ADVANCE Spring 2011 by D & G Grp of Adv Motorists & Motorcyclists

D N E

The official magazine of Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists and Motorcyclists

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ADVANCE Spring 2011 Contents 1 2 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 15 15 16 17

18 19

Who’s Who & What’s On - See what events are planned The Chairman’s comments - Thoughts from Graeme McColm Give drivers the skills to tackle Britain’s most dangerous roads IAM review of crash risk tables for British roads There should be more hazards on the road! Newcastle University report on drivers and hazards. The Secretary Reports - Helen reviews thr Group year and records test passes. Motorcycle Chief Observer’s Diary - Find out a little of what’s going on inside the chief’s helmet! Race Night 2011 - Report on February’s Race Night Are road ‘accidents’ caused by hazards? - Is it the hazard or driver’s reaction to hazards that cause the problem? 2011 Motorcycle Egg Run - Details of this year’s egg run AGM 2011 notice - Formal notice of the 2011 AGM Are your tyres under pressure? - IAM tyre advice A hole lot of trouble - Is it easier to visualise 30 mph or 45 ft/sec? An alternative to MPH - Analysis of accidents in road-works and tips for staying safe. Vision impaired? - You pass the driving test eyesight requirements but do you need glasses? Have you been spotted speeding? - Check on-line to see if you’ve been caught speeding Don’t risk it! - ‘Country roads’ is the latest campaign. Also see details of accidents in your area. Call to protect younger drivers - Young driver deaths in the UK could be cut by up to a third if compulsory post-test training was introduced, according to the IAM Cuts to road safety budgets will cost money and lives, warns IAM IAM comment on the report on road safety (Pacts) Don't be a pratnav - IAM advise drivers not to be over reliant on satnavs

20 Safer doesn’t necessarily mean slower, says IAM - (for bikers) 21 About the IAM - facts and figures about the IAM organisation 24 Advertiser’s Wall - Summary of all those who have advertised in the edition with links to their respective adverts. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

JOHN F. BLACK Tel: 01387 267473

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Group Committee Members for 2010/11 This magazine was published Group President: Tommy Jardine Chair, Chief Obs

Graeme McColm

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Vice Chair

Jamie Wood

01683 300347

Secretary

Helen Cameron

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Treasurer

Russell Wears

01387 263893

M/c Coordntr Phil Sayers

by the Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists.

For more details of our activities see our web site at: www.iamdumfries.org.uk Contact the Group Secretary:

01848 331994

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Events

Stewart Cameron 01387 264005

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Anne Lind Andy Campbell Neil Martyniuk Maureen Hewitt Andrew Bird Sheena Traill Elaine Paterson

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(dumfries@groups.iam.org.uk) Facebook: Dumfries & Galloway IAM (Motorcycles) Group Magazine contributions to: (editor@iamdumfries.f9.co.uk)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this magazine are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Editor, Group or the To e-mail any member of the committee, please in Institute of Advanced Motorists, to the first instance, use the group contact e-mail which the Group is affiliated. Reg address: (dumfries@groups.org.uk) Charity No. SC 023511

What’s on? - check for details & late changes at

www.iamdumfries.org.uk

April - date and venue being finalised - please check the web site early April 9 May - AGM & Quiz Meetings at Edenbank Hotel, Laurieknowe, DG2 7AH 7:30pm unless otherwise stated.

New online version of magazine - Ed Members will receive the next edition of this magazine via a link to the on-line version. Please make sure we have an up to date e-mail address for you to prevent the link disappearing into the void! If you have a new e-mail address or want a specific alternative e-mail address to be used please let Christine Donaldson know by e-mailing her (arthursplace20@btinternet.com). The on-line version is in a ‘turn page by page’ format, published in full colour throughout, can be viewed on screen or downloaded and even printed by you. Use of this format is cheaper and will help the Group to concentrate its resources on the core business of getting the word out to the media and prospective Associates. If you wish to carry on receiving the printed format you should opt out of the on-line version by letting Christine Donaldson know. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

