About us | Bolton Advanced Motorists

Since 1970, Bolton and District Advanced Motorists has given car and van drivers across Bolton, Wigan, Leigh, Salford and the surrounding towns one-to-one guidance to improve their driving technique and reach the standard needed for the IAM RoadSmart Advanced Driving Test.

Who we are

We are an IAM RoadSmart group and a registered charity (no. 1052379). Our volunteers hold qualifications from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), and we have guided more than 1,500 drivers to the advanced level. Our Observers and Trustees are all unpaid volunteers who are keen to share their skills and knowledge to help you succeed. Because we’re volunteers, we’re able to keep the course fee low.

What we offer

We run four courses each year, starting in February, May, August and November. Each course lasts at least eight weeks.

Our structured training programme starts with a classroom briefing on the basics of advanced driving, followed by a demonstration drive given by an IAM RoadSmart qualified National Observer. For the rest of the course you drive your own car, accompanied by an IAM RoadSmart qualified National Observer who will help you improve your skills on town roads, country roads and motorways.

Before your Advanced Driving Test, you’ll have the chance to meet a local IAM RoadSmart Examiner, who will explain what they expect from you on the test. You’ll also have plenty of opportunity to ask questions about the test, or about driving in general.

A wide Bolton road, Higher Bridge Street joining Blackburn Road, with several lanes, traffic lights and a few cars, a tall church spire in the distance and moorland hills on the horizon under a grey sky. — Higher Bridge Street and Blackburn Road, one of the main routes into Bolton. Photo: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0.

A friendly community

The group has a very active social life too, with details in our monthly newsletter. Activities range from monthly social meetings with guest speakers to driving competitions, dinners and visits to places of interest. You can find what’s coming up on our events page and read the latest in our news.

Ready to find out more? Come to one of our introduction evenings, or get in touch.

Photo credits

Home page photo: M61 motorway by John Dickinson, public domain. Other photographs are credited beside each image. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.