The Importance of the Passenger

Some riders and drivers live for speed - they have the power of many horses at the fingertips (or toes), so why not use it?

I must confess, however, that while driving or riding I have a different aim. Instead of persuing ultimate performance (or, in training parlance, 'making safe progress'), I endevour to provide my passengers (whether real or imagined) with a smooth journey.

To achieve this requires full use of good long-distance forward observation and planning, allied with machine control where transitions are done as smoothly as possible, gear changes are achieved without any abruptness, brakes or throttle are applied or released as far as possible in a way that passengers will not have noticed.

The aim is not to impress the passenger with application of power, but more to provide them with as smooth a journey as possible.

So it was with some pleasure that, during a recent motorway journey, I saw a driver who had simlar concerns for their passenger's comfort.

I gradually caught up with the car, which was travelling at about 65mph, and had to move from the left lane out to the third lane to pass it. I can only assume that the centre lane's surface was smoother, so offered a better ride for the passenger.

Indeed, the passenger was asleep.

Luckily for me, my passenger was awake, and able to map read and give me directions should I need them.

The other driver, however, did not have that luxury, so was reading her road atlas as she drove, open across her steering wheel . . .

The E-Bay Driving Test Centre?

Want to buy a licence?

Not a real one, obviously.

But the BBC has brought to light 'novelty' photo-card licences available from a web site. Some 'novelty', though, at £250 each! An extra £100 bought the paper counterpart.

The cards have a hologram, picure, signature, and details such as address and date of birth.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7408422.stm

GPS-equipped . . . Dustcarts

You'd think that doing the same routes week in, week out, dustcart drivers would know where they're going . . .

But York City Council has, apparently, spent £40,000 fitting GPS equipment to the bin vehicles fleet.

Actually, it's not as daft as it sounds, as they say it will allow them to track them identify the nearest vehicle to a job such as a missed collection.

I wonder how long it will be before someone steals a GPS unit like that?

Pop-Up Road Signs?

Would you ride (or drvie) in to a wall? Probably not. But a new, and novel, suggestion for a pop-up 'sign' brings in the 'fear' of hitting an obstruction by using a 'virtual' wall across the road to warn drivers of pedestrians crossing.

Using laser or plasma beams, it projects 'pedestrians' in front of drivers.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/221727/lasers_boost_crossing_safety.html

It’s the brainchild of young South Korean product designer Hanyoung Lee, who wanted to do something about the number of near-misses at traffic lights. He explained that the project was still at concept stage, but said he was looking to produce a prototype in the near future. And he added that the wall could also be set up to be triggered by the sound of approaching cars. Local authorities across the US are said to be interested in the idea, and Hanyoung maintained that it could save many lives. He told us: “I would love to see it in production, although unfortunately I haven’t received any offers yet.”

DSA Investigate Unqualified Instructors

According to AutoExpress, more than 400 unqualified instructors are under investigation by the DSA.

The DSA is uurging learners to check their instructor is actually qualified. They suggest that the spiralling cost of tuition and the demand for cut-price instruction is tempting criminals into setting up bogus driving schools.

DSA say a number of firms are run by tutors who started instructor training, but failed to finish their courses, others are still practising after being struck off the register.

How can you tell? Bona fide instructors need to display an in-date pink licence or green certificate in their windscreen during lessons. They should also carry photographic ID along with their paperwork.

DSA spokeswoman Michelle Moston said: “If illegal instructors are on our roads, they haven’t passed the Agency’s rigorous three-part test and could be putting lives at risk.”

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/222066/400_instructors_put_lives_at_risk.html

Note: there are approx. 45,000 qualified ADIs in the UK

But the cynic in me can't help but note that this appeared just a few days after the Driving Instructors Association launched a scathing attack on DSA for ignoring instructor's concerns . . .
http://www.driving.org/

DSA Test Centres - A Trip Too Far?

If you're even thinking of taking the bike test - or know anyone who is - the message to hear is : "Do it now!"

The new off-road test will begin at the end of September. In itself, the test is no bad thing, in that riders will have to be taught the basics of good steering control for cornering and swerving. I have my doubts about the way in which other elements will be tested, and severe concerns about how training centres will be able to train riders for the higher-speed test exercises.

There are also concerns I've seen voiced about how easy it will be for low-power bikes to achieve the required test speeds (set by the EU) within the distance available.

But one of the most worrying factors is the sheer distance that riders will have to travel to actually take the test.

