The Dumfries Group of Advanced Motorists is an Affiliated Group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and has been in existence since 1977. The Group has around 90 Members who have taken and passed either the IAM’s Advanced Driving Test or the Advanced Riding Test for motorcyclists.

The Group has some 20 Members who have been trained as Observers, whose role is to coach motorists or motorcyclists to the IAM Test standard. The Dumfries Group run the IAM's “Skill for Life” training scheme and expect to coach Associates to Test standard within an average of 6 Observed Drives or Rides with a Test pass rate of around 90%. The benefits from passing the IAM Test includes lower insurance, more enjoyable driving and riding and above all, less risk of having an accident. The IAM's statistics, based on
130,000 Members in the UK, suggests that IAM Members have a 50-70% less chance of having an accident than the ordinary motorist or motorcyclist.

All the training is done by volunteers who give their time freely. However, at present the number of motorcyclists who can be trained is limited due to the lack of funding. The Group is in need of charitable donations to enable the motorcycle Observers to become more effective. One such example is that the Observer needs to maintain communication with the Associate while out on a ride and this can only be done by the use of 2-way radios. These radios cost £500 per set and the Group does not have sufficient funds to equip all the Observers.

Our Vision-

The Group has one aim, and that is, by coaching motorists and motorcyclists to the IAM Test standard it will help to make the roads of Dumfries & Galloway a safer place for everyone.

Please help us achieve this aim.

Programmes and Activities-

Coaching courses are run throughout the year and in addition the Dumfries Group hold monthly meetings on the 2nd Monday at the Dalston House Hotel, Dumfries, beginning at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome.