The NABD joins forces with the IAM RoadSmart

THE NABD JOINS FORCES WITH THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED MOTORISTS ROADSMART.

The world’s leading charity for bikers with a disability has teamed up with the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, helping to remove potential barriers to becoming a safer rider.

IAM RoadSmart believes that adapting to different learning styles is key to making advanced driving and riding accessible to many, ultimately improving road safety on UK roads.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr Andy Arnott from the National Association for Bikers with a Disability said: “Our aim is to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy the freedom and independence of motorcycling. This partnership with IAM RoadSmart supports our aim.

“I have been a member and supporter of the National Association for Bikers with a Disability for the last decade and I was always conscious that many of the riders with disabilities I have worked with, have been keen to improve their skills but no one knew how to go about it.”

“As an Advanced Rider as well, I spotted a natural opportunity for the two charities to collaborate, I look forward to helping to bring these two great organisations together.”

Richard Gladman, Head of Driving and Riding Standards at IAM RoadSmart, said: “It is important that road safety is all inclusive and that everyone has access to training to improve their skills on the road.

“I am extremely excited about this collaboration. The National Association for Bikers with a Disability is a great charity and we look forward to working with its members, giving them access to the support they would like and making even more people aware of what we offer to enhance rider skills and confidence.” Earlier in the year, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve road safety for everyone, IAM RoadSmart also launched a guide to ensure all volunteer observers nationwide can adapt their driving and riding coaching to different neurodiversity needs and different learning styles, including: dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism and Asperger’s among others.

Dr Andy Arnott explains how the link with the Institute of Advanced Motorists started;

Chris Ganley (the one-armed bike racer) and I are both members of Cheddar Valley Advanced Motorcyclists, the local group for both of us with the Institute of Advanced Motorists. I’d met Chris previously at a group social night where he was promoting his bike racing venture and fund raising.

Subsequently he allowed the National Association for Bikers with a Disability’s information stand to share his gazebo at the Nailsea Bike Show. I then processed his NABD membership and introduced him to the IAM members in attendance, Chris was eligible for the young rider scheme so I got the committee to underwrite his membership for the IAM.

Cheddar Valley Advanced Motorcyclists had a number of associates that were almost test ready before the pandemic. Following the lifting of some restrictions and a carefully coordinated socially distanced intensive couple of days, we were pleased to announce that we had 5 out of 5 passes! The successful candidates were Chris Ganley, John Alexander, Jason Knox, Kat Sharpe, and Magelie Epin.

Now he has passed, Chris is hoping to progress to Local Observer fairly soon.

His road bike had been robbed of a few critical components to keep his race bike going, with the help of donors from last year’s ‘You’ve Been NABD’ National rally, a fundraiser auction was coordinated with the IAM, allowing Chris to put his road bike back on the road to commence the training for his test.

His adaptions had been done without the help of a grant, by “race mechanics” but mainly by himself. He is now actively promoting the National Association for Bikers with a Disability at race meetings having assisted Phil Morris (National Stall Manager).

Cheers

Andy

You can see more about Chris Ganley’s remarkable story on his website – www.chrisganleyracing.com

WHO ARE IAM ROADSMART?

IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable.

It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests.

IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy.

The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programs.

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com