The Newsletter of Chelmsford Advanced Motorists
Legal? www.iamchelmsford.org.uk Issue 121 March 2017 IAM Group 7223 Registered Charity No 1059372
Honorary Life Member
Here is Scott Bannister on the left receiving his Honorary Life Membership of the group from Chairman Steve Wright. Scott held various posts during his time with the group, Observer, Chairman, Associate Co-ordinator and Chief Observer. He managed to get two hundred Associates through the test including me. He will be sorely missed. Terry Joyce
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Forthcoming Group Meetings These are usually held on the 2nd Monday of each month at the Essex Police Sports and Social Club, Which is through the Police vehicle park at the very end of St. Margarets Road, Chelmsford. Group Meetings start promptly at 8pm, so please arrive at around 7.45pm.
http://goo.gl/maps/VrEwi
CM2 6DS
http://www.essexexplorer.co.uk/cam.kmz
Associates, Full Members & Guests Welcome Date
Topic
Speaker
Monday 3rd April
Regional Service Delivery Team Manager S.E. IAM RoadSmart
Pete Doherty
Monday 8th May
"Expanding and understanding your driving"
Nick Fearn
Monday 12th June
Accident Investigation
Graham Oakley
Make a note in your diary and please be there! Disclaimer—Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this Newsletter are those of the individual writers and they do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, nor those of the Chelmsford and District Group of Advanced Motorists. Their accuracy has not been verified. Notice—Data Protection Act: records are held of members personal details submitted on their application form. The information will be used solely for the Group’s administration purposes and will not be passed to any third party.
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Welcome to our new Associate and Full Members. We look forward to seeing and talking to them at our monthly Group nights
Liam Pembroke
Billericay
Iona Nelson
Dunmow
James Bullock
Halstead
Debra Campbell
Braintree
Katie Fuller
Wickford
We are a friendly bunch, so don’t be worried about coming to our Group nights if you are on your own. Make yourself known to John who will greet you at the desk, he will find one of us to come and talk to you. John will also try to get you to part with some money for the raffle. There will be Senior Observers, Observers and generally an Examiner at the evening and you will be able to get answers to any questions that you have. Please come along, we’ll even give you tea or coffee and there is a bar - for light refreshments obviously! Terry Joyce
Electronic Newsletter & Emails Whilst new members have been getting their copy electronically for some time it would be helpful if more people joined in with the electronic age and did the same. We are not going to force anybody to move to electronic but we would appreciate it if you consider letting the newsletter editor know if you are willing to receive yours by email. In any event for the purpose of telling people about Group nights and the occasional event such as the skid pan it is useful to have as many e-mail addresses as possible so if you are not currently on our mailing list it would point to us not having your email address. Please let the newsletter editor know and he will pass it on.
Please let us know if you change your email address. Page 4
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Roll of Honour Congratulations to these latest Members of our Group who have Passed
‘The Test’.
Test No
Name
Test Date
Observer
1088
John Plumtree
1st March
John Ockmore
To all those people who have passed their test: It would be appreciated if you could write a few words thanking your Observer and maybe something about the process and your test, to give those New Associates an insight into the process of learning Advanced Driving.
Please remember: Do telephone both your Observer and Scott Bannister ( Associates Co-ordinator ) immediately after your test.
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From the Chairman The AGM Approaches - the committee needs you No sooner does the year click over to 2017, then the months suddenly speed by, I find the committee's thoughts turn to the AGM. The committee is essential to the running of the group and without the team working in the background there would be no group. The committee meets just six times a year and is responsible for organising events, financial control, running the observers/associates, publicity etc etc. This sounds like a lot of work but as the saying goes "many hands make light work". The more help we can enlist the smoother the group will run and the less work there is to do individually. Ken Carrington has decided unfortunately to resign his position on the committee. I would like to thank Ken for his contribution over the years. Ken managers the associates looking after the group's database. It is essential that we find a replacement and I urge members to consider if they are able to give up a little time to take up this role.
Also since Sally left last year we are in need of someone to coordinate and book the events. We are fully booked through much of the year but need someone to start to look at 2018. I know this is the point when most will look away and the room will go deathly silent but if we all did the same there would be no group. So again I urge you to stand tall and contact either myself or any committee member enabling us to formalise your appointment at the AGM Regards Steve Wright Group Chair
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~~~~~~~~ Editorial ~~~~~~~~ Hello, See Page 10 for the article about the cover picture
Are there any subjects that you would like to see covered in an article? Please keep the letters and articles coming.
