The Newsletter of Chelmsford Advanced Motorists
The last of
www.iamchelmsford.org.uk Issue 108 October & November 2014 IAM Group 7223 Registered Charity No 1059372
Congratulations Here are two of our successful members receiving their certificate Gill Wood with her Observer, George Locker It is with great delight that I am able to write as someone who has passed their IAM test! I am overjoyed to have passed! The process was a big challenge given to me by my dear Peter! I will never forget George who patiently instructed me to the high standard expected. Also I was refined and helped along the process by Pat. You are both amazing people. Thank you. I would now recommend the course to all drivers. It takes commitment, determination and humility, but you would never regret doing it. In fact you may regret NOT DOING IT. Go for it!! Gill Wood
Here is Scott presenting me with certification that I have passed the IAM advanced test! What fun the whole experience was. But more than that it was an education into both how I and those around me drive. Many thanks to the fine body of IAM observers, in particular Scott. Ann-Dore Beaton
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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 10th November
Editor of The Essex Family Historian
Fred Feather
Monday 8th December
Xmas Quiz & Buffet
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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to our new Associate and Full Members. We look forward to seeing and talking to them at our monthly Group nights Jill Craymer
Brentwood
Andrew Notman
Great Leighs
Alan Hatch
Fyfield
Christine Swallow
Maldon
Brian Leech
Mayland
Mark Evans
Writtle
Tony Foster
Chelmsford
Peter Robinson
Maldon
Colin Byford
South Woodham Ferrers
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 Here is a small version of picture that I have taken. It is one of a number of Essex roads that I have taken. This is South Woodham Ferrers, which is good for roundabout practice.
You can see more here https://www.flickr.com/photos/boxster986/sets/72157645579898267 Page 4
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Congratulations to these latest Members of our Group who have Passed
‘The Test’. Test No
Name
Test Date
Observer
1031
Anne-Dore Beaton
24th July
Scott Bannister
1032
Adam Harkin
20th July
John Ockmore
1033
Dagmar Hampton
1st September
Scott Bannister
1034
Alex Leong
3rd September
Gaynor Manthorpe
1035
Chloe Green
24th September
Gaynor Manthorpe
1036
David Seaman
24th September
Scott Bannister
See page 2 for photos of our members receiving their certificates. 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 Life can be very trying at times. Isn’t it enough that we are heading towards the festive period at the speed of light without other things conspiring against me. In the last few months I have been having a stand-up fight with the IAM on the subject of the new standards they are introducing for observers. Since I regard this new standard as a dumbed-down version of the previous one, you can imagine I have not exactly fallen for it in a big way. They are now looking at ‘standardising’ the test – whatever that means. It fills me with a feeling of deep foreboding. Then again, perhaps it’s just me that likes to have a fight. Maybe I should just roll over and let them get on with messing things up – it would certainly make my life easier. While I’m having a moan I might as well mention our recent Driver Experience Day – or rather the cancellation of same. It appears some idiots managed to burst a gas pipe when relaying tarmac on the track and this meant we had to postpone. Since Ford give us the track for free I suppose we can’t complain too much, but it just adds to my pile of woes. We remain hopeful that we can reschedule before the end of the year, but I’m apprehensive about spending a day exposed on that track. It’s OK for you lot nice and cosy in your cars, but my involvement is largely in the harsh outside. Still, I could be wrong – with global warming perhaps we won’t have a bad Winter. In case you get the impression that all the bad things that happen to me are IAM related, nothing could be further from the truth. I have a life outside our Group. Fair enough, it might not be much of a life, but it is nonetheless still a life. I can assure you that in this outside life, the misery is just as bad – possibly worse. On the positive side…………….OK I can’t think of anything positive to say, but that’s how it is when you are paranoid and they are out to get you ! I know what you’re all thinking – ‘he sounds like he may be a bit depressed – perhaps he needs to turn to drugs or drink’. Well I’ve never been keen on the drugs but alcohol might work. Then again, I read recently that alcohol is not the answer……..on the other hand, neither is milk !
