ADVANCE Winter 2012 by D & G Grp of Adv Motorists & Motorcyclists

Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists and Motorcyclists

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ADVANCE Winter 2012 Contents 1

What’s on? See what events are planned for the near future

The Chairman’s comments The thoughts of Graeme McColm

Winter driving campaign 2012 - IAM launches new campaign

Challenging times for Toyotas in members hands

Energy drink "crash risk" warning

IAM comment on quarter two road casualty statistics Motorcycle Chief Observer’s Diary - Find out what’s inside the Chief’s helmet RACE NIGHT its in March next year

11 The Secretary Reports - Helen tells it like it is. 12 Preparing for your advanced car test? - What you need to know 13 Jaw, jaw - what is it good for? (The Art of Commentary) 14 Obs Corner - Reading others mistakes can have benefits. 15 Do you turn a blind eye? 17 The ice gauge - IAM motoring tip Flashing blue in your rear view - IAM motoring tip 18 Weathering the winter - IAM motoring tip 19 Make it a night to remember, not to regret - IAM motoring tip 20 Darkness descends - IAM motoring tip 25 Advertiser’s Wall Find out who supports us & this magazine edition. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

JOHN F. BLACK MOTOR ENGINEERS

~Air Con ~Diesel Tuning ~Servicing ~Repairs ~Diagnostics ~Exhausts ~Tyres ~Motorhomes ~MOT testing for classes 3,4,5 & 7

Tel: 01387 267473

6B Catherinefield Ind Estate, Heathhall, Dumfries DG1 3PQ

Group Committee Members for 2012/13 This magazine was published

Chair, Chief Obs

Graeme McColm

01387 720425

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

Vice Chair

Jamie Wood

01683 300347

For more details of our activities see our web site at:

Secretary

Helen Cameron

07707 035518

www.iamdumfries.org.uk

Treasurer

Russell Wears

01387 263893

Contact the Group Secretary:

Group President: Tommy Jardine

M/c Coordntr Andrew Bird

01387 259500

Car Coordntr Stewart Cameron 01387 264005 Committee

Anne Lind Andy Campbell Bob Sloan Sheena Trail Clint Smith Chris McWhinnie John Parry

07727 913742 07717 798109 07764 349459 01461 204688 07952 751433 07749 105203 07841 202445

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 To e-mail any member of the committee, please in those of the Editor, Group or the the first instance, use the group contact e-mail Institute of Advanced Motorists, to which the Group is affiliated. Reg address: dumfries@groups.org.uk Charity No. SC 023511

For all enquiries call: 07707 035518 or e-mail: dumfries@groups.iam.org.uk

What’s on? - check for details & late changes at www.iamdumfries.org.uk Please note the Race Night date is now MARCH 15 - see below ~ Monday 10 December - visit to Sulwath Brewery, 209 King Street , Castle Douglas ~Tuesday 15 January - Try your hand at archery. Venue: St Joseph’s College Games Hall, Craigs Road, Dumfries, DG1 4UU ~ Monday 11 February - Basic first Aid with Bob Sloan, Aberdour Hotel, 7pm ~ Monday 11 March - Household Waste Prevention, Aberdour Hotel, 7pm ~ Friday 15 March - Race Night, Aberdour Hotel, 7pm - see advert page 7 ~ Wednesday ? March TBA - 10 Pin Bowling v Carlisle group, check web site

Copy date: Latest article submission date for the Spring 2013 issue: 8 March Photography notice: Occasionally we may take photos during meetings, guidance sessions or at other events in order to promote the Group and its activities. Photos may be reproduced in our web sites, our magazine or through other promotions. If you wish to withhold your permission for your image to be used please contact the Group Secretary. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

