R.O.S.P.A. Gold, driving award in the UK.?

Question

Has anyone passed what is reputed to be, the hardest driving test in the world, and achieved gold status.

How did you find it, did you come up from silver or bronze, or did you pass gold straight away.

If anyone is not sure what i'm asking, don't answer.

Answer 1

Failed it twice.

I am already a member of the IAM and thought I was good enough to go straight to gold, I was wrong!

Quite a few members of my car club have the gold but they all went from bronze or silver, never heard of anyone who went straight to gold but good luck if you attempt it.

Answer 2

I first sat my advanced driving test in 1985.  I had lessons every saturday with my mate, and we joined the local a.d. club.  I was 21 at the time.  My instructor as a sgt Jess from traffic dept. He was strict but fair. Over the weeks we covered hundreds of miles of roads, using dual carriageways, heading to Glasgow and Edinburgh for motorway training, then back down to the West for country roads.  His stories of his job and what he has encountered has really stuck in my mind since then.  On the day of my test, I travelled to the next large town and waited for my examiner.  He introduced himself and asked me a few questions. When he asked me who my instructor was I told him....silence.....stoney silence...... then a look that could have killed.   Yes, he said Sgt Jess, that man got me sacked from the Traffic dept...... Well what a shocker....I'm going to fail this i said.... Off we went.  after the hour and half of driving we got back to his car.  Turns out I taught his wife to swim ( yes I teach swimming too) and I was told I had passed and was awarded a grade 2.... I wasn't happy and after a few months I sat it again and passed with a Grade 1 ( Gold )

I have sat it many times and  I am still the same grade.  I am also going for the DIAmond advanced driving course ( for adi's) soon.

Highly recommend it for new drivers.