Scott
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~~~~~~~~ Editorial ~~~~~~~~ Hello, The IAM has issued a document called Common Confusions to issue some central guidance in relation to the subject of both Observing and Examining within the IAM. See pages 12 & 13 for the last items. I made a comment on item 22 regarding the Associates' judgement when at test level. The reason behind this is that looking back, when I passed my test I felt that I was just starting my journey in advanced driving and even now am continuing to learn and gain experience. One of the hardest things for Associates to learn is to judge how far you need to see before moving through a junction or roundabout, how far away other vehicles are and at what speed they are travelling. Please let me have your thoughts on item 22. Thank you to those of you that have contributed to this edition. Please keep the letters and articles coming. Please check out page 15 for our remaining group nights in 2014. Also on Page 16 there are the dates for next year. Many Thanks to Sue Sweetland for her patient and educated assistance in producing this Newsletter.
Terry Joyce
Please contact me by email at terry.joyce@iamchelmsford.org.uk
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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.
Committee Chairman Associates Co-ordinator & Chief Observer
Scott Bannister
Secretary
Steve Wright
Treasurer
John Johnston
Membership Secretary
Ken Carrington
Website Editor
Jon Ward
Newsletter Editor
Terry Joyce
Events Organiser
Sally Langley
Publicity
John Stone
Group Contact
Susan Sweetland
Committee Member
Dr Clifford Murira
Committee Member
John Ockmore
Committee Member
Ken Howard
Committee Member
Malcolm Kentish
Committee Member
Selva Seeni
Committee Member
Anthony Shilson
Observer Examiner
Gaynor Manthorpe
terry.joyce@iamchelmsford.org.uk
External Events
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Cognitive Distraction Cognitive distraction is simply another way to describe driver inattention, i.e. not keeping your eyes and mind on the road. Driver inattention can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. As the use of in-vehicle technologies becomes more popular, there is concern about an increase in driver distraction arising from their use. The use of hands-free devices is intended to reduce distraction due to manual operation of these units, but a major part of the distraction associated with their use arises from the cognitive consequences of their use, and not from the manual manipulation of the device. In America 32 states have passed mobile phone bans for teen drivers. Using a secondary device of some kind in your car causes mental workload. This workload reduces your ability to see the road and deal effectively with hazards and in turn increases your likelyhood of being in a crash. Cognitively there is no difference between a hand held phone conversation and a hands free one. With a demanding cognitive task you develop tunnel vision and lose your peripheral visual awareness. Driving and engaging in a mobile phone conversation are two tasks which require significant brain power. Contrary to popular belief, the human brain cannot multitask. The brain rapidly switches between two tasks. The switching occurs without our being aware of it, so there is no perceived danger. However, research shows that this switching can cause mobile phone distracted drivers to miss up to 50 percent of their driving environment. We are capable of training our brains to do this switching consciously but it takes a tremendous amount of concentration and practise, and can you really be 100 percent sure that you have overcome the brain's natural way of working? A study done by Carnegie Mellon University showed a decrease in brain activity in drivers using mobile phones. The parietal lobe activation, which is associated with processing moving visual images while driving, decreases by as much as 37 percent with sentence listening. Some of the more common forms of cognitive distraction while driving are: reading a map on your lap, dealing with children in the back seat, changing the station on the radio/a cd, looking at directions, reading while driving, dealing with an iPod, iPhone, iPad etc, talking on a non-hands-free phone, texting, getting something out of the glove compartment, picking up something off the floor, adjusting your seat, blowing your nose, getting something out of your pocket, getting something from the back seat, eating or drinking. Driving at 60 mph equates to covering 88 feet per second. So, if you are driving at 60 mph and take your eyes off the road for just 2 seconds, your car will move 176 feet while you are not looking. Almost anything can happen in 2 seconds. From Internet sources edited by Terry Joyce
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Oh joy, it's raining and it's a bit of a shock to the system after some of the lovely days we've had recently - I think autumn has arrived. We went up to Norfolk a while ago and as we share the driving, it was my turn to do the A12 as far as Ipswich. So there I was, not much traffic about for once, minding my own business and about to overtake another car just before Marks Tey when a bit of a kerfuffle started some distance behind me. This particular kerfuffle involved blue lights and sirens, so I thought "Ok, plenty of room on my side of the central reservation so I can move over and let them through the middle". There followed something like a modern day version of the Keystone Cops: no less than five black, unmarked vehicles came tearing through at something well over the speed limit and disappeared into the distance. We didn't see them again, so I assume it was another police force's officers using the A12 for target practice. When I first joined the Group, we were told to remember the parting of the Red Sea in circumstances like these. Somehow though, I didn't think it would happen to me just up the road on a summer Saturday morning!