The Chairman’s comments - Graeme McColm Welcome to the Winter edition of Advance, our group magazine. First off many congratulations to everybody who has passed their test since our last issue. Andrew Bird and I attended the IAM Conference last month at Warwick University. The conference was for both car and bike sections of the IAM. The format included workshops where we discussed many topics from ‘what examiners look for’ to ‘tyres’ and on to the ‘media’ e.g. Facebook, Twitter etc (For fans of Twitter you can now tweet us: #D&GIAM). We had an enjoyable, interesting and knowledgeable time. Thanks for your company Andrew. Every Skill for Life course now comes with 12 months FREE RAC roadside and recovery cover (£106 rrp) so there has never been a better time to become a better driver! As a charitable organisation, this whole 'Skill for Life' package is normally available for only £139 but on the run up to Christmas the IAM are offering a 10% discount on both car and bike packages making a bargain price of just £125. How about treating a loved one to an IAM membership, it may be the best and safest present they ever receive. Order via the IAM web site before 16 December for guaranteed delivery in time for Christmas. You can find the offer at ‘www.iam.org.uk/xmas’. Anyone, me included, who could not get along to October’s Toyota Challenge at Border Toyota, Edinburgh Road missed a great night by all accounts. Members got to drive a trio of Toyota Yaris Hybrid cars with prizes for the drivers of the car which achieved the best fuel economy. See page 4 for details. I can’t miss this opportunity to thank Mike Stevens, Martin Grassom and Jim Loy, the Bike and Car Examiners, who met up with us in November and talked through many of the elements they look for test candidates to demonstrate. Providing we get enough interest, we plan a visit to the Sulwath Brewery, Castle Douglas in December. If you’ve not already let Helen know (07707 035 518) you’d like to go please do so now so we can firm up the arrangements. Have a look at her report on page 11 for more details. I urge all our members, car and bike, to stay safe over the coming months, especially with the winter chill taking a hold. A very merry Christmas to all our members and a safe and enjoyable New Year. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

IAM launches winter driving campaign 2012 The Institute of Advanced Motorists launched its winter driving campaign in October to help motorists prepare their cars and drive them safely this winter. The campaign includes a website, www.drivingadvice.org.uk, containing advice, traffic updates and weather forecasts. This campaign comes in response to winter’s more dangerous driving conditions which cause an increase in accident rates: Slippery roads (due to weather) contributed to 13,420 road casualties in 2011, and related to 79 fatalities. Rain, sleet, snow or fog was the cause of 1,786 reported road casualties in 2011. Travelling too fast for conditions was a contributing factor in 13,425 accidents in 2011. The amount of rainfall during December 2011 was 34 per cent above the average for that time of year. During February 2012, freezing rain fell across northern England causing treacherous conditions on roads and pavements; 100 road accidents were reported from Cumbria - A&E departments dealt with hundreds of falls on icy pavements. IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “The first thing you need to ask when the weather is bad is whether you need to travel, and if so, if there are alternatives to the roads. “When you are on the road, be prepared to slow down and take extra care, particularly on bends and roads which are open to the elements.” “Our winter driving campaign will provide comprehensive advice and guidance for those who do decide to travel, keeping them as safe as possible.” There’s a a wealth of tips and advice about driving in winter to be found on the web site where you can also download your own copy of the IAM’s winter driving guide - visit www.drivingadvice.org.uk. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists 3

Challenging times - Ed The October meeting saw members at Border Toyota testing the the Yaris Hybrid. Three Yaris Hybrids, which were not all of identical specification, each with four members aboard, were pitched against a Skoda Citigo on a short urban test route where 20 and 30 mph speed limits apply. The trip meters were zeroed before we set off ours had shown 90mpg so obviously someone with a very light foot had driven it before. So with headlights on we set off in convoy following the Skoda around the route, stopping regularly to allow drivers to be changed so that everyone got a shot at driving the vehicle. The Yaris is fitted with a 1.5 litre petrol engine twinned with two 45 kW electric motors. An electronically controlled CVT gearbox manages the flow of power from the petrol engine or battery pack. The 144volt NiMH battery hybrid battery is located under the rear seats so the space in the luggage compartment is not compromised. For the short time each person got to drive the car most people found the vehicle easy to drive. So what about the results of the test? Well on return to the Border showroom the three Toyotas recorded quite a variation the lowest being approx 50mpg and the highest around 60mpg. The Skoda returned just under 55mpg. The statutory EU fuel consumption figures for the Yaris Hybrids are - Urban: 83 91mpg and Extra Urban: 76 - 81 mpg. Figures vary dependant on model. Most, if not all of our drivers, were not familiar with the vehicle and so may not have been been driving in a style which favours maximum mpg for this particular type of hybrid vehicle. With a bit of practice no doubt the figures achieved could be improved upon. Indeed the vehicle is fitted with a number of options to help minimise fuel consumption such as ECO and EV modes and the auto gearbox also has a B mode which can be used to help generate more charge for the batteries in the right circumstances. Drivers of the winning car were all given a rather nice Toyota Car Cleaning Car Valeting Kit. Thanks to Derek Lyon of Border Toyota for sponsoring this event. ÂŠ Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