The Chairman’s comments - Graeme McColm Welcome to the Spring edition of Advance, our group magazine. Although since last going to print the weather has been pretty poor, congratulations to everybody who has passed their test since our last issue. New associates have been signed up already this year but if you know of anybody who would benefit from a Skills for Life course please get in touch. Advanced driving and riding is a benefit for everybody irrespective of their age, experience or ability. Put simply a Skills for Life course is a must. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome aboard our new advertiser, Robert Thurlow of the Bridge Veterinary Clinic. Robert passed his advanced driving test fairly recently and you can see his advert on page 8, so if you are looking for a vet in Dumfries why not give them a try? January 26 saw six of us at Carlisle for our Annual Ten Pin Bowling event. Unfortunately the Carlisle team didn’t turn up. We must have scared them off last year. Despite this we had an enjoyable night with two teams, the motorcycle section against the car section. The car section won by a whisker. Our annual Race Night took place in February; this year it was held at he Aberdour Hotel. Although there was a good turnout there was still room for more. These events are truly successful if we get as much support as possible, so please come along to such events, whenever you can, and bring along friends and family to support us. If you have any ideas on events or fundraiser please mention it to an observer or committee member. Now Spring has arrived I hope everybody will be out and about either in the car or on motorbikes, enjoying the better weather - just remember to stay safe.

Keeping members informed The Group sends out news via e-mail to keep Members informed about events. If you want this service and don’t currently get these e-mails please make sure we have an up to date e-mail address for you; just e-mail Christine Donaldson (arthursplace20@btinternet.com) so she can get you on the list.

Scotspeed offer IAM Members 10% discount at their Dumfries shop. This offer does not apply to sale items, special offers, workshop servicing or bike sales.

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Give drivers the skills to tackle Britain’s most dangerous roads The IAM welcomed the publication of crash risk tables for Britain’s roads in 2010, part of the Road Safety Foundation annual survey. Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research said: “Information on high-risk locations will help any driver stay safe on our most dangerous roads. Saving as many lives as possible within potentially limited budgets is going to become very important in the next few years, and the IAM supports using this information to target investment where it will bring most benefit. “While the IAM supports continued investment in the roads with the highest risk, the long-term answer still lies in driver improvement. The first step should be to equip young drivers with experience of rural ‘A’ roads by including these in the driving test. Government support of a lifelong learning driver culture would make motorists better able to cope with dangerous roads.” Mr Greig added: “By being alert, processing the environmental information around you, recognising the hazards and taking safe driving seriously, anybody can handle even the most dangerous of Britain’s roads.” The results of the survey for Scotland (and other areas of the UK), can be found at ‘www.roadsafetyfoundation.com/’. This shows that Scotland has the highest risk motorway and A road network of all British regions overall. Scotland accounts for 25% of the total length surveyed. It has the highest risk motorway and A road network of all British regions with 12% rated in the higher (black and red) risk categories. Overall, 1 in 9 of all British fatal crashes occurred in Scotland. 88% of the network surveyed was single carriageway. Despite the concentration living in cities, 75% of road deaths are outside built-up areas. Beyond the central belt, population is sparse and traffic volumes much lighter than the British average, with roads carrying longer distance and recreational traffic. The distribution of accident types reflects Scotland’s distinct road network – with proportions of ‘head-ons’ and vehicles running off the road amongst the highest of British regions, and collisions at junctions the lowest. You can look up the individual risks associated with any GB road by going to ‘www.eurorap.org/road_lookup_home’ e. g. A710 is a medium to high risk road. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

There should be more hazards on the road! Newcastle University researchers have found that 31% of drivers were easily bored and therefore more likely to seek excitement by taking driving risks. These thrill-seekers were prone to speeding or overtaking as they did not find the highways taxing enough. The researchers said building in more obstacles - such as taking away kerbs - might be the answer. Lead researcher Dr Joan Harvey said: "Contrary to what you might expect when driving, hazards can actually increase our attention to the road so this may well be the way forward for planners. In towns we may need to start considering some radical schemes such as removing kerbs so there are more hazards - like pedestrians - around your car. Our research suggests that this might actually improve people's driving." For their study, the researchers questioned 1,563 drivers about their motoring style and personality. The 31% who got bored and sought thrills on the road included women and younger drivers. Also, 35% of all those surveyed were described as "enthusiastic", found driving challenging or interesting and were less likely to have crashes. A total of 21% were categorised as slow with a dislike of driving, while 13% were seen as safe and slow.