Susan Sweetland
Our Observers Ron Adams
Gaynor Manthorpe
Scott Bannister
Dr Clifford Murira
Pat Clements
John Ockmore
Philip Cooper
Graham Robson
Paul Crosby
Roger Spall
Jamie Drummond
Lawrence Tattersall
Tony Hawes
John Tullett
Helen Jeffries
Mark Warbey
Terry Joyce
Brian Williams
Rob Laird
Rob Wise
George Locker Graham Lowe
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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 ÂŁ30 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 has your current email address.
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Common Confusions Continued from edition 107.
Item 18. Speed limits – Slowing for a change in speed limit: Misconception: brakes must not be used when reducing speed to a lower speed limit. Misconception: a brake light must be shown when slowing for hazards or a change in speed limit. It depends on how much speed must be lost and over what distance and relative to any other traffic. 'Acceleration Sense' should be encouraged where it is practical so as to promote smooth and progressive driving. In many situations there may be no need to brake if the manoeuvre has been planned properly unless it is considered that a brake light needs to be shown to traffic following too closely or approaching too fast. Brakes should be used when it is necessary, even if it is only to reduce the need for excessive/hard engine braking. It is important that the Candidate does not get into the habit of always braking under the guise of showing a brake light as an excuse for poor 'Acceleration Sense' or a lack of planning or observation. The point at which a speed limit starts and ends is at the change of limit signs. When entering a lower limit, the change of speed should have been achieved by the sign. When entering a higher limit the increase of speed should only commence on actually passing the higher limit signs. However where a speed limit sign is obscured or can only be seen very late the Examiner – whilst expecting the candidate to slow to the speed limit promptly – will make allowances for the situation as presented. This is very straightforward and clear Item 19. Misconception: At STOP lines the driver must set the parking brake. There is no specific requirement for the driver to do so. The essential requirement is that the vehicle must come to a complete STOP, and not roll adversely. Again this is very straightforward and clear Item 20. Use of in-car aids Misconception: Cruise control and other in car aids must not be used on test. Cruise control can be used, but should not be over used, for example in busy traffic conditions as a way of trying to keep to a speed limit. Other aids are usually permanently switched on in the vehicle – ABS, ESP etc. Assisted / Automatic Parking Systems which take over steering should not be used under guidance or on test. Parking or proximity detectors should not be relied on. They seem to have glossed over this issue, I think if they are covering Common Confusions there needs to be more detail and it should be updated as new in car technology becomes available. Continued on Page 13
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Common Confusions continued
Item 21. Use of Automatic Gearboxes: Candidates will be expected to know the manufacturer’s recommendations on the use of the gearbox that’s fitted to their vehicle. Examiners and Observers should be aware of the great steps forward in technology of such gearboxes, and that with some new and nearly new models, manual over ride may not be needed at all. A Candidate should not fail the test for simply not using manual over ride, unless there are other significant reasons which may have contributed towards poor assessment and planning. Again this is very straightforward and clear, although not all car manuals give much in the way of advice. Item 22. Cutting into RH Junctions off a main road: Query: – Under what conditions can a driver ‘cut into’ a RH junction, if any, initially proceeding on the wrong side of the road. This should not necessarily be taught to a candidate, but as with other actions, if it is done correctly, and without any danger or potential danger whatsoever, it may be allowed. If done, it should be part of an early plan. I'm not in favour of encouraging an Associate to cut into a right hand junction. Even when an Associate is at test standard, I wouldn't be totally confident that they have the judgement to get this right every time. 23. Joining a Motorway: Query: – Does it have to be Lane 1 for a short distance initially? As an Advanced driver in the making, planning a motorway entrance should be early and accurate. If safe progress can be made into Lane 2 or 3 safely, it should be done. Again this is very straightforward and clear 24. Allowances for Disabled drivers Query: – What rules or limitations should be applied when giving guidance? We will accommodate anyone who can drive, and make suitable allowances for their disability in terms of how the control the vehicle… we have had some cases in the past in which an individual has needed very extensive adaptations, and we are happy to accommodate these. It is useful to give some notice of the situation when booking a test so that the Examiner has notice, and if a case creates any particular problems contact the local Staff Examiner and appropriate advice can be given, and if appropriate arrangements made. (We have on one occasion allocated the Examiner very early in the preparation, to assist with advice about control issues for the Observer) Very clear. http://iam.org.uk/component/content/article?id=20483 From the IAM document ‘Common Confusions’ comments by Terry Joyce Page 13