I also took the opportunity of driving the test route in a diesel VW Touran, although not a direct comparison, as there was only one person aboard, the stops to change drivers were simulated. The recorded fuel consumption was 58mpg. If you are in the market for a new car I’m sure Border Toyota would be all too pleased to introduce you to the Yaris or the many other models in their range.

The drivers at Border’s showrooms with General Manager, Derek Lyon

Energy drink "crash risk" warning source: IAM Old news this but just a reminder that drivers who use “high energy” drinks to keep them going might fall foul of a hidden danger in relying on caffeine drinks, which can even lead to increased weariness behind the wheel. US Research has shown that just an hour after drinking a highly caffeinated and sugared drink, tired drivers can experience serious lapses in concentration and slower reaction times as the drink wears off. Excessive caffeine consumption can cause similar symptoms to alcohol intoxication. Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research, said: “Energy drinks are good as a quick fix, but they’re no substitute for regular breaks. Having a highcaffeine drink is a one-off hit – you can’t repeat it, as this type of drink does not produce the same effect in a couple of hours’ time.” In order to beat fatigue on long drives the IAM advises: ▪ Consider stopping overnight on long-haul journeys. ▪ Share the driving with someone else – don’t do it all yourself if you don’t have to. ▪ Stop every two hours. ▪ If you start to feel tired while driving, don’t rely on air con or an open window: find a place to stop. ▪ Only get back behind the wheel when you are properly refreshed. ▪ When driving, tiredness can be a killer as it affects reaction times and concentration. Remember: if you feel tired when driving - you’ve a very high chance of crashing. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

IAM comment on quarter two road casualty statistics The latest Department for Transport road casualty statistics for Great Britain show a decrease in casualties for vulnerable road users. There has been in a fall in vulnerable road user casualties when April-June 2011 is compared to April-June 2012; however there has been a significant rise over the year. ● The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured rose 9 per cent from 2,950 in 2010/11 to 3,210 in 2011/12. This is 27 per cent more than the average between 2005-2009. ● The number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured rose 5 per cent from 5,207 in 2010/11 to 5,450 in 2011/12 ● The number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured rose 5 per cent from 5,701 in 2010/11 to 5,970 in 2011/12 IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “In the six months before these results there were increases in the numbers killed and seriously injured. This drop has not made up for that. We need to do much more to turn this quarter’s figures into a trend. Upgrading roads, targeted safety campaigns and measures to improve road user awareness among new drivers are needed too." “The drop in road casualties is really good news but the Department for Transport admits that it is likely to be linked to this year’s wet weather. We shouldn’t rely on a few months of dodgy weather to get cyclists and motorcyclists casualties down.”

Motorcycle Chief Observer’s Diary - Graeme McColm I can’t believe the winter edition of our magazine has come around so soon. It only feels like a couple of months since this time last year. We have had a very quiet year in the motorcycle division. Whether due to the poor weather or lack of funds this has been our quietest year to date. Please let me know if you have any thoughts as to new ways in which we might be able to attract new members. Our September run this year took us north to John O’ Groats. The weather held for most of the weekend and 11 members had a fantastic time. Thanks must go to Graham Abrines for all his hard work in organising the event. Looking forward to next year Graham! © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

