Spring Issue February 2014
Driving Safety Home The newsletter of the Stratford upon Avon Group of Advanced Motorists (3127) Registered Charity #1016119
Spring Skill For Life Course Associates
Here are the current members of the associates group. Tobias Michael Astor, James Cattrell, Simon Duns, Bethany Evans, Benjamin Gascoigne, Kareem Hassan, Chrissy Hyde, Heather Lacy, Kathryn Lakic, Peter MacSorley, John Mathews, Claire Matthews, Cynthia Moseley, Luke Ogden, Katie Rouse, Adam Sharpe, Andrew Stephenson, Chris Wills and James Wilson. If you know of anyone who would benefit (please be diplomatic) from the Skill for Life Course - and let’s face it, everyone could - then please ask them to contact Mike Page - email secretary@stratfordiam.org.uk or phone 01789 763732 - for more details. And of course remember to tell them what fun it is! The following have taken their Advanced Driving Test and satisfied the Examiner that they are of a standard to be accepted into the IAM: Alice Mercer, Lucy Mellor, David English, Stephen Wilson, Elliott Brown, Chris Murray, Mehul Shewakramani, Ryan Keyte, David Hancox and Anish Kotecha. Congratulations to you all and welcome to the world of Advanced Motoring!
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Spring Issue February 2014
Group Visit to Renovated Birmingham Rep Our October outing was a backstage guided tour of the refurbished Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and a visit to the new Library. 16 of us joined a public tour on Saturday 16th October, led by 4 volunteers, each of whom gave us a talk on different aspects of the theatre. They were so enthusiastic it was a pleasure to listen to them. We started off sitting in the comfortable seats of the new auditorium, being given the history of the 100 year old company. It was started by Sir Barry Jackson, in 1913, and moved to its present site in 1971. Sir Barry wanted to produce serious plays, rather than the diet of musicals that audiences in those days were fed on. We were taken on to the stage, which had the set for the current production of Tartuffe, to view the auditorium from the actors’ perspective, and quite daunting it was, as one imagined the rows of red plush seats filled by hundreds of people all watching you! The stage is very big, but can be made smaller with the judicious use of curtains and plywood walls. Behind the rear wall is the props table, with specially designated squares for all the props which would be used during the scenes. We were shown the paint shop, where all the sets are painted, some lying on the floor to be worked on, and some hung vertically on a frame which can be moved up or down as the painter works at different levels. Models are made of every set in every production. We gazed in awe at the huge workshop which is part of the new building. Only 4 staff work in here, all experts in woodworking and metalworking, 2
Spring Issue February 2014
and three of which are women. A large crane lifts the heavy sets on to the lorries. We then visited the wardrobe department, where the head of department is a woman who has worked there for 46 years. Each costume is custom made for the actors. It was a lovely light room with lots of windows and a wonderful view over the city. Next was the wig room. Each wig is hand made by the resident, expert wigmaker. He uses human hair, which can be washed and set many times over. Our last stop was a small studio used for presentations and lectures. It was a most enjoyable and interesting tour. After a lunch in the Rep. restaurant, we had time to wander around the amazing new library, which is definitely worth a visit, before making our way back to the station, and home.
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Spring Issue February 2014
First motorway pub 'offers deadly temptation to drivers' Opening of Wetherspoon's at M40 services alarms campaigners but chain says: 'We do not live in a nanny state'
England's first motorway service station pub will open on Tuesday, prompting a storm of criticism from road safety and health campaigners who have warned that it will encourage drink-driving. The two-storey premises, called the Hope and Champion and operated by the JD Wetherspoon chain, is at services next to junction two of the M40 near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. It will be open from 4am until 1am seven days a week, and be licensed from 9am. The development, which cost £1.2m, will create 120 new jobs. The road safety charity Brake said it was disappointed Wetherspoon's had pressed ahead with the pub – and is planning more outlets – after warnings against it on safety grounds. Brake spokesman Richard Coteau said: "The opening of a pub on a motorway is a serious concern, 4
Spring Issue February 2014
presenting a potentially deadly temptation to drivers. Drink-driving remains one of the biggest killers on our roads, causing devastation to families and communities every day. "It is vitally important that messages about the dangers of drink-driving are as strong and obvious as possible, so drivers know it's not okay to stop off for a quick drink on their way home. Our advice is not to have a drop if you are driving." Sir Ian Gilmore, the Royal College of Physicians' special adviser on alcohol and chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said the development sent out the wrong message. "The appearance of bars on our motorway network adds greater urgency to the Alcohol Health Alliance's call for a fundamental review of licensing laws, focusing on the availability of alcohol and reducing alcohol-related harm. Public health should be a core licensing objective, and the impact on the health of local people must be a key consideration." JD Wetherspoon said the Hope and Champion would also serve a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks, plus tea and coffee with free refills (until 2pm). In addition to the usual selection of beers, wines and spirits it will sell real ale from local and regional brewers. Beaconsfield is 25 miles north-west of London and was the first stop on the coaching route to Oxford (now the A40, parallel with the M40). A Wetherspoon's spokesman said it expected most of the sales for alcoholic drinks to come from passengers or those in organised coach parties: "But we are not naive. We know that giving drivers the chance to have a pint off the motorway is an unusual offer. "But equally we do not live in a nanny state. We expect drivers to act responsibly."