DSA are claiming " . . Most of the population able to reach one of these new test centres within 45 minutes and 20 miles."

Really? That's an average of 27 miles an hour! You only have to be stopped at lights, or at a junction for a few moments and that average will rise rapidly. The DSA's 'most' probably includes most of the UK's main population centres. Oh, except South London . . . where no test centre location has been identified!

And there are some real horror stories coming out over the distances some riders will have to travel (see below). Remember these are novice riders, who will have to travel (without the ability to use motorways where available) for some time and distance to the test centre, take the (extended) test, then return to their training site - perhaps in poor weather conditions.

Here's the DSA view:
http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=402


Here's some alternnative views, including a BBC TV report:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7413809.stm

http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/motors/news/display.var.2271434.0.bike_licence_set_to_change.php

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=146868&command=displayContent&sourceNode=146861&contentPK=20246782&folderPk=83306&pNodeId=253021

Taking a motorbike test? Well, from the end of September, it's likely to mean a 160- or even 200-mile round trip to Devon.And a Penzance motorbike instructor fears he will go out of business due to the new regulations which will see testing being taken away from Penzance and moved to either Exeter or Plymouth from September 29, unless a possible site at Redruth is up and running.

The test is being introduced by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to comply with European legislation and will entail the rider having to take a practical test at a Multi-purpose Test Centre (MPTC). At present, the nearest working MPTC is at Exeter although sites for other MPTCs have been identified in Plymouth and Redruth.

Alan Parker, owner of Cornwall Bike Training, in Albert Street, Penzance, says he can't understand why the new regulations are being brought in before all the new MPTCs are in place. "I can appreciate why the new test is being introduced," he said. "But why close the centres at Penzance (currently open two days a week), Camborne, St Austell and Bodmin before there's an alternative centre in Cornwall in place? It just doesn't make sense.

"I really do believe that if the new MPTC at Redruth does not open on time, it will lead to people riding around illegally without having passed the test."

And he fears he will have to close his business - which employs seven people - due to the additional costs.He estimates his company sees five to 10 people a week through the test and said if he had to take them to Plymouth or Exeter, it would add enormous extra expense to his business.

He thinks his fuel bill, currently £500 to £600 a month, would triple while the length of time between services on his fleet of 22 bikes, carried out every 2,500 to 3,000 miles, would also drop dramatically.

And perhaps the worst bit of all this? Alan Parker wonders why the introduction of the test hasn't been delayed until enough sites are in full operation. S

Simple answer: It can't be delayed, the test must be in place and operating this year, because the DSA have already had a two-year extension from the EU!

Ride To Work Day 2008

Is Weds. 16th July.

http://www.mcia.co.uk/S_Public/SContent.asp?sc=X3


http://www.mcia.co.uk/_attachments/Documents/R2W%2007%20poster.pdf

http://www.mcia.co.uk/_attachments/Documents/NMW%2007%20pack.pdf

Recession? Boom, Bust, and Bikes?

Reading or watching news over the last few months it's been difficult to miss the predictions of doom, gloom, and financial ruin. (Although in one of our stops on Saturday's CoastBusters! ride, one of the newspapers was heralding the end of the recession!)

So how will that affect bike sales? It might be reasonable to expect 'tightening of belts' etc.

Or could it be that people who were about to move house but are put off by uncertainty over mortgage costs and falling house prices will, instead, spend their money on a bike?

The MCAI (Motorcycle Industry Association) figures suggest that might be the case.

“On the one hand, people are increasingly concerned about the economy. Rising prices, worries about the housing market and the credit crunch are making people feel uneasy about spending,” said Craig Carey-Clinch of the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA).

“But this could well have a positive impact on the PTW market. Record petrol prices, rising household bills, high taxation and widespread gloom could well make people think very carefully about their transport needs. Time wasted in congestion, expensive and uncomfortable public transport, high parking and congestion charges and the massive costs of car ownership make a moped, scooter or motorcycle increasingly attractive."

So what are the figures?

PTW registrations last month were only 3.2 per cent down on the same month last year at 18,624. Over the first three months of the year the market is just 2.2 per cent down with a total of 30,694 registrations. To add a little more perspective, although March 2008 is down on March 2007, it is still over 10 per cent up on March 2006 . . .

So the good news is that they're not as bad as they might have been?

http://www.mcia.co.uk/S%5FPress/NewsArticle.asp?msid=1160

. . . The industry on track to exceed 140,000 PTW registrations for the second year in succession."