Check out the dates for this year on Page 19. Pay particular attention to the April, July and October Group Nights as they are not on the second Monday of the month.
Terry Joyce
Please contact me by email at terry.joyce@iamchelmsford.org.uk Page 7
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Group contact information Our Group Enquiry number: - 07757 399897 Honorary Life Members
Mr Mike Corbett, Mr Glyn Jarrett, Mrs Ruth Jarrett, Mr Dave Travers, Mr Colin Snow, Mr Scott Bannister.
Committee Chairman
Steve Wright
Vice Chairman
Norman Smith
Secretary
Colin Snow
Treasurer
John Johnston
Membership Secretary
Ken Carrington
Chief Observer Associates Co-ordinator Newsletter Editor
Graham Lowe
Publicity
John Stone
Training Officer
Pat Clements
Terry Joyce
Outside Events Organiser Malcolm Kentish Events Organiser Group Contact Committee Member
Dr Clifford Murira
Committee Member
John Ockmore
Committee Member Committee Member
Ken Howard Terry Hyland
Committee Member
Dagmar Hampton
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Letters & emails On all matters relating to motoring and the Chelmsford Group, this newsletter or your experiences in preparing for or taking your test are most welcome. Hello I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Steve for his kind words in the December Editorial & to wish the group every success in the future. I've decided to relinquish my role in arranging speakers with effect from the April 2017 meeting but I am sure those that I have already lined up for you in January, February & March should be excellent. Work & time commitments have taken over my life of late & it makes sense to hand the role onto someone new. A big thank you to Scott & Gaynor too, Scott was my extremely humorous Observer & the very friendly Gaynor "marked" me! A big bow out from the three of us then! Best wishes Sally Langley ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Observers Are you interested in being an Observer? Contact Pat Clements 01245 223427 Pat Clements
John Ockmore
Helen Jeffries
Graham Robson
Terry Joyce
Norman Smith
Dr Clifford Murira
John Tullett Rob Wise
Graham Lowe
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Mobile Phones Two events prompted me to write this article, the first on March 1st was that the penalties for using a hand held mobile phone or similar device in the car increased. You will now get 6 penalty points on your licence and a fine of £200 if caught. Before I talk about the second event let’s look at the Highway Code. Rule 149 which states: You MUST exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times. You MUST NOT use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, when driving or when supervising a learner driver, except to call 999 or 112 in a genuine emergency when it is unsafe or impractical to stop. Never use a hand-held microphone when driving. Using hands-free equipment is also likely to distract your attention from the road. It is far safer not to use any telephone while you are driving or riding find a safe place to stop first or use the voicemail facility and listen to messages later. Laws RTA 1988 sects 2 & 3, & CUR regs 104 & 110
See also https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law It’s illegal to use a hand-held phone or similar device while driving, or riding a motorcycle. The rules are the same if you’re stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic. It’s also illegal to use a hand-held phone or similar device when supervising a learner driver or rider. You must stay in full control of your vehicle at all times. The police can stop you if they think you’re not in control because you’re distracted. This includes if you’re using devices like your sat nav or car radio. Looking at the picture on the front cover, the question is, was it Legal? There was a report in our local paper of a man was caught texting while his car was at a standstill in rush hour traffic and he received the new penalty. In the instance shown on the front of this newsletter, I believe that it was legal to use the mobile phone in that situation. The car was stopped, the engine was turned off and the key removed from the ignition. If you need to use your mobile make sure you are parked. Moving on to instance number two. I was on an Observed drive with an Associate who had a sophisticated hands free phone fitted in his car. If you look above in Rule 149, I have highlighted the sentence Using hands-free equipment is also likely to distract your attention from the road. I wrongly assumed that he would have turned it off for our drive. He received a call, a very short call in which he asked the caller to ring back in an hour or so. I would now like to reference a sentence from http://think.direct.gov.uk/mobilephones.html which states: It is not illegal to use hands free, but any time a driver’s attention is not on the road can be dangerous. At the time of the call we were around a quarter of a mile away from the two roundabouts at Rettendon. By the time the call had finished we were approaching the sign for the first roundabout.
