Once we've got that piece of paper that says "pass" on it when we're 17, it seems that we wave goodbye to our driving instructor, hop in a car, and start out on a lifetime of driving.

All too often that means a driving lifetime of bad habits, near misses and, sometimes, accidents.

But it needn't be that way.

The Peterborough branch of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) offer DriveChecks, as well as an Advanced Driver Course.

A DriveCheck involves an IAM observer taking you on a 45-minute drive.

As you drive, the observer will take notes and debrief you at the end, to sharpen up your skills.

I passed my driving test three years ago, after taking it a gruelling four times.

It was with this in mind that I booked a driving check with Richard Gillanders, who, at 72, is one of the IAM's most senior observers.

"Everyone has a theme with their driving," he said.

"For some people the theme is speeding, for others it's dithering. But we all have a set of bad habits, and all of us could do with a little help every now and then, a few things to think about before we start driving."

Mr Gillanders took me on a short drive around the villages surrounding Peterborough, and I quickly realised what my bad habits were.

Not checking mirrors is an obvious one, as is driving under the speed limit.

Apparently if you drive under the limit you run the risk of irritating other drivers, and so, if conditions allow, you should always go for the limit.

"No one checks their mirrors enough," added Mr Gillanders. "And everyone signals when they're at a roundabout or a junction, even when there's no one there, but they don't need to.

"OK it might not be harmful to signal when there's no one there, but the point is this: if you signal whatever, that's not active driving.

"But if you only signal when there's someone there, you actively look each time, you take nothing for granted, you are thinking 100 per cent about what you're doing."

Rowland Hobson, the ET's chief photographer, has been driving for 41 years, and passed his test after only 12 lessons. He took a Drive-Check with Mr Gillanders, and said it was useful in some ways but not in others.

"I drive between 50 and 60 miles a day in my job," he said. "And would class myself as an average driver, although I do drive defensively. I've had a few little accidents over the years where I've scraped other people and they've scraped me, but nothing too bad.

"Having someone sat in the car with me did make me think more carefully about my driving, especially when it came to things like road positioning. But there were a few times where I felt I was being asked to drive more aggressively than I usually would.

"Mr Gillanders told me to drive to the speed limit, for example, whereas I see the speed limit as a limit rather than a target.

"I think young drivers should be asked to have at least a year under their belts before they're let out on the road on their own, and I think that if people don't drive during the course of their every- day life, an IAM advanced course would be a good idea. But I don't think I'll be taking one."

Related: What does it takes to be a good driver?
With the training of young motorists currently under review by the Government, Jemma Walton asks what it takes to be a good driver. 22 May 2008

Now put your driving skills to the test

The normal cost of DriveCheck will be £35, but as an introductory offer the price is discounted to £25.

Apply for the Skill for Life programme within 30 days of taking your DriveCheck assessment and you will receive a discount of £25 off the standard price of £99. For applications made after 30 days, the IAM offers a discount of £18.

For more information see www.peterboroughadvancedmotorists.co.uk or call 01733 270101.

The IAM also offers an Advanced Driving Course, and passing it could save up to 15 per cent off your car insurance bill. The course costs £99.

RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders' aim is to reduce road accidents by encouraging an interest in road safety, by improving driving standards, knowledge and skill. In order to do this, RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders have more than 50 local groups that will provide free training to help you improve your driving skills and prepare you to take the ultimate Advanced Test.

For more information visit www.rospa.com.