But with the new test now closing in fast for the end of September, it would be - sadly - reasonable to expect worse sales figures from August onwards.

The message, worth repeating: If you or anyone you know are considering getting a full bike licence, do it soon.

Information Overload

The idea of 'information overload', where the brain simply can't take in and react to any more information, is not new - it's been known about in air safety circles for years. Early experiments found that pilots could react to about 7 different warnings, the rest would be blocked out. Not good if number 8 was an 'incoming missile' warning.

Now it's been recognised within the road safety field, and the Highways Agency has acknowledged that too many signs are causing distraction for drivers, so some will be removed.

And those being removed?

Ah, well . . . they're road safety signs . . .

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7412028.stm

Hydrogen Fuel-Cell & Electric Power

A couple of interesting developments in alternative fueling for vehicles.

First is detailed in New Electronics magazine, and involves an alternative to an alternative! A company called EEstor is working on using capacitors to replace batteries in electric vehicles.

EEstor is partnered with the Zenn Motor Company, and their plan is to have the cityZENN (citizen?) car launched in Europe by Autumn 2009.

Using capacitors has distinct advantages over batteries - unlimited recharge/discharge cycles and extremely quick recharge - but they cannot match batteries for storage capacity [sic]. At least, not until EEstor's 'ceramic supercacitor with barium-titanate dielectric. No, I don't know either. However, they claim that these will out-perform Lion baterries for price, charge time, and safety.


The second recent announcement is a follow-on from the EnvBike - a UK design - and has led to the Suzuki Crosscage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItRA5L6s0Jw

Crosscage's air cooled fuel cell designed by British company Intelligent Energy helps slim down this design by eliminating the need for a radiator or coolant system. Located just above the hydrogen fuel tank, the fuel cell is very compact, light, and powerful. It sends power to the motor controller which stores it in the lithium ion battery or sends it to the motor.

Through combining oxygen in the air and hydrogen from the fuel tank to create power this motorcycle's exhaust is only water vapor thus helping reduce CO2 emissions and protect the environment. On a single tank of hydrogen the crosscage can travel about 200km and has the power equivalent of 125ccs.

The crosscage from which the motorcycle gets its name is not merely an aesthetic choice but also protects the hydrogen fuel tank which is located directly behind the intersecting point. There is also a sensor at the top of the chassis which constantly checks for hydrogen leaks and shuts off the fuel tank if there are any abnormalities.

First Aid Update

I passed, thanks for asking.

And worth noting that St John Ambulance have a huge stock of first aid stuff available from their web shop, at very reasonable prices:

http://www.stjohnsupplies.co.uk

Plastic Fantastic

Forgot to mention in the Coastbusters! post yesterday, but an intriguing sight yesterday was a sportsbike rider travelling in the opposite direction, in Dorset.

Why intriguing?

Well, as he approached, hunched over the bars, he seemed, well . . . 'big'. No, there's nothing wrong wih big people riding bikes, but he seemed . . . too big.

As he passed by, a fleeting glimpse showed that he was a 'normal' sized biker, only wrapped in clear plastic, obviously anticipating the same foul weather we'd expected!

CoastBusters! On the road report

Today was Day 1 of Euan Stronach's marathon Coastbusters charity ride around the UK, raising money for much-needed research in to Ovarian cancer.

Checking the weather forecast and - more worrying - the Highways Agency warnings on the BBC text news last night suggested that the South of England was to be obliterated by torrential rain today.

So it was with some relief (but not much) that I heard the dawn chorus this morning (including a local blackbird which cheeps a good rendition of 'Colonel Bogey' . . . odd . . . ). Luckily for me, I had the alarm set for 7:45, so could go back to sleep.

Bemused by the bright sky lack of rain when I got up, I switched on the computer and checked the Highways Agency 'Traffic England' web site to find that their weather sensors were reporting rain across Kent and as far West as Brighton . . . where Dave, Craig and me were due to meet Euan.

Euan, however, was on the road at 6:00 am.

Part of his Day 1 route included using the M25. Which was shut, so he had to make a 'back roads' detour to get back on route. Heading into Kent took him in to rain, and more rain.

[Background info: Euan, Dave, Craig, and me 'know' each other from the web forum 'The Rev Counter' - where we're known as 'Stronach', 'Byker28i', 'Sienna', and 'Horse'. Don't ask.]