The Secretary Reports - Helen Cameron 2010 - 11 has been a busy year as far as advertising and promoting the Dumfries & Galloway Group have been concerned. We have had various adverts, articles in the papers as well as a radio campaign. We have not been inundated with new associates but have steadily achieved passes in car and bikes throughout the year. We have taken our portable gazebo around the region, to Castle Douglas, Gretna, Moffat and Dumfries. We plan to go to different areas in the next few weeks and would be grateful for a couple of hours to support the promotions. Intended areas will be Lockerbie, Newton Stewart and Dumfries. Group meetings have not been as well attended this past year and it would be helpful to get some feedback on why this is so - just send me an e-mail with your thoughts. Any suggestions for future meetings are also invited. We've had seven passes since our last magazine. Congratulations to Phil Jones and Steven Boyd who passed their Motorcycle Advanced Tests and Chris McWhinnie (Obs: Stewart Cameron), Andrew McKenzie (Obs: Alan Jones), Alex Reid (Obs: Peter Robertson) and Robert Whorlow (Obs: Nicky Riley), Jodie Hughan (Obs: Helen Cameron & Stuart Murray) who passed their Advanced Car Tests. ÂŠ Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

Motorcycle Chief Observer’s Diary - Graeme McColm There is not a lot to report since we last went to print, due to the horrendous weather over the last few months - the days when observers have been on the road are few and far between. Some observers have managed to get out given the slimmest of chances and thus have kept the motorcycle section up and running through the winter. Thanks - you know who you are!!! Congratulations to all those associates who ventured out and completed their advanced test - well done! See Helen Cameron’s round up of passes elsewhere in the magazine. Sunday 13 March saw the first run of this year. There was a large turn out of bikers on that Sunday morning, all keen to go out on a run. As a consequence Graham Abrines and Andy Campbell took it upon themselves to organise, at short notice, a ride- out. The destination was Moffat and a good day was had by all. Thanks goes to both of them for stepping in at the last minute. The next ride out has been scheduled for Sunday 3 April. The motorcycle observers are now meeting regularly to organise events and to discuss ideas on promoting the motorcycle side of the Dumfries Group. If you have any thoughts or ideas on how we might accomplish this then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any of the motorcycle observers or committee members. Please remember to maintain your standards and keep safe.

Race night 2011 February saw what is fast becoming an annual event the Grand Race Night - with racing over jumps and on the flat. A cracking night was had by all who attended. The event was well supported to the extent that an extra race was run over and above the planned six races. Sponsors were attracted for all the races and each of the eight horses, in every race, was sold. The event raised in excess of £400 for the groups funds. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

Are road ‘accidents’ caused by hazards? The answer to this is probably yes - but the hazards of themselves, very rarely cause a crash. It is your reaction to the hazard or another motorist’s reaction to the hazard which is the problem. Take for instance the case of potholes which are discussed further on in this magazine. If the cause of a pothole is the sudden catastrophic failure of a manhole in the carriageway located just over a crest, at night, on an empty road where conditions make it very hard to see, then certainly it is a significant contributory factor. Of course you should drive so that you can stop in the distance you can see to be clear but there may be scenarios where this is easier said than done. What if a tree limb were to fall on you whilst you were slowly moving forward in a queue at a junction? Such examples of course are the exception rather than the rule. In the vast majority of scenarios however the clues are there; you just need concentration, disciplined observation, anticipation and detailed planning to spot and deal with hazards safely. So what constitutes a hazard? A hazard is anything which is or could develop into something which puts your safety at risk. Another way of putting it is that a hazard is anything which may require you to change your course or speed. Hazards can be put into one of three categories. 1) Fixed hazards such as the layout of the road, bends, hills, junctions and the like. 2) Hazards related to the position or movement of other road users (everything from a badger to a lorry - but not just vehicles). 3) Weather conditions, road surface conditions and the affect of weather conditions on the road surface. So to stay safe when you get behind the handlebars or steering wheel make sure you are: fit for the task; that you not only look but also see; you ask yourself what could happen next; you plan what you are going to do about it; you keep looking and reviewing/ revising your plans as scenarios unfold. The bottom line is that advanced motorists will view hazards as challenges to be assessed and overcome - before they get to them - through use of their armoury of advanced techniques. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

2011 Motorcycle Egg Run - Saturday 16 April Come and join us for the Dumfries Annual Motorcycle Charity Easter Egg Run, organised by the Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Motorcycle Section. Now with four meeting points for a pre-run, combining together at the Interfloor car park on the A701 at Locharbriggs. Programme of events 12:30 Meeting points are The Ram statue in Moffat; Gretna Gateway centre car park (at the exit to the roundabout); Thornhill town centre near the cross; the Tourist information centre Car Park off King Street Castle Douglas. 1 pm *Each group sets off led by an IAM Observer heading for the prompt Interfloor car park* 13:30 Motorbikes to combine at the Interfloor car park (formerly Gates) on the A701 in Locharbriggs. Eggs collected from everyone. 13:45

Leave Interfloor Car Park on short run to Dumfries town centre.