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In November we had a two day event, Saturday at Graham Abrines’ house and Sunday at Barry Fox’s house. Organised by Graham, Craig Fallow of the All Year Biker, a professional bike cleaning service was in attendance. For a modest amount of money your bike is degreased, cleaned down to a high spec and then treated, using specialist high pressure equipment, with ACF 50 an anti corrosion fluid. Well worth the money, and the bacon rolls, thanks again Graham and Barry. Thanks also to Craig for all your hard work. Its hard to believe we are already seeing ice and snow on some of our roads in the region. Please take care when out and about and remember its not just the cold we need to worry about, many drivers struggle to see due to glare from winter sun, so always be vigilant. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for all their efforts over the last year and wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The Secretary Reports - Helen Cameron The new social season is well under way now and we have had 3 very successful meetings. Following David Lockwood’s talk on Paul Jones and October’s driving challenge at Border Toyota November saw us meet with the Bike and Car Examiners, which was both interesting and informative. It’s good to keep up to date with what the Examiners are looking for, have a look at p12. It is great that new members come along to our meetings but it would be nice to see a bigger audience. Our speakers go to a lot of preparation for our benefit and it can be a little disheartening if we only have a few people there. The meeting on 10 December is at Sulwath Brewery, Castle Douglas (6.30pm). The cost is £5 per head and we must have a minimum of 15 people. It’s suggested we meet up in Dumfries about 6.00 pm and then take as few cars as possible to Castle Douglas. Another possibility is to have a bar supper after the brewery visit but that will be up to those who want participate. I’d be grateful if you could let me know as soon as possible, if you want to come, either by phone (07707 035 518) or email so arrangements can be finalised. You may know that we won the 10 pin bowling this year against Carlisle group and it is our turn to arrange it next time. I propose to set the date for mid March, on a Wednesday night, so keep an eye on the web site for the date. We were well outnumbered by Carlisle members last year but we all had a good time. Congratulations to these members who passed their test since our last edition: Amy Muirhead - Obs: Nicky Riley; Eileen Powell - Obs: Peter Dodds; Cameron Hastings - Obs: David Booth; Jonathan Herriott - Obs: Russell Wears; Katherine Mitchell - Obs: Helen Cameron - Obs: Darren Morton - Obs: Chris McWhinnie. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

We do try to keep you informed of events etc but I’d be grateful if you keep me informed of changes to contact details so you don’t miss out. We try to keep the web site up to date so it’s always worth checking the What’s On section.

Preparing for your advanced car test? During your test you must be able to demonstrate a good working knowledge of the skills and techniques which go together to make a competent advanced driver. Following the November meeting where we met the Bike and Car Examiners the list below highlights a few of the particular elements that an Examiner will be looking for a candidate to demonstrate, where appropriate: Ÿ A drive which is NATURAL, PROGRESSIVE and with ‘SPARKLE’. Ÿ Ordinarily braking only once for a hazard, double braking shows a lack of effective planning. Ÿ The use of block changes where appropriate when going down the gears. Block changes when going up through the gears is OK too in the right circumstances. Ÿ Indicators are not automatically used, their use is considered and maybe not used where there is no benefit. Ÿ Ideally a commentary which is continuous, includes far, middle, and near distance observations as well as the mirrors. As a minimum the ability to talk through the complete System at a hazard at least once. This is easier when there’s time e.g. approaching a simple LH bend. Ÿ Commentary should be prioritised, for example warning signs are mentioned on approach not once they have been passed. Don’t ignore hazard warning signs - ideally mention every one. Ÿ There is an understanding of LIMIT POINTS and how they are used to set your speed. Ÿ The ability to make safe, legal progress, smartly building up speed e.g. after leaving a speed limit. Cruising at or near the speed limit. Ÿ Smooth approach and passage through roundabouts with clear timely decision making. Preparing to stop but looking to go. If you are unsure of anything just ask your Observer before your test.