Continued on Page 11
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Mobile Phones continued.
I told him that we were going to take the third exit and if he had taken in the information from the sign he would have seen that the third exit is in the twelve o clock position on the roundabout. He miscounted the exits and went past number three and so after I told him he had to go right around the roundabout to take the exit. I then told him we were going back through Battlesbridge, the first exit on the next roundabout, he got into the wrong lane and made a hasty change into the left hand lane. Up to this point the drive was excellent, so I’m positive that he was still thinking about the short call he received and this broke his concentration to level that could have contributed to a collision. A substantial body of research shows that using a hand-held or hands-free mobile phone while driving is a significant distraction, and substantially increases the risk of the driver crashing. Drivers who use a mobile phone, whether hand-held or hands-free: are much less aware of what's happening on the road around them
fail to see road signs
fail to maintain proper lane position and steady speed
are more likely to 'tailgate' the vehicle in front
react more slowly, take longer to brake and longer to stop
are more likely to enter unsafe gaps in traffic
feel more stressed and frustrated.
They are also four times more likely to crash, injuring or killing themselves and other people. I can’t finish without mentioning the amount of people that I see texting whilst they are driving. I think that this far more dangerous than using the phone to make a call. The level of concentration for the physical and mental effort of typing a text is more than with a call and a lot of the time they do it when slowing down in traffic, so are more likely to run into the back of another car. I have had to use the horn on more than several occasions to alert the texting driver behind me that they are getting too close. The picture is from West University Place in Texas. Terry Joyce
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Advanced Driver For many of you it may have been years since you looked at the theory of Advanced Driving. I am sharing the new logbook issued to new members that join the group. The Advanced Driver Course Logbook continued
Information There are three aspects to effectively gathering information and communicating well with other road users:
TAKE information
USE information
GIVE information
TAKE information Advanced drivers should: Look all around, scanning to the front and sides of their vehicle The further they project their vision, the more information they will gather. Consistently use their mirrors and check into potential blind spots Mirrors should be used throughout the IPSGA stages. Checks should also be used to eliminate blind spots. Look for information given by other road users Where possible, make eye contact with other drivers to assist in communication, as well as looking at the position of other vehicles. Gather visual information from a number of sources For example, manure on the road may give early warning of horses in the area, and fresh mud on the road may indicate a tractor ahead. Make good use of other senses For example, the smell of diesel may identify a slippery road surface The sound of a car horn may give warning of an as yet unseen hazard just as a siren will signal the presence of an emergency vehicle.
Use information
Advanced drivers should: Use the information gathered to plan how to deal with identified hazards. Prioritise hazards to stay safe - Which hazard is closest, which presents the greatest risk. Deal with the most important first. Make observational links to anticipate how their driving might be affected For example, ‘The bins are out = I’m expecting to see the collection lorry = I am planning to deal with that’ ‘Church steeple in view = I’m approaching a village = I should limit my speed’ Continued on Page 13
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Advanced Driver continued
GIVE information Advanced drivers should: Reinforce the information given by their vehicle’s position and speed with accurate signalling. If any other road user will benefit from a signal, it should always be given - clearly and in good time. While a signal alone may not convey a driver’s intention, it can prove useful alongside other factors, such as a change in road position and/or speed It’s also important to remember that signals can be misinterpreted, for example, a flash of headlamps could be interpreted as a warning or an invitation It is important to check mirrors before signalling and recognise that giving a signal does not also give the right to carry out their intended manoeuvre. Certain road users fall into the vulnerable category. Be particularly mindful of cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians and keep them safe with timely accurate Communication. Be aware that following traffic will not always share their level of awareness. It may be necessary to show brake lights to other vehicles even when slowing down using acceleration sense. This is an excellent example of how through observation, anticipation and communication, advanced drivers can help to keep other road users safe Make eye contact with other drivers to assist in communicating their intentions - this is also a good way to TAKE information. Use other communication methods, such as sounding their horn or flashing their lights only when it’s appropriate to let other drivers know they are there.