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Fuel Consumption Several months ago I read in the papers that somebody had proposed cutting the speed limit at the top of the M1 to 60, the theory being that this would cut pollution in the nearby towns. Now I don’t think I’ve been on that stretch of the road more than once in my life so on one level, I don’t really care, but you know how these things work – a small experiment becomes a bigger experiment and before you know we are all driving around at 40 on the motorways because that will be far more ‘green’. It set me wondering just how much of a difference it would make. There are two elements of this of course. It’s not just about the fuel economy of the cars, it’s also about the free flowing of the traffic because if it starts to bunch up in a speed limit the acceleration and deceleration will act against what is trying to be achieved. Also one shouldn’t forget the road safety aspect. Whilst governments just love simple explanations, we all know that it’s not in fact speed that kills, it is inappropriate speed and many other factors in driver behaviour. So the question is ‘will an inappropriate speed limit reduce or increase casualties?’. I don’t have an answer to that one though my intuitive feeling is that it makes it worse rather than better. If anybody has travelled on the A14 recently you will know what I mean. The introduction of the average speed cameras has resulted in more bunching and shorter gaps. Anyway, I can’t prove that one either way so what about the ‘use less petrol’ argument? Just to show I’m not the only person with too much time to spare and not enough meaningful life, I contacted Richard Gawler – one of our fine members and man in possession of a dongle and a clever app for his phone. By plugging said dongle into the car he can download a shedload of data coming from the car on his phone. Transfer said data to the PC and pass it to me in a spreadsheet and hey presto – 6 hours later I come up with an answer as to how much of a difference it makes to my car’s fuel consumption when I travel at different speeds. Methodology for the test was as scientific as I could make it i.e. not very. We picked the A120 towards Stansted and we picked Sunday morning at 8.00am. We figured at that time, I could achieve a decent length of run without having to slow down or speed up for overtaking. I would recommend such a time for a drive – it was very quiet. Well, it would be. Everybody else with half a brain was still tucked up in bed! The plan was to drive at 40/50/60/70/80 (of course for the last of these we had to pop over to Germany), and for a bit of extra ‘fun’ we repeated the 60mph run in 4th gear instead of 5th to see what difference it made. Results were as follows:
Continued on Page 15
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Fuel Consumption continued
Average Speed
MPG
40.1
59.2
49.5
55.8
59.4
43.5
59.4 (4th gear)
42.7
68.6
36.3
78.2
33
Obviously, all cars are different so yours would produce a different set of results but it gives a picture of the relative differences. So what have I learned from this process? Well, aiming for 65 as a speed is significantly better than aiming for 75, so for a long motorway run, I might ease off the speed a shade. Secondly I was surprised at how little difference there was between 4th and 5th gear. I now feel slightly less guilty about encouraging people to use lower gears for more response. The complaint is usually ‘it will use more fuel’ Yes it will, but not significantly so, particularly if used for relatively short periods. So, is the planned trial of a 60mph on the M1 justified? Well the saving is modest, but measurable. If the other problems I mention above don’t remove that benefit then there is some justification, but I suspect at the end of the day there won’t be much in it. The results also lead me to question whether the speed limits on motorways should be raised to 80. This was a proposal a while back though it has now sunk without trace. I had been in favour of it. Now that I see the consumption figures I am somewhat less convinced. Scott Bannister
Group Nights & Events 2014 Please make a note in your diary Monday 10th November
Editor of The Essex Family Historian
Monday 8th December
Xmas Quiz & Buffet
Fred Feather
These speakers have all been booked by Sally Langley. If you know of someone you think the group might like to hear, then please contact Sally on 07905 445249 or email her at sally147@catlover.com.