14:00 Arrive in Dumfries Town Centre where all the bikes will park up. Info: iam.dfs.mcs@hotmail.co.uk; 01387-259500 after 6pm; fax 01387-259500 anytime. *Note: all highway code rules and regulations to apply to the ride in groups. Easter Eggs donated to the Egg Run are given to Social Services for distribution to children right across our region. Pictured here at Wigtown Road Services, Newton Stewart (where she works) is Jody Hughan with her Advanced Driving Test pass certificate. Congratulations to Jody and all the others who have passed their advanced tests. See also page 4.

Group Members and Associates can get a free basic car wash, or two jet wash tokens when you fill up. Just show your membership card, or for Associates your IAM confirmation letter. Let the staff know you would like the free bike/car wash before you pay for your fuel. This offer may be withdrawn at any time. ÂŠ Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

Call us on 01387 259111 We are a friendly, local practice offering a continuity of case management from our experienced principal Veterinary Surgeon. We offer a wide range of services, using modern diagnostic aids which allow a focused approach to the healthcare of your pet. We also have a special interest in helping beekeepers successfully control Varroa Mite -

Consulting hours: Weekdays 9:00am - 9:30am By Appointment 3:30pm - 6:00pm Open Surgery Saturday 9:00am - 10:30am - Open Surgery

Bridge Veterinary Clinic 51 Glasgow Street, Dumfries, DG2 9AG 01387 259111 www.bridgevets.com

24hour emergency cover

ADVANCED DRIVING & RIDING - IT’S A SKILL FOR LIFE

We advocate using the ‘Planned System of Driving or Riding’. Just because you don’t use our System doesn’t necessarily make you an unsafe driver or rider. What our method gives you is a means of driving or riding in a consistently safe and systematic way which leaves nothing to chance. Our method will not help you drive or ride through a hazard, say a bend, at the fastest possible physical speed but when perfected it should help you progress through it at the fastest speed consistent with maintaining stability and maximising safety ..... it really is a ‘skill for life’. Interested in improving your skills? We can help, why not find out more? Visit our web site, e-mail or call us on 07707 035518 - see page 1 for our contact details. DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY GROUP OF ADVANCED MOTORISTS & MOTORCYCLISTS Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC 023511

B R A I D W O O D S SOLICITORS

Property and Estate Agency Wills and Estates Commercial Practice Family Law

www.braidwoods.com 1 Charlotte Street, Dumfries DG1 2AG Telephone: (01387) 257272 E-mail:

St. Michael’s Services St. Michael’s Street Dumfries DG1 2QD Tel: 01387 254304 ~ BP ultimate fuels ~ BP Autogas ~ Car wash ~ Jet wash ~ MACE convenience store ~ Nectar Points ~ Special offers for Dumfries Group Members