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. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists 12

Jaw, jaw - what is it good for? (The Art of Commentary) The answer to this question is that commentary primarily is for your benefit as a driver. The use of commentary can raise a driver’s concentration level, helping to improve all aspects of the drive including observation, identification of hazards and the formulation of effective driving plans. The commentary should cover all phases of the System as the drive unfolds to maintain the most advantage to the driver. A lot is spoken of the commentary as a tool to help the Examiner to assess your abilities but this is at the risk of it being seen as simply something you do for the test and not continued after. True it does allow the Examiner to know what a candidate is observing, his or her thought processes and what they are planning/ doing about what they have seen. The real sustained benefit however comes through continued use in both long and short term. Just observing a hazard is not enough, many accidents occur when the drivers involved have seen the hazard but they have failed to follow through to the next stages of the System. Often typified by the phrase the clues were there but not acted upon e.g. “suddenly the driver in front braked and turned into the junction so it was impossible for me to prevent myself running into the back of him”. Looking ahead were there not clues that a junction was coming up, did the diving plan take into account what might be anticipated? Was there a safe following gap? A commentary may well have helped with getting on top of the situation by raising the effectiveness of observation and the driving plan. Commentaries do not have to be spoken out loud, but if done certainly will help the Examiner. However even if the commentary is done in your head better results are likely if you ‘speak the words silently’ rather than just looking and thinking. ‘Talking’ through the commentary seems to have more impact on your brain, reinforcing the results of your observation and so making it more effective. The commentary should consider what can be seen, what can’t be seen and what can be anticipated then follow through with your plan of action (the driving plan). Just commentating on what you see i.e. listing hazards as you come across them is of very limited value. Simplistically; ‘say what you see and what you are planning to do about it’. There is no need for complicated language, simple plain English will do. A good commentary can’t make up for bad driving, but in a borderline situation where you might have been on the cusp of a pass, or fail, a good commentary may just help the Examiner to understand that your thought processes and driving plan were indeed up to the mark. Failure to give a commentary at all may make it more difficult for the Examiner to accurately assess the drive. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists 13

Reading others mistakes can have benefits. We all make mistakes, the complexity and seriousness of the mistake is what really matters. Or maybe you are the perfect driver and it’s only others who get things wrong? But how can you deal with the mistakes of other drivers, are there lessons to be learnt and can they be used to benefit you and your driving in any particular circumstance? Let’s say you are driving to work at 50mph on a rural road wide enough to allow two lanes of traffic. A vehicle pulls out of a side road well ahead of you travelling in the same direction as you. Ordinarily this would not be a problem as you probably would not even need to slow if the other driver made reasonable progress at building up his or her speed - but the other vehicle only builds up its speed very slowly, to just 30mph, so you have to slow. It next brakes hard for a shallow right hand bend. You mutter a few words under your breath and start to look for a potential overtake. The car in front then wanders onto the grass verge before correcting its position. What’s going through your mind now? Maybe you decide to hang back for a while just in case? Maybe you get more cross? Maybe you decide to overtake at speed, beeping your horn and flashing your lights - after all if the other car wanders into you it won’t be your fault will it? Maybe you turn up your observation skills to maximum - can you see the driver, what is his/her demeanour, is there an argument between driver and passenger, did the vehicle go out of position to avoid something you had not spotted, does the vehicle have a problem, does the exhaust indicate a cold engine etc? The car in front approaches a left hand bend but does not turn it goes straight on, only swerving back to the correct side of the road once it is almost completely in the oncoming lane. What are you going to do now? Mirrors, the pressures on, two fast movers are now closely following you both just over the centre line, in a hurry and looking to overtake you. As the car ahead comes © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

out of the left hand bend it mounts the nearside grass verge again but quickly corrects its position. There’s an empty straight ahead now but what do you do? A number of thoughts might have gone through your head including angry responses but to minimise the danger to you a tolerant attitude will probably be best, after all have you never made a mistake yourself? You need to make the right call as any errors could have consequences. Your observation of the car ahead might have given you some clues. Whatever the reason you might even consider hanging back or even taking yourself away from the danger by say pulling into a layby, do you really want to be the meat in a sandwich between the first car and the two impatient ones following you? Should you offer a rebuke with say your horn or lights? No, but giving a warning is OK and even beneficial in certain cases. Use what you observe to make your driving better not to rebuke others. Question what you see and ask yourself what are they doing and why, have they spotted something you have not seen or which is not available for you to see from your position or are they just ‘numpties’ or are they deliberately unsafe/flouting the rules of the road? Can you use this information to make your drive safer or to relay a message onto other road users? Think how your actions might be perceived by others. In the scenario described here the errant driver, next moved to the centre of his/her lane, built up speed briskly, soon disappearing into the distance as you recovered to a suitable speed for the circumstances. Presumably the driver had managed to pick up whatever had fallen on the floor - he/she had been leaning over trying to reach it!