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Spring Issue February 2014
NEWS One in five drivers is over 65 There are now more than seven million drivers over the age of 65 on the UK’s roads, according to road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).The number of drivers over 65 reached 7,191,192 in November 2013. This makes up for 19 per cent of all drivers with full driving licences. The figures come from driving licence data published by the DVLA in December 2013. They also show that: There are 4,068,498 drivers over the age of 70. There are 1,101,779 drivers over the age of 80. 195 drivers are over 100 years old Of the drivers over 65, 367,711 or five per cent have points on their licence. For drivers over seventy the figure is 195, 773 or five per cent with points. 35,498, three per cent of drivers over 80 have points. This compares favourably with middle-aged drivers. The age group most likely to have points on their licence is 42 year-olds. Of the 816,915 licence holders in that group, 82,929 or 10 per cent have points. For younger drivers the figures are 3, 339, 826 licence holders, 270,817 with points, or 8 per cent. This supports research by the IAM that shows that older drivers are in fact safer than many other drivers. Where older drivers have slower reaction times, they use their experience on the road to compensate by driving at slower speeds on all occasions and allowing more space between them and other road users. IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “In twenty years time, one in ten people will be over 80 years old. Responding to an older population is a significant policy issue for government, health and transport agencies – a greater number of people will require help with their mobility and acting now can ensure the right support networks are in place numbers increase. Easy access to driving assessments, better advice from the medical profession and car and road designs that mitigate the effects of ageing should all be top in 2014. The overarching policy aim should be to keep people independent and driving safer for as long as possible.”
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Spring Issue February 2014
NEWS GROUP
OBSERVERS WANTED As you all know, the people who sit alongside new associates are called Observers, and these Observers are volunteers, giving up their time for no reward other than the knowledge that they are helping to make our roads safer by encouraging better driving techniques. Unfortunately we don’t have enough of them. This means that the Observers we have are being asked to attend every Sunday and sometimes to carry out 2 check drives each Sunday Morning.
To reduce the demands placed upon our dedicated Observers we are asking for more Advanced Drivers to step up and join our merry band of Observers. With more Observers to call upon each Observer will be asked to carry out fewer check drives - spread the load! If you are interested please contact Pete Thornett by email observer@stratfordiam.org.uk - or why not drop in on a Sunday morning and speak to him in person? You can now find out which Sundays the course is being run by checking our Events Calendar on our website www.stratfordiam.org.uk.
Wait! There’s more … We also need more people to assist with the ‘backroom’ running of the Group. The people you may not be aware of who again give their time freely to assist with the development of the Group. It doesn’t require a great commitment of time, and you will meet a great bunch of people. If you would like to find out more about becoming a Committee Member contact Mike page by email secretary@stratfordiam.org.uk - or phone 01789 763732
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Spring Issue February 2014 Upcoming events: February 28th, Friday March
29th
Quiz with hot meal at Snitterfield Sports Club
Saturday
Walk starting at Aston Cantlow
May 5th, Bank Holiday Monday
Donington Historic Festival, Donington Park. £20 for advance tickets. More at gate. Look up info@donington-park.co.uk National Memorial Arboretum. Entry free. Visitors Centre rides in buggy or train, £4.50
June 21st Saturday September 19th Fri. October 11th Sat..
Tour of Mini Factory Minibus during tour or take your own car. £12.00 To be confirmed Toddington Steam Railway with fish and chips on board. £19. To Cheltenham and back. Special Carriage for wheelchairs. To be confirmed
October 25th
Walk to be advised
November 28th
Skittles with hot meal
PLEASE BOOK IN FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE EVENTS. Tel: (01789) 730276 Email Address: events@stratfordiam.org.uk
Position
Holder
Chairman
Don Rushton
Secretary
Mike Page
Treasurer
Dot Holtom
YDS
Phone
Email chairman@stratfordiam.org.uk
01789 763732
secretary@stratfordiam.org.uk
Jan Copson
07847 802711
yds@stratfordiam.org.uk
Events
Lindsay Rushton
01789 730276
events@stratfordiam.org.uk
Membership
Phil Vaughan
Observer Training
Pete Thornett
Publicity
Mike Heath
press@stratfordiam.org.uk
Newsletter
Keith Madderson
editor@stratfordiam.org.uk
Committee
Colin Upchurch
members@stratfordiam.org.uk
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