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Annual General Meeting NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by order of the Group Committee that the Annual General Meeting of “Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists” will be held at 19:30 on Monday 9 May 2011 at Edenbank Hotel, Dumfries, to enable the Trustees of the Group (Registered Charity No. SC 023511) to present their Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2011 for approval by the Group Members and to conduct an election. Issued by: Secretary: Helen Cameron; Contact: 07707 035518; Group No 6071; e-mail: dumfries@groups.iam.org.uk - 14 March 2011. All Members, Associates and Friends are invited to attend but only Fully Paid Up Members of the IAM and of the Group may vote. A Member entitled to vote at the General Meeting may appoint a proxy to vote in his stead. A proxy need not be a Full Member of the Group. CURRENT OFFICERS: All Officers retire annually but offer themselves for re-election. (Group Rule 3.4) Chairperson: Graeme McColm - Offering to stand for re election Vice Chairman: Jamie Wood - Offering to stand for re election Secretary: Helen Cameron - Offering to stand for re election Treasurer: Russell Wears - Offering to stand for re election COMMITTEE MEMBERS: One third of the Committee (excluding Officers) must retire annually and may offer themselves for re-election. (Group Rule 3.4) A. RETIRING BY ROTATION AND STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION: Stewart Cameron, Phil Sayers, Neil Martyniuk B. RETIRING BY ROTATION AND NOT STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION: None C. COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOT RETIRING & NUMBER OF YEARS REMAINING: Maureen Hewitt (1 year), Christine Donaldson (1 year), Andrew Bird (1 year), Elaine Marshall (2 years), Sheena Traill (2 years), Andy Campbell (2 years) NOTE: The total number of Committee Members including the Officers must not exceed twenty. See the Nomination Form (available from the Secretary) for details, which must be returned by 9 am 2 May 2011. Group Rules and the Minutes of the May 2010 AGM are available on the Group web site or may be requested, from the Secretary, at least seven days in advance of the date for the AGM. IMPORTANT The Group belongs to its Members and it will benefit from your input at the AGM and/or your participation on the committee, if you are able to help. Any full Member of the group wishing to help the group by volunteering to be a member of the committee should let the Secretary know in advance of the date for return of nomination papers so that a Nomination Form can be raised. 11

Are your tyres under pressure? According to the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists), around 10 per cent of cars on the road have at least one tyre with an illegal tread depth. This reduces braking effectiveness, increases risk of collision, and could lead to a hefty fine and points on your licence. As tyres have only the area of the sole of your shoe in touch with the road at any one time, it’s a safety ‘no-brainer’ to keep them in top condition - extra care is needed when sudden heavy showers can profoundly affect tyre performance. Stopping distances double on wet roads and the risk of a skid can be trebled if the tread depth is only at the legal minimum of 1.6 mm. This risk increases seven-fold when the tread depth is less than 0.5 mm. And if you have to brake hard on one of the 10 per cent of road surfaces with below average skid resistance, the skid risk rises by around 50 per cent. IAM tyre advice Inspect: Check the general state of the tyre for cuts, bumps and uneven wear: worn shoulders indicate under- inflation; if worn in the centre indicates over inflation and wear on one side indicates wheel misalignment. Check the tyre air pressure (an IAM survey found that only 18 per cent of men and 4 per cent of women check tyre pressures weekly). Under-inflated tyres affect road grip as the sidewalls can move sideways relative to the wheel, increase fuel consumption and tyre wear, and in hot weather they’re more likely to suffer a ‘blow out’. Over-inflation on the other hand results in the tyre bulging in the centre of the tread pattern so that a smaller section is in contact with the road. As much as half of the grip can be lost, and the central part of the tread will wear rapidly. Adjust the tyre pressure: Check that your tyres are correctly inflated (ideally when they’re cold). Know the law: The penalty for driving with one illegal tyre is a fine of up to £2,500 and three points on your licence. While the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm, consider replacing the tyres soon after the tread depth reaches 3 mm, and always replace them once the tread is down to 2 mm. Fitting new tyres: When replacing two worn tyres, the new ones should be fitted to the same axle, preferably the rear axle. Also make sure the tyres are suitable for the vehicle and the wheels they are being fitted to. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists 12

A hole lot of trouble One of the downsides to potholes often not considered is the potential effect on observation. Observation is the cornerstone of safe driving and that means looking in the far, middle and near distance in front, behind and to the sides. In the case of roads affected by potholes, especially multiple potholes, a motorist’s observation necessarily is concentrated on the near distance in order to try to avoid the surface defects. The effect of this can be reduced middle and far distance observation. This could explain why a motorist may swerve towards you in order to avoid a pothole - concentration on the section of road immediately in front has taken precedence and the ‘wider overall picture’ gets lost. The only way to counteract this is to recognise the problem and slow down to give yourself time to deal with situation, much as you should, say when proceeding down a busy high street. You should also recognise how this type of event can affect other road users. The IAM recommends that, spotting a pothole ahead, you should use your knowledge of the damaged road surface to position yourself in such a way that you can avoid it. But check behind and ahead; don’t drive too close to an oncoming vehicle to avoid a pothole. Or suddenly pull out to avoid a hole, only to discover that there is a motorcyclist trying to get past you when you do so. Bikers and cyclists need to look well ahead and change direction early, so they have time to deal with the holes, and their movements don’t cause surprise. Wet weather makes potholes even more dangerous, concealing them under normal surface water. If you know that a local road has a pothole developing, even if it is not visible, try to use the a line that avoids it - if it is safe to do so. If you do hit a pothole accidentally, make a point of checking not just the outer tyre wall but the inner tyre wall, and the wheel rim which may have been damaged as a result. Expect other road users to react late and to change direction sharply and be ready – give everyone room while we all cope with poor road conditions. Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front so that you can see the road surface before you drive or ride on it. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists 13

