving through my school. We had a room full of 16 year old girls making up incredibly stupid answers to the questions about potential hazards and generally taking the piss out the entire course. And we all passed. It was a lot of fun, but I don't think I learnt anything.
I've kept the certificate, so I'm wondering if I can recycle it to spend less time on my Motorbike restricted.

not if they stick to the same rules now...you need to do it within the period of you licence...that annoyed me a bit, but wtf its only money and when it halves your waiting period anythings good.

[Streetwise]

Hello all. Just wait a while there are some changes comming through. I believe that there will soon be a motorcycle theory and practical based course to reduce the licence period,

[Colapop]

As far as my missus knows (Manager at AA) the practical defensive driving course is only being offered in Auckland.

[WildBoarMouse]

Hey colapop, do you know if there was a definite date as to when it was going to start? Thanks mate!

[Lee Rusty]

The Defensive driving course is the same the last session is a practical
lesson where you have to demonstrate that you can put the lessons into practice.

I am surprised to read so many people here say they learnt nothing - means they must know everything all ready - and I doubt that that is true,

The practical can be done in either a car or motorcycle - if you want to do on a bike I am certified to do that.

Got to say most people including bike riders do it in a car. Maybe not willing to test skills on a bike - although if they know everything already Im not sure I would want to take them on the road anyway.

Since this was brought in I have done very few riders.

[Sanx]

I am surprised to read so many people here say they learnt nothing - means they must know everything all ready - and I doubt that that is true,

The alternative explanation for a number of people on here saying they learned nothing is that the course is a load of crap. I've done two defensive driving courses in the UK, and they were tripe from beginning to end. Classroom-based nonsense that went on about the "awesome responsibility" we have when driving a car, fact-free diatribes on the dangers of going faster than the speed-limit, and a bunch of other stuff that should have been self-evident to all but the thickest people attending. There was no practical, no training in emergency braking, no skid control or hazard avoidance.

Compared to the IAM rider training - which is 90% practical based and generally taken by ex-police riding instructors - it was laughable. If the courses being offered by the AA and other organisations here are similar to the defensive driving courses I attended in the UK, then they are a complete waste of everyone's time; nothing more than a money-making scheme for the AA whilst lulling those drivers stupid enough to take the course seriously into a false sense of security.

[disenfranchised]

So the information is fairly crap?
And even if going for a full bike license you can still sit the practical part in a car?
As an over 25yo rider, who's had a full car license for 14 years, it really doesn't seem worth it

Anyone know if the other approved course StreetTalk is equally bad?

[Nagash]

So what? There's actually a defensive driving course for motorcycles being offered in Auckland?

I've been searching for one for a few months though but all the people i've contacted in the phone book have either stopped operating or they're not offering that service anymore. I rang AA a couple of months ago and they told me they didn't have anything then so i'd be real keen if they did now.

I coulda got my full by December 1st if I had actually found a course..

[sweetp]

This sounds great, have to say I am not looking forward to my 10 hours of learning about how my emotions effect my driving. I am a robot for goodness sake I don't have emotions.

I certainly cringed when my partner came home and shared the fun he had with a bunch of 16yr olds when he did his course last year. He didn't learn any practical stuff (like scanning) till the very last session. Really how good is theroy for a practical thing - it is like learning surgery from a text book.

As an aside I wonder what the results would be like if they did a practical assesment prior and post course - would it show an improvement?

[more_fasterer]

Given the AA's history of not requiring drivers to sit their practical, full license test, I fail to see how this will be of any benefit to the already pointless (apart from the $$) defensive driving course.

I for one can see the practical component having fewer practical requirements than the Basic Handling Skills Test:
"Sit in the car. Now look ahead. Now look further ahead."
"Start the car"
"Drive in a straight line at 20km/h"
"Stop"
"Perform a U-turn in this deserted car park. Be sure to indicate once you've begun your manoeuvre."
"Congratulations, here's your certificate. Remember, the slower you drive, the safer you are."