See page 16 for our Group Night dates for 2015 Page 15
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Dates for 2015 Monday 12th January
History of Havering. This includes, Havering Museum, Romford Market, Hornchurch Airfield, Havering Palace, Upminster, Rainham and the Thames
Dennis Lynch
Monday 9th February
New drug drive offence, which drugs, what limits, the purpose of the new controls and how that effects medication.
Roger Agombar
Monday 9th March
Talks about Jack The Ripper, her research in Egyptology or working behind the scenes on the TV show Inspector Morse.
Lindsay Siviter
Monday 13th April
Driver First Assist programme
Rachel Hewings
Monday 11th May
Essex Crimestoppers Presentation
Stuart Walins
Monday 8th June
Hospital Radio Chelmsford
Graham Medhurst
Monday 13th July Monday 10th August Monday 14th September Monday 12th October Monday 9th November Monday 14th December These speakers have all been booked by Sally Langley. If you know of someone you think the group might like to hear, then please contact Sally on 07905 445249 or email her at sally147@catlover.com.
Please add them to your diary
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Highway Code Changes in the New Highway Code (2007) © Crown copyright 2007
The other bits Annexes Vehicle maintenance, safety and security Window tints. You MUST NOT use a vehicle with excessively dark tinting applied to the windscreen, or to the glass in any front window to either side of the driver. Window tinting applied during manufacture complies with the Visual Light Transmittance (VLT) standards. There are no VLT limits for rear windscreens or rear passenger windows. Laws RTA 1988 sect 42 & CUR reg 32
This has been added to this section Petrol stations/fuel tank/fuel leaks. Ensure that, when filling up your vehicle’s tank or any fuel cans you are carrying, you do not spill fuel on the forecourt. Any spilled fuel should be immediately reported to the petrol station attendant. Diesel spillage is dangerous to other road users, particularly motorcyclists, as it will significantly reduce the level of grip between the tyres and road surface. Double-check for fuel leaks and make sure that • • • •
you do not overfill your fuel tank the fuel cap is fastened securely the seal in the cap is not torn, perished or missing there is no visual damage to the cap or the fuel tank
Emergency fuel caps, if fitted, should form a good seal. Never smoke, or use a mobile phone, on the forecourt of petrol stations as these are major fire risks and could cause an explosion.
This has been significantly expanded
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Car Tax From October 1, 2014 paper tax discs were scrapped after 93 years, motorists were no longer required to display the paper disc in their car windows and a new digital system relying on road traffic cameras was introduced. The DVLA was not prepared for the response that they got and their website crashed. They said it was just slow but I tried to tax my Wife's car over twenty four hours and it wasn't working at all. They give a 0300 number but if you use that it will cost you money particularly if you use a mobile phone. The alternative was to go out in the rain to the Post Office. They introduced this new system that is easy to use (when it's working) and didn't expect the number of people who tried to tax their vehicle. From 1 October, when you buy a vehicle, the vehicle tax will no longer be transferred with the vehicle. You will need to get new vehicle tax before you can use the vehicle. You can tax the vehicle using the New Keeper Supplement (V5C/2) part of the vehicle registration certificate (V5C) online or by using the automated phone service - 24 /7 on 0300 123 4321or you may wish to visit a Post Office branch. Did you know that you cannot pass on your car tax to a new owner if you sell your car? If you sell a vehicle after 1 October and you have notified DVLA, you will automatically get a refund for any full remaining months left on the vehicle tax. The refund will be sent to the keepers details on DVLA records so you need to make sure that these are correct. Vehicle tax refunds You will no longer need to make a separate application for a refund of vehicle tax. DVLA will automatically issue a refund when a notification is received from the person named on DVLA vehicle register that the: vehicle has been sold or transferred, vehicle has been removed from the road and the person on the vehicle register has made a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). Direct Debit will be offered as an additional way to pay for vehicle tax. This will be available for customers who need to tax their vehicle from 1 November 2014: A few facts Vehicle tax was introduced in the 1888 budget. The Roads Act 1920 required councils to 'register all new vehicles and to allocate a separate number to each vehicle' and 'make provision for the collection and application of the excise duties on mechanically propelled vehicles and on carriages'. The requirement to display a tax disc was introduced in 1921. Over 1.7billion tax discs have been issued since then and if they were put in a line, they would go around the world three times. Last year, the DVLA issued 42.2million tax discs weighing over 72 tonnes. Terry Joyce Page 18