O B S E R V E R’ S C O R N E R

This section is intended to help when considering the best course of action. It is up to every driver to actively assess each scenario.

An alternative to MPH Let’s say you are driving at say 60 mph and you see a sign telling you it is 300 yds to a hazard, which potentially may require you to stop, but which at first is out of sight. How do you assess when to start slowing and your stopping distance?

300yds

You’ve obviously got your speedometer which indicates your speed as 60 mph but this does not tell you much in terms of assessing just how much road you will cover if you have to come to a halt. It is hard to picture in your mind what 60 mph means, after all you would have to be able to make a mental picture of the distance (60 miles) and the time taken to cover it (I hour)! A more meaningful measure might be metres per second or feet per second as you are much more likely to be able to picture what this means. Since in this country our road system is based on the imperial system i.e. speedos in mph, distances in miles and signs marked in yards etc we’ll consider feet per second as our measure of choice. 60 mph is approximately equivalent to 90 feet/sec (actually 88 ft/sec). So in the above scenario you are 300 yds or 900 feet from the junction - that’s 10 seconds away. The stopping distances from the Highway Code show an overall stopping distance of 240 ft at 60 mph inclusive of thinking distance. To work out the approximate distance covered per second simply multiply your speedometer reading by 1½ (i.e. add ½ to your speedo reading) to give your speed in feet per second. So 30 mph = 45 ft/sec, 40 mph = 60 ft/sec etc. By using this method at appropriate times you may just get a more accurate mental picture of both your speed and the time/ distance needed to stop. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

Vision impaired? Government statistics show that there are well over 30 million people with full driving licences in the UK. Whilst the majority of drivers would still pass the minimal driving test eyesight requirements, it is likely a proportion would now not. Many of those who can pass the requirements of the driving test are not however driving with the best possible vision. Since driving is all about observation, it follows that one of the keys to safe driving is to ensure any defects in vision are corrected. This highlights the need for regular eye tests especially for those over the age of 50 - you might think your eyesight is up to scratch but it is a natural process of ageing for your eyesight to change over time. If you do need glasses to correct eyesight, then you should use them when driving. It is important when choosing glasses for driving to avoid frames with thick sides as these can make observation into junctions etc very difficult and they obscure your peripheral vision. Sunglasses can be useful especially in strong low sun conditions, where their use can help you maintain a view of the road, especially when the sun is directly ahead. Anti-reflection coatings are available for clear glasses which may be useful for reducing glare from oncoming headlights. Good vision is not just about wearing the right spectacles if you need them, but also about keeping your vehicle windows clean both inside and out. Not only do you get a clear view, it means your eyes do not have to work so hard and reduces eyestrain.

Have you been spotted speeding? For those of you who don’t know, the Freedom of Information Act has lead to the Government giving you access to all registered excess speed events recorded on Speed Cameras during the preceding 12 months. Even if the speed limit was exceeded by only 1 mph and no ticket issued the event is still recorded on the ‘Live Online Vehicle Checking System’ database. You can check the database for any excess speed events recorded against your vehicle by going to the web site www.i-database.co.uk . You have to enter your registration number and any data recorded against that vehicle will be displayed. You can even view a copy of the photographic record of the event. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists 15

Don’t risk it! ‘Don't Risk It’ is the web site for Road Safety Scotland’s campaigns where there is a wealth of information on Country Roads, Motorbikes, Drink Driving and Seatbelts. The site contains interactive quizzes, links to resources, information on the topic, safety tips and videos taken from safety campaigns. As well as, in the case of the motorcycling section, video explanations of how to avoid the most common motorbike crashes, to stay safe and improve skills - see adjacent example screen shot. The latest Country Roads campaign explains that you don't have to be speeding to be driving too fast. In fact the worst accidents in Scotland happen on country roads with 3 out of 4 road deaths occurring on them. The most common causes of these fatalities being loss of control and driving too fast for the conditions. An interesting feature of this section of the web site is the ability to find out about accidents in your area via a postcode search. This allows you to look at the statistics for the period between 2005 and 2009 inclusive, split by gender, age, mode of transport, day of the week and time of day. Unsurprisingly the accidents recorded for the age group 16 to 24 make scary reading.