Do you turn a blind eye? You should see two pedestrians below. Cover your left eye, put your face close to the paper, keep looking at image on the left. Slowly pull your face away from the paper and at some point the image on the right will disappear. Or cover your right eye and look at pedestrian on the right, pull away, and the pedestrian on the left will disappear.

Did you notice the effect and importantly did you notice that the blind spot does not show up, instead the picture simply disappears? The problem is caused by a blind spot in your eyes resulting from the layout of the nerve fibres. You can’t see the blank area because the brain fills in the empty spot and you see the surrounding background where the picture is. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists 15

Of course this is not the only type of blind spot a motorist will encounter but it might be the most difficult to combat since you are not aware of it, the brain simply filling in the picture. Other blind spots are created by the vehicle itself e.g. the pillars around windows, badly adjusted external mirrors, sun visors left down when no longer needed, rain on un-swept areas of the windscreen or on mirrors, frost and misting not cleaned from glass, sat navs stuck to windscreens etc.

The same pedestrians in context. The one on the left is using her phone so could be the greatest hazard. But if you fix your vision to the left could the one on the right get hidden by the blind spot in your eyes or the one caused by your windscreen pillar?

Knowing about potential blind spots is the first step to dealing with them, so too is recognising when others might be suffering blind spots, especially if you are positioned where they might not be able to see, i.e. in their blind spot. To negate the effects of these blind spots is relatively easy. Firstly make sure you do not stare fixedly ahead but keep your eyes moving, using a scanning technique. Move your head a little too, this will help you see around the blind spots caused by the windscreen and door pillars. Not only do these pillars block your view but also vision immediately either side of the pillar can only be achieved with one eye hence the picture you see is not as complete as it could be and fixing objects spatially is compromised. Finally when noticing other driver’s blind spots aim not to stay there, e.g. alongside a lorry or say at a junction. Consider use of the horn if beneficial. Note: The visual effect also works if you are viewing this article on screen but might be more difficult to see dependant on the size of ‘page’ you are viewing. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

The ice gauge - IAM motoring tip Road safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. This week, with temperatures nearing freezing, he is advising on driving on frost and ice. IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Now is the time to start thinking about how to adapt your driving to the wintry weather, so that when conditions become dangerously slippery you are ready to react safely.” Rodger offers six tips to drive confidently in icy conditions: Before setting off, make sure you clean any ice or condensation from all the windows to optimise visibility, not just the windscreen, but your side and rear windows as well. When you set off, if you are on ice do so in second gear, releasing the clutch and accelerating gently, avoiding high revs – this will prevent wheel spin. In an automatic be very gentle, and if it has a “winter mode” use it. As you drive, stay in higher gears and don’t drive too fast to keep in control. Stopping distances are increased by up to 10 times in icy conditions, so leave plenty of distance between your car and the car in front, and slow down much earlier than you would normally. If your car loses grip, take your foot off the accelerator, and point the front wheels where you want to go. Keep to the main roads as they’re more likely to be gritted. Also bear in mind that after the frost has gone, ice can remain in areas which are shaded by trees and buildings, and in dips especially. Rodger said: “When the roads are icy the best advice is to drive as if you’re walking on eggshells. Be prepared for the worst – icy conditions can affect accelerating, steering and braking dramatically. Being mentally prepared as well as having the right equipment is vital, so think about any problems you encountered last winter, and what you need to do to overcome them if they recur this year.”