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CHELMSFORD ADVANCED MOTORISTS LIBRARY LIST DVDs Drive Smarter, Essential know-how for your driving career (2 copies) By Gem Motoring Assist Roadcraft, The Police Driver’s Course on Advanced Driving By The Police Foundation
PC CD-ROMs The Interactive Highway Code HMSO/ Interactive Driving Systems Hazard Perception Test
HMSO/Oasis
BOOKS Roadcraft Human Aspects of Police Driving The Tyre Digest (2 copies)
TSO Scottish Police College Michelin
Driving Abroad
Robert Davies
The Official Highway Code Rev. 2007 Edition
HMSO
The Official Guide to Accompanying L-Drivers
DSA
Sideways to Victory
Roger Clark
The Myway Code
Ian Vince/Dan Kieran
Paul Ripley’s Expert Driving
Daily Telegraph
The Inner Game of Tennis
W Timothy Gallwey
Mind Driving
Stephen Haley
Older Drivers – Safe or Unsafe? Traffic– Why we drive the way we do Boreham, A History of the Racing Circuit
IAM Tom Vanderbilt Bryan Jones & John Frankland
CDs Awake, Driver Reviver
THINK
Advanced Road Craft
Bespoke Driving Training
The Driving Test – Your Licence to Drive
IAM/Safety on the Move
If you have any books etc from the Library can you please contact Scott Bannister Page 19
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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. It is with great delight that I am able to write as someone who has passed their IAM test! I am overjoyed to have passed! The process was a big challenge given to me by my dear Peter! Pre my IAM experience Peter would sit in the passenger seat clinging to his seat in fear! Post IAM he falls asleep! I will never forget George who patiently instructed me to the high standard expected. Also I was refined and helped along the process by Pat. You are both amazing people. Thank you. I am so pleased I accepted Peters challenge, because I now enjoy driving, and continually critique myself and get pleasure from being a good driver! I was not successful at my first attempt to pass, and was so upset! HOWEVER, I was encouraged to not give up and in the following couple of months had further drives and felt in that time I really blossomed with skill and confidence . I would now recommend the course to all drivers. It takes commitment, determination and humility, but you would never regret doing it. In fact you may regret NOT DOING IT. Go for it!! Gill Wood
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Sir, I would be interested to know how other members have found dealing with Cornmarket (Adelaide) if they have made a claim. I currently have a no fault claim going through and have not been impressed by the service I have received. I can be contacted on paynechris@tiscali.co.uk I was sitting in my car waiting for the electric garage door to open when my neighbour reversed in to the side of me. We share a driveway. I reported the incident as soon as it happened, which was the evening of 7th August & was assured I would get a call back at 9 a.m. the following day. When this did not happen I contacted Adelaide & they told me there was no record of my report. I have had no contact from Adelaide to let me know how the claim is progressing & I have been the one to do all the chasing. Continued on Page 21
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Letters & emails
continued
I have had to pay ÂŁ350 excess & even though the other insurers have accepted liability I have yet to be reimbursed. I spent most of one day last week on the phone to Adelaide and the 3rd parties insurers. I thought that part of the reason for going through Adelaide was so that they were there to work on my behalf. There is now Adelaide, Ageas and another company that is supposed to be recovering my excess all involved. It is ironic that the person who caused the accident was not inconvenienced by not having her car whereas I was (the courtesy car was too small to take children out as I had planned ). She has not had to pay out any money (her policy has been renewed with only ÂŁ30 increase in the premium). I have been ÂŁ350 out of pocket for several weeks. She has had very prompt service from her insurers. Yours faithfully Christine Payne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Scott, I like my roads with gentle bends, silky surfaces and a complete absence of heavies, horses, cyclists and members of the '45 Club'. So observed drives over the most difficult conditions that Essex can provide would be unlikely to "float my boat". How wrong can one be? Many drives, laughs and hairy bends later I have become the proud owner of an IAM Certificate, so I want to say a heartfelt thank you to you, Scott, my brave observer, for allowing me access to your fount of knowledge, for never being intimidating but always encouraging and for making the whole process such fun. I would also thank Pat for the mock test which she delivered with sympathy and kindness. Thank you both again for helping me to have so much enjoyment while gaining better road skills. Yours sincerely Dagmar Hampton
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Issue 108
What am I?