You can find the site here:

www.dontriskit.info Why not have a look?

Call to protect younger drivers Young driver deaths in the UK could be cut by up to a third if compulsory post-test training was introduced, according to the IAM. Writing in the latest edition of the IAM’s magazine, Advanced Driving, IAM chairman Alistair Cheyne says that compulsory post-test training would save lives among “this most vulnerable group of drivers”. The call follows findings that a similar approach in Austria has produced a 30 per cent reduction in young driver fatalities. IAM CEO Simon Best said: “We need no reminding that 17–25 year olds — particularly young men — proportionally have more crashes and suffer more death and injury on our roads than any other group. “Despite this, very little is being done to ensure that young people improve their driving after passing the test. The high numbers of young drivers who continue to be killed or seriously injured graphically highlights the need for legislation that insists on post-test training that embraces all kinds of roads; especially rural roads on which young people are suffering so disproportionately.” *

Too fast = understeer on right hand bend?

The IAM is writing to Under Secretary of State for Transport, Mike Penning MP, raising the urgent need for post-test training. This ‘module’ would not be an unpopular option, and there would be no question of taking a new driver off the road if they ’failed’. However, undertaking a second phase of short coaching sessions and driving practice off the public highway would be compulsory within a year of the test pass. In Austria, legal requirements for all novice drivers to undertake further assessment and training have been used with outstanding results. Only the DfT can realistically take the lead on this issue with a thorough review of driver training. In the meantime, the IAM is taking action of its own with the launch of Momentum in the New Year. Momentum offers young drivers a low-cost assessment by an IAM examiner early in their development, which will help improve confidence, raise awareness, and reduce risk on the road. *Rural roads – the biggest killer: IAM Motoring Trust © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

Cuts to road safety budgets will cost money and lives, warns IAM The IAM welcomes today’s report on road safety by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts). IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “Cutting budgets for road safety is short-sighted economics. Meeting casualty reduction targets has halved road deaths over the past 20 years, saving the economy around £50 billion. “Achieving similar targets for road deaths by 2020 will save 2,500 lives and over £4 billion. Investing in road safety saves the country money so funding being taken away from this area will ultimately cost money and lives. The Parliamentary Council is right to call for continued investment in road safety and demanding casualty reduction targets.” The UK tops the world road safety league, improving from 6th in 2007 and 4th in 2008. The number of people killed on Britain’s roads each year is now below 2000. Each fatal road accident costs the UK economy £1.79 million in lost output and health care. Every life saved is a direct benefit to society and reduces the number of families who will suffer personal grief from the loss of a loved one for years after the event.

Don't be a pratnav The IAM is urging drivers not to be over-reliant on their satnavs. Satnavs are a major cause of driver distraction. Drivers are putting their lives at risk by operating them while on the move, or by blindly following instructions and not anticipating the road ahead. IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Satnavs should aid navigation and safety by helping drivers to make decisions early. They should not distract you from the road. At 70 miles an hour you will travel the length of a football pitch in the three seconds it takes to press a satnav button.” The IAM recommends that drivers: Practice driving with the satnav on while ignoring the display. You should be able to use just its voice directions without taking your eyes off the road. If you’re not careful, a satnav display will draw your attention from road conditions and traffic. Use the display only to confirm the instruction. This only needs a glance. What you see takes priority over what the satnav says. We’ve all heard the stories of people being stuck in narrow lanes, driving into rivers and directed into oncoming traffic. If the road looks wrong, don't take it. Only operate the satnav when you’re parked. Even if it’s a one-touch satnav, operating it draws too much attention from the road. Always check the route before you set off. Some satnavs have a habit of occasionally picking unsuitable routes and won’t know the latest road closures or the restrictions on the vehicle you are driving. Always take a map as back up. Don’t rely on safety features such as rest-break information. You should be able to drive safely without these. Take your rest-breaks when you feel tired and at least every two hours. If you are about to miss a turn, don’t attempt a dangerous manoeuvre to comply with the instruction. The satnav will always recalculate a new route, so drive on until it does. If you need to turn or change direction make sure it is safe and legal to do so. If you are using a mobile phone satnav app, don’t use it hand-held while driving. Mount your satnav properly where you can see it without moving your head but where it doesn’t interfere with your view. Make sure it isn’t in the airbag’s way and that the power leads do not interfere with the car’s controls. Don’t use satnavs as a speedometer as they can be inaccurate. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