Dave and I met for breakfast, and Happy Ate.

We headed off to our pre-arranged meeting point at a petrol station at hte A27/A23 junction, where we were due to meet Euan at mid-day. Arriving at 11:20 we found a soggy Euan just arrived, and topping up his bike with fuel and himself with a pasty.

Craig arrived a few minutes later, so we formed and headed West, with a nice police escort c/o the Sussex police dog unit who happened to travelling the same way.

I have to say that, for all the 'fears' of 'electronic policing' by camera, I haven't seen so many police on the roads for ages. We must have seen getting on for a dozen police vehicles during the day.

One 'highlight' was near Chichester, when a new BMW 'moto-x/motard' type bike (on a foreign plate) pulled up alongside us at some lights. We expected a stonking wheely from him when the lights turned green; he stalled. Oh well . . .

So A27 - M27, A31, coffee stop, then to Dorchester for photos. Graig accompanied Euan on to Honiton to meet his next accompanying rider, while Dave and I turned for home.

http://www.justgiving.com/coastbusters

Pic shows Euan having a quick rest, reading the Ealing Gazette, just outside of Dorchester.

SMIDSY LBFTS "Sorry, Mate, I didn't see you"

No, not me :)

First Aid training today, my 3-year 'FAW' - first aid at work' course requalification (with Berkshire St John Ambulance - highly recommended).

Which, as always (partly because there are always changes to the content, and partly because of seeing other trainers at work) was interesting and raised some intriguing points.

The idea of 'blind hazards' was introduced. The particular situation was a 'work' accident where there were three casualties - but one was ignored by most people as it wasn't so 'obvious' as the other two. In this scenario it was actually the most 'important', or highest priority, of the three as he was the unconcscious one. However, as he was partially hidden, and not moving, we weren't immediately aware of him.

The motorcycling parallel, of course, is the rider approaching a 'busy' junction, where drivers will have more important (ie bigger, heavier, more threatening) things to take their attention. The rider is there, in clear view, but is a 'blind hazard'. The well-known SMIDSY crash, or LBFTS - 'looked, but failed to see' crash.

No, I'm not suggestion you become threatening! But remember that you need to be somewhere in clear view of drivers to stand a chance of being seen, and by moving across the lane width you make yourself more obvious and attract attention.

In other words, be a flower . . .

A Day Out Riding

No training Saturday, instead a day out riding, as Euan Stronach starts his 8 day, 3200 mile, Ovarian Cancer fund-raising ride around the UK.

So another chance to suggest adding some of your 'spare' cash to his page:
http://www.justgiving.com/coastbusters

The plan is to meet up with other riders and keep Euan company, hopefully others will do the same for subsequent days.

Volkswagon Pictures

Volkswagon Bike!

Only fair, really. VW helped KTM build a car, now KTM are helping VW to build a bike!

There are also suggestions that they'll put their GX-3 prototype in to production too!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/221814/vw_eyes_shock_motorbike_move.html

Crash-Resistant Body?

Obviously not a 'motorcycle' post, this, as - to used a phrase coined by the 'Shiny Side Up' team - "bends bend, bikers don't".

http://www.multiprint.uk.com/shinysideup/advert2.htm

Nope, this is about car bodywork.

Bentley - so it affects all of us - have developed a new method of spraying 'metal' paint over carbon fibre body panels which, apparently, has 'springback' capabilities. I presume that means that it resists minor damage better than 'ordinary' car bodywork.

Another advantage is a considerable weight saving - 80% reduction compared with steel.

So they'll be able to make Bentleys with smaller engines now. Perhaps.

Training Powerpoint Presentations

Heard of Alec Gore? He's a bit unusual in 'bike training' terms, in that - besides all the usual 'Roadcrafty'-type stuff, he is Certified Trainer of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP).

However . . .

On his web site he has placed a set of 8 downloaded Powerpoint presentations, originally created by Dart. They're strongly based around the 'Roadcraft' model.

It's not the easiest web site to navigate around, and the links are 'cloaked' so I can't give you more help than:

http://www.alecgore.com/

Then find the 'Theory Powerpoints to download' in the main window, left column of icons/text not in the border (see what I mean? :) )

Beer Vs Children? . . . Hmmm. Difficult

It sounds like something from a 'Simpsons' cartoon, but the BBC is reporting that Australian police were "shocked and appalled" when they stopped a car, and found that the 3 sets of rear seat belts were being used to restrain two adults, and in between them a 30-can pack of beer - while a five-year old child was in the footwell!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7397867.stm

Worst Potholes Ever?