It is an electronic transponder which is used for payment of tolls on French motorways. Sanef has made its Liber-t automatic toll payment service available to UK motorists who drive in France. It is not inexpensive but it is invaluable, ask my Wife Brenda. Previously she has had to try to master techniques worthy of a contortionist to reach for tickets or pay tolls when we have used French motorways. I try to use them as little as possible but sometimes when travelling long distances it is not practical to use national or D roads. Nothing against the French motorways, they are often fairly quiet and even at time lonely roads to drive on. Often they are very scenic and picturesque. The facts about the transponder: The clip on the right of the picture has double side tape and it has to be stuck on the windscreen behind the rear view mirror. The transponder slides onto the clip. This is so it can be removed for security reasons and storage between uses. It is transferable, it can be used in any car. They send two clips with it. The setup costs 20€ refundable security deposit (no TVA), 10€ application fee (+TVA) TVA is the French VAT. They have four different rates. I'm not sure what rate applies as yet but I believe it is 10 or 20 percent. I bought it through the Eurotunnel as we had a booking with them and the 10€ application fee was waived. Continued on Page 23
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Chelmsford Advanced Motorists
Issue 108
What am I? continued
Ongoing costs 6€ annual account management fee(+TVA) 5€ per month that the tag is used but maximum of 10€ in any subscription year(+TVA) Pay in £ via direct debit (they use an average mid market exchange rate for the relevant month + 2% (less than bank/Credit card)) i.e. if you only make one trip it would be 11€ for the year or if you did not use it at all it would be 6€ for the year to keep your tag. (There is no discount on the tolls) When the tag arrives (I got it the day after I ordered it) all you need to do is register it online. As you approach, a device by the barrier will read your transponder (or tag), securely extract your unique reference and then automatically open the barrier without you having to stop. You will receive an invoice the following month for your tolls and then around 15 days later payment will be collected automatically in £ (GBP) by direct debit from your UK bank account. You should approach the barrier at walking pace and once the transaction has completed, the tag will "beep", the traffic light will change to green and the barrier will open. On certain dedicated lanes you can drive through at up to 30 kph. These lanes are clearly signed. I tested the 30kph lanes and wouldn't recommend driving at 30kph. I don't know if it was the position of my tag but driving at 20kph I reached the barrier just as it opened. The battery in the tag is designed to last between 5 and 7 years depending on how often it is used. If your tag stops working, contact Sanef and they will send you a new one. As I said previously, it's not the cost but the convenience which makes using the tag very worthwhile if you plan to do any motorway driving in France. Here is one of toll booths. The left hand lane is usually dedicated for using the tag. Terry Joyce
http://www.saneftolling.co.uk/ http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/Sanef-Tolling/
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Chelmsford Advanced Motorists
Issue 108
Internet Links The links below are to websites that you may have an interest in. Please let me know if any of them are not working. Email me if you think of any websites that may be of interest.
IAM DrivingAdvice & Tips http://www.iam.org.uk/media-and-research/media-centre/driving-and-riding-tips
Online Highway Code http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/index.htm
Know your traffic signs http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_191955.pdf
Tyresafe http://www.tyresafe.org
Drive Alive http://www.drive-alive.co.uk
Heritage Motor Centre http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/
London Cyclist http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/
Does anyone recognise this? A good road to practise an overtake.
Hawkswood Road
www.iamchelmsford.org.uk
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/
Have you seen one of these? Seen by James Stretch in Greenwich near the O2.
Seen on the D59 near Saint-Priest Bramefant.