Safer doesn’t necessarily mean slower, says IAM Advanced Training & Rider Performance*, a new report launched today by the IAM, has shown that the organisation’s advanced system of riding really does deliver sustainable benefits in anticipation, better road positioning and swift but safe progress in a wide range of road environments. One of the first systematic motorcycle simulator studies into rider behaviour, the research was undertaken by the Centre for Motorcycle Ergonomics & Rider Human Factors at the University of Nottingham. The study was designed to ascertain whether or not riders who have passed the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) Advanced Riding Test, ride differently to those that haven’t taken this further training. The findings demonstrated clearly that IAM riders took up safer road positions and kept to urban speed limits, but actually made better progress through bends than non IAM-trained riders and beginners. Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research, said: “We work to promote safer riding, and we educate riders to maintain momentum and progress where possible. So we were pleased to learn that IAM-trained riders adopted the safest road position to deal with hazards while still managing to achieve the quickest time through tight and medium bends. The evidence shows that it was due to their approach and positioning up to and through the bends. Non IAM-trained riders tended to approach faster but then had to overcompensate for the error, slowing while in the bend itself, where the machine is at its least stable. “The IAM riders also rode closer to the centre line on the left hand bend than the other two groups, and further away from the centre line on right hand bends. This positioning extends the riders’ line of vision as far as possible around the bend, giving earlier awareness of hazards that could be lurking around the corner, as well as making them more visible to oncoming traffic.” ‘Road-side furniture’ near to the side of the road on bends caused a big psychological effect. The average speed of all riders reduced when barriers or trees were in close proximity to the road. When there was road-side furniture adjacent to the right side of the road on a left-hand bend all rider groups rode further away from the centre line, thus moving away from the perceived danger. Even so, IAM-trained riders positioned themselves significantly closer to the centre line. This demonstrates that they didn’t give up too much of their position to the apparent threat of a solid object, but maintained a good riding style to tackle the bend. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

IAM riders again appeared to have the greatest awareness of the risks in a more urban environment. In the 40mph zone their riding style was more defensive than the other groups; they rode closer to the centre line when approaching a side road on the left than the Novice riders, and more slowly than the Experienced riders. This placed them as far from potential hazards as possible and better prepared them to stop if necessary. IAM riders also tended to display lower speeds and applied greater brake pressure than the other groups. Mr Greig continued: “IAM riders also appear to have a more responsible attitude towards their riding. Participants in the study took a hazard perception task, and the IAM riders were quicker to identify hazards and were more likely to blame poor rider behaviour for the situation than non-IAM riders, strongly suggesting that their riding attitude is more defensive.” * Stedmon, A. W., Crundall, D., Crundall, E., Saikayasit, R., Ward, P., van Loon, E. & Irune, A. A. (2010) Advanced Training & Rider Performance, University of Nottingham

About the IAM 1. The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) directly influences the driving and riding of around 100,000 full members in the UK and Ireland. Established in 1956, the IAM is today best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving course, which is available to car, motorcycle and commercial licence holders. The IAM has grown to become the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to raising driving standards, engaging with the road-using public and influencing road safety policy. The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. 2. The IAM is supported by over 200 affiliated volunteer groups around the country, that help to provide valuable advanced driver and rider coaching in preparation for the Advanced Test. They also provide a strong local voice to promote road safety. 3. A 2010 report from Nottingham University found that IAM trained motorcyclists adopted safer road positions, but still maintained faster progress through bends than non-IAM trained riders. 4. A 2006 report by Brunel University, following an 18-month study, concluded that “advanced driver training produces safer drivers and lower accident involvement”, with measurable improvements in knowledge, skills and attitude. 5. The IAM now embrace cyclists and has a cycling membership category alongside those of motorists and motorcyclists. In 2010, the IAM introduced a cycle training programme including a new guide “How to be a Better Cyclist”. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

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