A MOTORING author is in the driving seat after winning a top award for a road safety book published by a Dorchester firm.

Dorset-based author Bruce Grant-Braham won the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) Safety Award for The Essential Driver’s Handbook.

It came as part of the prestigious Guild of Motoring Writers awards at the RAC Club in London.

The award recognises the most significant contribution to the promotion of road safety during the year. The publication is part of the RAC’s range of advice handbooks.

Mr Grant-Braham, who lives near Wimborne and is a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, was commissioned by Poundbury-based Veloce Publishing to write the handbook. He took advice from a team of Dorset experts to offer valuable advice to car drivers.

Mr Grant-Braham said: “The RAC Essential Driver’s Handbook offers practical advice to car drivers as to how they might best cope with some of the difficult situations that can occur at any time whilst driving.

“Whether it is a breakdown, an accident, a car fire, an isolated car park or the difficulty of being a lone driver, I hope the RAC Essential Driver’s Handbook will provide some ways of avoiding or minimising the effects of such stressful motoring situations.”

He added: “I am extremely grateful for the professional advice I received during my research. I am pleased to say that we can be reassured that we have some nationally recognised experts in our county and I am indebted to those individuals from Dorset Police, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust who willingly offered advice to make sure that the final manuscript is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.”

Mr Grant-Braham, known for his motorsport and Formula 1 books, is the director of the Motor Sport Research Group at Bournemouth University, has a PhD and is a former Mayor of Poole.