Position
Positioning a vehicle accurately on the road reduces the risk of a collision. However, the ideal position will vary according to specific circumstances, such as road layout, surface and traffic conditions Advanced drivers should: Always consider safety first, Do not relinquish safety for any other perceived advantage, Position to see and be seen, Be aware of potential hazards on both sides of their vehicle, to the nearside – cyclists, pedestrians, parked vehicles and their occupants are all examples of who and what might present a hazard, as are other drivers pulling out of junctions. To the offside – there is potential conflict with oncoming traffic. Assess their speed when moving to the nearside or the offside. For example, when it isn’t possible to allow a door-width of room when passing a parked car, drivers should slow down so they have time to react if a door were to open. Be particularly aware of cyclists and motorcyclists when adopting their position Continued on Page 14
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Advanced Driver continued
Good advanced drivers observe, anticipate and plan ahead, effectively creating a safe working space or flexible “safety bubble” around their car
For example, they may be unseen to the nearside or filtering past on the offside. Position themselves at least two seconds behind any vehicle they are following --This allows enough time to respond if the vehicle ahead slows down. It gives them better vision beyond it, and enables them to develop an overtake, if appropriate. Take up the appropriate position for turning, depending on the size of their vehicle, the road width and layout, and other traffic. To turn left – advanced drivers should usually position themselves in the centre of the left hand lane on the approach to a junction. To turn right - advanced drivers should usually position themselves towards the centre of the road, paying particular attention to oncoming traffic. If in any doubt, they should stay away from the centre white line. When stopping behind other traffic—advanced drivers should use the ‘tyres on tarmac’ guide Drivers should stop far enough back that they can move around the vehicle in front without reversing As a guide, this is a point where they can see the wheels of that vehicle meet the road (hence tyres on tarmac). This will also prove safer if they are struck from behind Optimum positioning for bends and corners and when overtaking, is dependent on a number of factors. These are discussed in detail in later sections of this document.
Speed For the purpose of IPSGA, the correct speed is ‘the speed required to negotiate the hazard safely’. As with all stages, this is influenced by the information gathered plus other factors such as the vehicle type, the road, weather and traffic conditions
More on Speed and the rest of the System in the next edition. Page 14
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Young Driver Scheme Do you know of anyone who is not 17 years of age, but wants to learn how to drive? Chelmsford IAM group supports this road safety scheme to give people the opportunity to learn basic car control skills in Driving School Dual Controlled cars on private land before they go on the public Highway. Lessons, lasting for one hour, are run on the third Sunday of most months at Earls Colne (near Coggeshall). There is an initial Registration Fee of ÂŁ40 which covers registration and the first one hour lesson. Subsequent lessons cost ÂŁ25. Lessons must be booked in advance. The scheme is intended primarily for 16 year-olds but, if vacancies permit, places may be offered to 15 year-olds or even to older people who are nervous about
getting behind the wheel (again, or for the first time). Full details of the scheme, a letter from Essex Police and a map may be viewed, and the application Form can be downloaded, from www.youngdriverscheme.org Alternatively, forms may be obtained from the YDS Organiser. Nicola Hyland, 67 Main Road, St Lawrence Bay, Southminster, CM0 7NA Dedicated Mobile number 07847 645632 or yds@iamchelmsford.org.uk
Notification of Events There has been a lot of positive feedback from events organised by the Group. If you would like to be kept informed of any up and coming events please make sure that l have your current email address.
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Pollution Concerns Pollution concerns drive diesel car sales into decline. Sales of diesel cars fell again last month as more motorists are seeking out greener alternatives. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 78,778 diesels were sold in January, a drop of 4.3% on the same month last year. During the same month sales of electric cars and other alternatively-fuelled vehicles (AFVs) accelerated by 19.9%. In total 7,270 AFVs – including hybrids – were sold in January, giving them a 4.2% share in the new car market. It is the first time AFVs’ market share has exceeded 4%. Industry experts confirmed that sales of diesel cars have in fact been falling for several months, possibly as a result of concerns about excessive pollution. Revelations that Volkswagen provided distorted emissions data have further damaged diesel car street credibility. There is more doom and gloom on the way for diesel engines with Paris, Mexico City, Madrid and Athens revealing plans to ban all diesel cars within a decade. Doctors have urged the Mayor of London to follow suit and many other capital cities around the world are looking on with bated breath. Westminster City Council meanwhile is in the anti-diesel vanguard having confirmed it will penalise some diesel drivers with extra parking charges from April. The Government is also thought to be planning a diesel scrappage scheme to encourage motorists to ditch high polluting cars. There is further encouragement to ditch the diesel as the Government still offers motorists who buy electric or hybrid petrol/electric cars, like the Toyota Prius seen in the picture, a grant of up to 35% – or £4,500 – of the vehicle’s value. Despite the bad news for diesels, SMMT figures show overall sales of vehicles in the UK last month were at their highest January level in 12 years. In total 174,564 cars were sold, a rise of 2.9% on January 2016.