Can't help but wonder about the reaction of a rider seeing one of these appear from under the car in front . . . abject terror and panic attempts at swerving might be one likely outcome . . .

Crash-Proof Car. Oh yes?

Apparently so! Volvo have invented the crash-proof car, with an 'electronic' bumper.

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/features/article3898971.ece


Strong, lightweight materials, “intelligent” airbags, complex radar and sonar sensors and GPS tracking will not only provide maximum protection, but will be able to monitor other vehicles, watch out for hazards, and even take over the controls to manoeuvre a car out of danger. Volvo talks of a “giant electronic bumper reaching out on all sides to gather information and feed it back to the car” – even before the flawed human at the steering wheel has become aware of a problem.

“Think of it like an autopilot system in an aircraft,” says Ivarsson, whose team of safety specialists includes not just engineers but also experts in biomechanics and human behaviour. “We still want the driver in the loop, but in the future there will be times when the car is in control.”

CitySafety works only at speeds below 19mph and uses laser sensors in the windscreen coupled with software able to measure the distance from the car in front and calculate its speed relative to your own. If the car in front suddenly reduces speed at a greater rate than yours does, CitySafety primes itself to stop the car. Then, if the driver fails to react and the system senses an imminent collision, it slams on the brakes.

“You might think the driver could be relied on to brake hard in this situation,” says Ivarsson. “But our research shows about 50% of drivers don’t brake at all before a crash – perhaps because they are paralysed by fear or simply distracted.
“The other 50% may brake, but probably not as effectively as they could do. A system like CitySafety ensures the vehicle slows down and brakes at the right moment.”
CitySafety will be rolled out gradually across the Volvo range, as well as some Ford models, as Ford owns the Swedish marque. And this is just the beginning of Volvo’s radical plans to revolutionise the way we drive.

Ivarsson foresees advances in driver information, with, for example, vehicles communicating with each other about traffic conditions and accidents further up the road. GPS tracking will provide drivers with real-time traffic information, in much the same way that a pilot or a ship’s captain is given detailed information of other planes or vessels in their vicinity, although drivers might object to their cars’ movements being tracked in this way.




But the article goes on to warn:


Some safety campaigners argue that the removal of human error could radically reduce road casualties, but others remain sceptical about how far machines should take over.

“We have to be very careful not to ‘underload’ the driver,” cautions Peter Rodger, chief examiner for the Institute of Advanced Motorists. “There is an issue in the airline industry that if the pilot is inadequately involved and something goes wrong, it takes them a long time to actively take over.

“There needs to be adequate involvement so the driver isn’t allowed to switch off in this way, so that they are ready to react if something goes wrong. We also need to be confident that these systems have the power to work in myriad real-life situations.”

Volvo admits some of its ideas may require new legislation and cooperation from governments before they can be properly implemented. And although a “crash-proof” car might sound like the ultimate low risk for insurance companies, if the car, rather than the driver, is in control, then who is responsible if it crashes?

“It does raise some imponderable questions,” says Ian Crowder of AA Insurance. “What if one of these devices steers you out of the path of another vehicle, but into a pedestrian on the other side, for example?

“And who would be to blame if these systems failed?”

Highway Code - bloat or light?

Do you read the Highway Code? I don't mean in the lead-up to a test of some sort, but as a regular reminder, or when a new edition is publised?

No, most people don't, so you're not the odd one out.

And part of the reason for it not being a regular read is that there's just so much of it.

The late Paul Smith, of SafeSpeed, created a 100 word Highway Code:

Drive on the left.
Make sure you can see and be seen.
Keep a constant look out all around.
Be aware of signs and regulations and why they are there.
Be predictable.

Recognise and anticipate danger and keep clear space from it.
Always ensure that you can stop within the distance that you know is clear.
Develop your skills.

Give courtesy, co-operation and space to others. Don't obstruct them.

Never take risks, drive unfit or compete with others.

Safety is paramount and far more important than priority.
Take personal responsibility for your safety and the safety of those nearby.

Enjoy


OK, it's not intended as a 'real' replacement for the HMSO book, but he went on to explain:

"We're not seriously suggesting thatthe official Highway Code should be replaced with just 100 words of advice todrivers, but the reason we have done this is deadly serious. We need to pointout to Department for Transport that they have lost sight of the essentialfoundations of road safety, and their new Highway Code further loses sight ofthese foundations in a morass of rules."