Flashing blue in your rear view Road safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. This week he recommends top tips on how to respond when an emergency services vehicle is approaching. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

Keep your cool – if you see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching, aid concentration by turning off your music, and take a few seconds to plan your next move. Acting in a state of panic could be dangerous and delay the emergency vehicle more. Stop – look for somewhere to pull over and stop if it’s safe to do so, even if the emergency vehicle is on the other side of the road. Indicators can be used to show that you have acknowledged the approaching blue lights and intend to move, but avoid usage if it could confuse other road users. Stay safe – avoid pulling onto kerbs, pavements and verges - verges can mask numerous hazards and mounting the pavement can put pedestrians at risk.

Abide by the law – If you go through a red light or into a bus lane to make way for an emergency vehicle, unless directed to do so by a police officer, you are breaking the law and could be fined, irrespective of your good intentions. Stay alert – be aware that there may be more than one emergency vehicle on the approach. Listen for more than one siren, look all around before moving off, and bear in mind that you may need to move over again.

Rodger said: “Loud sirens and flashing blue lights cause many motorists to panic, mainly because drivers are not routinely taught how to respond to them. Emergency vehicle drivers want you to help them reach the emergency at hand as quickly as possible. Behave calmly, legally, safely and predictably and move out of the way as soon as it is safe to do so to facilitate their route.”

Weathering the winter Road safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. This week,as forecasters predict a tougher winter for 2012, he is advising motorists on preparing their cars for the cold season. Peter Rodger said: “Now is the time to give your car a once-over before winter conditions take hold. Bad weather can strike suddenly and more severely than you expect, so it’s really important to be proactive, rather than reactive.” Some simple tips to prepare your car for winter: ·

In a UK winter you are most likely to encounter wind and rain, so make sure your windscreen wipers are in good condition, your © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

screen wash is topped up and that the inside of your windscreen is clean. ·

Do a thorough check of your vehicle: check your engine coolant level and make sure last year’s ice scraper and de-icer are up to the job.

The legal minimum for tyre tread in the UK is 1.6mm, but for optimum safety start looking for replacements if the depth is below 3mm.

· ·

Test all your lights. Pack an emergency kit, including a warm coat, high visibility jacket, some food and water, a good pair of boots, de-icer and scraper, a torch, a spade and a mobile phone with a well-charged battery. Remember to store your emergency breakdown number.

Rodger said: “Many roads are still pot-holed after last winter, so having a well-maintained car and paying particular attention to your tyres will be extremely important.”

Make it a night to remember, not to regret Road safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. This week, he is advising on preparing for a night out. ·

Plan ahead. Find out where to park near to your destination whether it’s the theatre, cinema or restaurant. Leave plenty of time to get there, park and walk to the venue. Park in a well-lit and open area.

If you arrive while it’s still light do any reversing then, so you can just drive without having to do so in the dark.

If you drive to a party and drink when you didn’t expect to, don’t risk it. Book yourself a taxi or arrange for a friend or family member to collect you.

If you’re going out in a group, have a designated driver or use the train, bus or cab rather than drive.

Make sure you have plenty of fuel for the return trip. Garages might be shut on the way home. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Don’t just remove valuables from your car. Opportunist thieves will smash windows to get anything. If they can sell your road atlas for 50p, they will break in and steal it.”

Darkness descends Road safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. This week, with the clocks going back this weekend, he is advising on driving in the dark. ·

To improve your view as far as possible, keep your lights and windscreen clean.

Use main beam, but when other drivers are approaching make sure you dip your lights to avoid dazzling the oncoming traffic.

Make sure you can stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear.

If you’re feeling tired, caffeine alone is not a fix. Take a break and have a 20 minute nap.

If an approaching car forgets to dip its lights, look beyond the lights, but to their left to avoid being dazzled as much.

Look at how the traffic ahead behaves for clues to possible problems you can’t see yet.

If it’s gloomy in the morning, don’t forget to put your lights on.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “The risk of fatal accidents increases in the dark as visibility is reduced. Have regular eye examinations to ensure you are wearing glasses or contact lenses if you need to.” To help drivers stay safe this winter, the IAM has launched its winter driving campaign which includes a dedicated website, drivingadvice.org.uk, with traffic updates, weather forecasts and tips on how to drive safely in winter. Tips cover rain, snow, ice, fog and wind – everything you can expect during a typically unpredictable British winter. Check it out before you travel.

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