Article by Matt J Ware See: https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/blog/2017/02/pollution-concerns-drive-diesel-carsales-into-decline.html?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FluxposureFeb17 Page 16
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The Chelmsford & District Group of Advanced Motorists 21st Annual General Meeting – Monday 17 July 2017. The Group’s Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be held at the Essex Police Sports & Social Club on 17 th July 2017. The business will commence at 8pm and is expected to last for about 30 minutes. Please note this is the 3rd Monday of the month & NOT the normal 2 nd due to others taking the venue booking. Agenda
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Apologies for absence. Minutes of the last meeting (AGM on 11 June 2016). Matters arising from the Minutes. Reports from the Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer. Adoption of the Accounts. Election of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee members. Any Other Business. Election of Group Officers & Committee Members Under rule 3.3.4 the following Group Officers retire:Steve Wright – Chairman Colin Snow – Group Secretary John Johnston – Treasurer Steve Wright, Colin Snow & John Johnston offer themselves for re-election. Nominations for the positions of Chairman, Group Secretary and Treasurer are invited. Also under Rule 3.4 the following Committee Member retires by rotation and offer themselves for re-election:Malcolm Kentish & John Ockmore. Ken Carrington is NOT offering himself for re-election & therefore we are looking for a new Membership Secretary.
(Committee nomination form) Nominations are invited from Full Members to stand for the Committee. The Nominee must be willing to stand for the Committee and sign the Nomination form. By signing the Nomination form, the Nominee is affirming his / her ability and intention, if elected, to attend Committee meetings regularly. All officers and one third of all other Committee Members must retire annually by rotation and may offer themselves for re-election by Group Full Members (Rule3.4). Please note: Those elected become Charity Trustees of the Group. You must not stand for Committee if the law debars you from being a Charity Trustee.
Only fully paid-up members of IAM RoadSmart and of the Group may nominate Committee Members or be nominated as Committee Members. This nomination form must be returned to the Group Secretary (Colin Snow, 109 Bramwoods Road, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 7LT) no later than 3 July 2017. Note: The number of Committee members including the officers must not exceed twenty. PLEASE consider standing for the committee, we only meet 6 times a year. Colin Snow Group Secretary
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Chelmsford & District Group of Advanced Motorists Minutes of the 20th Annual General Meeting 2016 held on 11 June At the Essex Police Sports & Social Club, Chelmsford, Essex The meeting commenced at 20:10. Apologies for absence - Clifford Murira, Ken Carrington, Anthony Shilson, Terry Hyland and Terry Joyce. Adoption of the Minutes. Minutes of the previous AGM were accepted. – motion to accept the Minutes was proposed by Graham Lowe & seconded by Pat Clements and was passed unanimously. Matters Arising There were no matters arising from the Minutes. Reports from the Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary & Treasurer These were published in the June / July edition of Forward Vision and the motion to accept the reports was proposed by Chris Gardiner & seconded by Malcolm Kentish and was passed unanimously. Financial Report for year ended 31 March 2016. The accounts were published in the June / July edition of Forward Vision Acceptance of Accounts The motion to accept the accounts was proposed by Graham Lowe and seconded by Ken Howard and was passed unanimously.. Election of Officers Steve Wright stood down as Chairman, in accordance with the rules, and sought re- election. Johnston stood down and offered themselves for re- election.