"You cannot replace skilled human judgement with a rule book - however big it is- but that's exactly what Department for Transport is trying to do."

"Our Highway Code even includes things that the official version does not. For a start it reminds people that road use can be enjoyable. Without thatenjoyment we wouldn't have the interest to develop the skills that safe use ofthe roads requires."

"Another problem is that the Highway Code tells us what to do, but not how todecide when it is safe. We need to recognise danger and develop our skills forthat."

"We hope that these founding principles will help road users everywhere - notjust drivers - to focus on what's important and stay out of trouble."

"Some of the statements may not be immediately obvious to inexperienced roadusers, but all the common crash causes are covered. When we get it right wedon't crash - but in order to get it right we need the right beliefs, the rightskills and the right attitude. When things go wrong - think back to your lastincident - and you'll probably be able to recognise the cause of the incident in those 100 words. Did you fail to spot the danger? Did you take a riskknowingly? Were you unfit through tiredness, drink or drugs?"

"Use this code, learn from your mistakes and use the roads as safely as youpossibly can. It's enjoyable to do so."


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SafeSpeedPR/message/440

BMF Events

My BMF membership card arrived yesterday, along with a "Members' Guide".

Which is a good prompt to list the forthcoming BMF Events - including some major changes this year including one at a new venue, a totally new event, and - if I remember correctly - no Memba Rally at the Peterborough 'Show'.

BMF SHOW 17-18 May 2008, 9am-5pm, East of England Showground, Peterborough
GEMS 31 May - 1 June 2008, 10am-5pm, Kent Showground, Detling, Kent
SOUTH WEST 21 - 22 June 2008, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet
KELSO 12- 13 July 2008, 10am-5pm, Springwood Park, Kelso, Scotland
TAILEND 20 - 21 September 2008, 9am-5pm, East of England Showground, Peterborough

Gloves and Forward Planning

I've been told in the past, in fact told a couple of times, that I think about things too much.

So have you ever thought about the order in which you put on your motorcycle gloves?

There are - usually - only two choices, left or right first.*

So why should it make a difference which glove you put on first?

Well, I'd hazard a guess that most riders put their right glove on first. What do I base this guess on? Well, I'm right-handed and I put my right glove on first, but, more importantly I have a 50% chance of being right :)

However if you put your left glove on first - especially on days when the weather's particularly nasty - that the fiddly work of doing up velcro, tucking the glove inside the jacket cuff, and ensuring a waterproof seal, is all being done on the right glove by your less-dextrous hand, made even less capable by already having had all the tucking and sealing done by the un-gloved, dextrous, right hand.

Is it a big deal? Well . . . no. But if it saves a few moments of struggling, especially if you've stopped mid-way through a long, wet, ride, then it might - just - make life a little easier for you.


* Does not include riders who don't wear gloves, one-handed riders (I've known one), and those members of the rich or gentry who have a member of household staff to deal with such mundane matters as 'gloves'.

Young Drivers - afterthought

I posted about the new consultation on young drivers. Thinking around this, I made this post on a motorcyclists' forum:

'Health & Safety' has replaced 'politically correct' as the thing to throw around, and we've gained a generation of yoof who know everything is safe - "otherwise it wouldn't be allowed, right?"

We're now reaping the benefits on the road, as if young males weren't invincible enough, they now know driving is 'safe'.

Signs & Crashes

If it's summer - by the shorts-wearing scooterist - the it's 'silly season' for the journalists already!

One of the old favourites, 'Star Signs & Safer Drivers' has made a reappearance:
http://www.motortrader.com/27245/Are-car-crashes-written-in-the.ehtml

A survey of more than 700,000 motor claims over a five-year period showed a strong link between drivers’ Zodiac signs and the likelihood of being involved in a road accident.

People born under Sagittarius and Scorpio tied for first place as the best drivers, with the prominent characteristics of determination and cheerfulness attributed to those signs leading to the fewest accidents.

Libra came a close third, with Librans supposed natural tendency towards balance and diplomacy making for a safe driving combination.

Drivers born under Aries were the worst, accounting for nearly 9 per cent of all road accidents.

Gemini and Taurus were the next most dangerous star signs


It's almost believable until you read:
“While this survey yields some surprising results, consumers can rest assured that The Co-operative Insurance will not be considering adding ‘star sign’ to our list of rating factors in the future,” said David Neave, the Co-operative Insurance’s director of general insurance.

