Treasurer - Rosie Bricis

A very long time ago, and for a very long time, I’d been meaning to try for my IAM training and test but hadn’t got around to it.  Then, in 2004, I got a speeding ticket.  I’d been on a visit for work and was thinking about it while driving away afterwards but hadn’t noticed that the speed limit had changed from 40mph to 30mph.  It was in a remote village in Lincolnshire and I’d been caught by a speed trap.  Receiving the notice about the speeding fine made me feel sick, as I thought it meant I’d lose my job.

I joined the Leeds Group of Advanced Motorists shortly afterwards and, with the help of several great Observers, managed to pass my ADT.  At that time, Associates weren’t placed with a particular Observer but attended Sunday morning sessions each week where they were assigned to a different Observer.  I found this interesting as each Observer would have a different way of explaining something or a different approach, so you could build up a wide understanding of driving.  However, I do remember with shame during one of the early sessions when the Observer had said to me: you can pick up speed now as we’ve passed the sign for national speed limit and I said, what sign?

I drive an adapted car, an automatic, using hand controls for the brake and accelerator and a “peg” for the steering wheel, rather like steering a forklift truck perhaps.  The car is a Skoda e‑Tec, which I’ve seen described as a mild hybrid (!) – this means that sometimes it can be powered by the battery but you don’t need to charge the battery separately.  It’s the nicest car I’ve ever driven.