Norman Smith & John
Chairman – Steve Wright Proposed by Colin Snow & seconded by Graham Lowe and passed unanimously. Vice Chairman – Norman Smith Proposed by Graham Lowe & seconded by Pat Clements Secretary – Colin Snow. Proposed by Steve Wright & seconded by Graham Lowe and passed unanimously. Treasurer – John Johnston. Proposed by Steve Wright & seconded by Graham Lowe and passed unanimously. Election of Committee Members Membership Secretary - Ken Carrington Proposed by Ken Howard and seconded by Graham Lowe and passed unanimously. Pat Clements offered to stand for committee. Proposed by Graham Lowe and seconded by Colin Snow and passed unanimously. Dagmar Hampton offered to stand for committee. Proposed by Ken Howard & seconded by Graham Lowe and passed unanimously. As dictated by the rules, one third of the Committee retire each year by rotation. Three retired this year and Terry Joyce (Newsletter Editor), John Stone (Publicity) and Ken Howard offered themselves for re-election. The motion was proposed by Graham Lowe & seconded by Malcolm Kentish and was passed unanimously. Any Other Business None The meeting closed at 20:20.
Committee nomination form Name
Page 18
Position
Nominated by
Seconded by
Chelmsford Advanced Motorists
Signature of Nominee
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Dates for 2017 Tuesday 21st March
Committee Meeting
Monday 3rd April 1 week earlier than normal
Regional Service Delivery Team Manager S.E. IAM RoadSmart
Sunday 7th May
Driver Experience Day
Monday 8th May
"Expanding and understanding your driving"
Tuesday 16th May
Committee Meeting
Monday 12th June
Accident Investigation
Graham Oakley
Monday 17th July 1 week later than normal
Group Night
TBA
Tuesday 18th July
Committee Meeting
Monday 14th August
Group Night
TBA
Monday 11th September
Group Night
TBA
Monday 17th September
Driver Experience Day
Tuesday 19th September
Committee Meeting
Monday 16th October 1 week later than normal
Group Night
Monday 13th November
Group Night
Tuesday 21st November
Committee Meeting
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Pete Doherty
Nick Fearn
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Driver Experience Day - The Story of Creation By: St. Glow of Ongar Once upon a time in a dark and dingy place, well Enfield, actually. There was a lonely (part time) motor cycle instructor carrying out Compulsive Basic Training (CBT) for the local natives who wanted to spread their unsocial activities far and wide. It was recognised that in order to undertake local collections / deliveries, a powered two wheeler essential for fast get-aways; and as we now all know, narrow streets and alleys were ideal thoroughfares. Some even wanted to extend their dubious skills in financial gain by completing the “knowledge” and become Hansom Cab drivers. And everything in the world was lovely. Now, this lonely Instructor, wary of some of the local tribes and their inability to perform simple driving tasks on four wheels – let alone two had an idea; prompted by some of the locals saying things like…” all car drivers should do this before they started driving on four wheels”, and ..” it makes you far more aware of what’s going on around you”. Plus, those who had been driving experts for many years were, once again….if ever…..acquainted with an old and primitive tome called “The Highway Code”. So, what about a CBT for dopey car drivers then? Could they stand the pressure?? Could there be an area big enough to try it??? Then along came Henry (known now by his other title of St Ford, the patron saint of Essex). Lovely chap - got some sort of manufacturing plant in Dagenham, Dunton, or somewhere like that. Anyway, one of Henry’s motorcycling / engineering gods invited our lonely Instructor to come along to their lair and check it out. Well, good fun was had by our fearless Instructor and ….The Light Dawned. And all was right with the world.
So, in the dim and distance of 2006 a CBT for Car Drivers was born. Twelve (willing) guinea pigs were whizzed through slaloms, tipped on their sides and found out what loose objects can do in a car that’s stopping briskly! Not to mention going cross-eyed whilst undertaking a figure of eight ….at what ever speed they thought they could achieve. And they loved it! Such acclaim was pronounced that, after a suitable financial offering to the god Meddi-Helli-Bird of Essex, a second gathering was decreed. This time some twenty plus victims were exercised. Furthermore, three natives of the local tribes were enticed into assisting in the ritual, which, by now had been renamed the Driver Experience Day and so it came to pass, tribesmen and women from all over came to participate in the ritual; police people, doctors and nurses and teachers, as well as the general hoy polloi, all were invited; even those from across the water (Thames) and the Meddi-Helli bird of Essex was pleased. Now, in the eleventh year since creation the quest continues. With the grateful thanks to St. Ford and his disciples. The Meddi-Hellibird is very pleased. And all is right with the world………probably. Graham Lowe Page 20
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Vehicle Excise Duty Or as we know it Car Tax; is changing. I having been saying for a number of years that the rate on new supposedly green cars is not sustainable and from April 1st there are significant increases. New car owners could be forgiven for thinking they’ve been taken for a fool when Vehicle Excise Duty rules change and leave them further out of pocket from April 1. The change will mean 7 out of 10 will have to pay more tax and some of the most popular eco friendly cars will cost them more than £900 extra over five years. From April 1 only electric and hydrogen cars will be tax exempt – all others will pay a flat rate of £140. A car emitting 99g of carbon-dioxide emissions per kilometre bought before April 1 will be free of road tax for life, but those bought after that date will cost £120 in the first year, and £140 each year after. Other changes include the following: Car emissions 131g CO2/km 151g CO2/km 171g CO2/km 191g CO2/km Over 255g CO2/km
Tax prior to April 1, 2017 £130 £180 £295 £490 £1,100
Tax after April 1, 2017 £200 £500 £800 £1,200 £2,000
Those buying high-polluting cars may actually break-even, with tax set higher in the first year and subsequently falling every year after that. The current structure based on CO2 bands was introduced in 2001 when average UK new car emissions were 178g CO2/km. The Band A threshold of 100 g CO2/km below which cars pay no VED was introduced in 2003 when average new car emissions were 173g CO2/km. Since then, to meet EU emissions targets average new car emissions have fallen to 125g CO2/km. An increasingly large number of ordinary cars now fall into the zero or lower-rated VED bands, meaning they pay nothing at all resulting in lost tax revenue for the Treasury. It will be even worse for those who want to buy luxury or low emissions cars. Currently, they are tax free but the cost will rocket to £310 a year from the second year of ownership. Cars worth more than £40,000 that produce emissions will have to pay £450 a year in years 2-6. AA president Edmund King holds the view “if it ain’t bust, don’t fix it”. He said: “The current graduated VED system works well and encourages drivers to opt for more fuel-efficient vehicles. Whilst our members realised that the system needed to be reformed they think the proposed system will not encourage the takeup of lower emission vehicles.“ Continued on Page 22
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Vehicle Excise Duty continued
In the new VED system, only pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell cars will qualify for the lowest band. We believe the current system could have been reviewed to give more incentives for those that opt for lower emission vehicles. “The Government impact assessment predicts a surge of band A, B, C sales prior to start date. After which two identical cars in driveways next to each other would have VED at £0 p.a. or £140 p.a.” By Matt J Ware Autoexpress has covered the subject in more detail the link to the article is at the bottom.
History of Vehicle Excise Duty in the UK
1889 – Vehicle Excise Duty first introduced. 1909 - In the ‘People’s Budget’ David Lloyd George announced that the proceeds of VED would be used to fund the building and maintenance of the road network. 1920 – The terms Road Fund and Road Fund Licence came into existence. 1936 – Ring-fencing of the Road Fund ended by the Finance Act. 2014 – 69% of new cars registered in Great Britain were exempt from VED in their first year on the road because they emitted CO2 of less than 131g/km and fell into bands A-D. From October 1, 2014 Paper tax discs were scrapped after 93 years, motorists were no longer required to display the paper disc in the windows and a new digital system relying on road traffic cameras was introduced. 2013/14 - VED raised £6.1 billion with the money going into the Treasury’s general consolidated fund. 2017 – New cars to be charged VED with no first year exemption with new rates emissions ratings introduced for updated tech. 2020 – By the end of the decade, all VED paid will be ring-fenced and used for road building, maintenance and repairs.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/88369/car-tax-bands-what-you-need-to-know
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Events Our Team will be attending a number of car shows this year to advertise the Group and attract new members. They hope to attend the Battlesbridge Car Show, Brentwood and The Warren Classic and Supercar Show, shown in the picture below. Do you know of any events that they could attend to look for new members?
They will be attending the Maldon Motor Show which is on Sunday 2nd July. There is free public entrance & pay & display car park Opening Times: Public 10.00AM How to find the show: From junction 18 on the A12 follow A414 to Maldon. On your arrival (approx 8 miles) you will see Quest Motor’s opposite. At the roundabout turn right follow brown signs to Promenade Park. For public parking, turn right into car park See the back page for the poster about the Maldon Motor Show. Why not come along and say hello.
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Chelmsford Advanced Motorists
Issue 121