An insurance company not taking crash likelyhood into consideration? OK, so young drivers in quick cars won't be loaded either? No, thought not . . .

Movement attracts attention

One of the most likely ways the average motorcyclist will get clobbered is when an average driver either turns out of a side junction, or turns right, across the rider's path, in to a side turning - the well-known 'SMIDSY' ("Sorry, Mate, I didn't see you") or LBFTS (looked, but failed to see) crash.

Usually the onus is on the rider to make themselves more conspicuous - the usual 'remedies' involve lights & dayglo.

However, moving about on the lane width - I call it the 'Z Line' - can be used to gain a useful safety margin and also attract attention by 'breaking away' from the background, and by moving through the driver's field of view.

A couple of interesting things have been found by nature researchers recently. One is that 'hunting' insects like dragonflies will move to maintain a constant position against the background, so aiding their camouflage. The other is that flowers wave at passing insects to attract their attention!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7388689.stm

"Yoo-Hoo! Bee-eee! Over here !" . . .

Summer is here, it seems . . .

. . . Often such 'seasonal' changes are judged by the appearance plants or wildlife: snowdrops, swallows, lambs, and cuckoos.

Today I saw a motorcycling indicator of Summer: the first rider in shorts (and 'pink hairy leathers' as it's known in our household).

I suppose some would say he was 'cuckoo' . . .

New Driver Safety

This has been rumbling along for some time, with either leaked or hinted suggestions about what the Government's new report might actually contain. Now here's facts!

No secret is that the Hazard Perception Test just hasn't done what was hoped - or perhaps young drivers perceive the hazards but think they have some sort of exclusion from them . . .

A particular conundrum is that young males are better at passing the driving test, but worse after the test!

Some interesting proposals below, but I wonder how schools - with the ever increasing pressure on standards - will cope with additional loading, and how ADIs will accept schools-style 'star ratings' on pass rates.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/statelearningdrive

"Research shows that we must make sure that learners demonstrate not only good skills, but also safe attitudes and proper understanding of road conditions before they are allowed to drive unsupervised. We will build improved learning opportunities and assessments to support these standards, as well as strengthen the quality of driving instruction available. We will also provide new opportunities for learning both before and after the driving test. This will help new drivers become better, safer, motorists and save lives.

Proposals include:

• A new foundation course, available at schools and colleges, leading to a qualification on safe road use.
• A more focused and thorough learning process before the driving test, which focuses not just on vehicle control but also the wider skills needed to be a safe driver, from driving in difficult conditions (for example at night or in poor weather) to learning to predict and respond to other road users' intentions;
• A new training syllabus to ensure learners understand what is required of them to become a responsible driver, enable them to undertake structured and efficient learning and accurately assess when they are ready to pass their driving test;
• An improved driving test which requires the driver to demonstrate independent driving skills and clear understanding of different situations on the road, with the option of modular assessment;
• New opportunities to take extra training post test; working with the insurance industry and employers in the driving for work sector we will develop new courses and qualifications to be taken after the driving test that could lead to lower premiums and a better chance of securing a career in the driving for work sector;
• A star-rating system for driving instructors so that learners can make an informed choice based on pass rates and the level of training instructors have undergone;
• A review of driving instructor training and testing to ensure they provide a quality service and are focussed on those areas of driving performance that are closely linked to safe driving. "

More web links:

Consultation Paper

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Documents/Consultation/ltd/DSA%20-%204222%20Consultation%20Bro-20080605.pdf

DSA 'Learning to Drive' site:

http://learningtodrive.dsa.gov.uk/pages/home

(includes a forum with '0' posts so far)

Great Motorcycling Roads!

For many riders, going for a blast along winding roads is the best bit about biking. One of them described it to me as "Getting from A -A"!

In these days of affordable GPS systems, don't forget the humble map book as a useful aid to biking. I like the A-Z books.

One of these:
http://www.a-zmaps.co.uk/?nid=30&iid=2086
Spends its time between in-door route planning and the passenger-side footwell of the car.

However, it's a bit bulky for bike use, so I have some of their booklet versions which cover more limited areas of the UK. These are smaller, and more bike-friendly. Unfortunately, looking at the web site it seems they're no longer available.

A reasonable alternative might be:
'The Best Rides' Motorcycle Atlas
http://www.thebestrides.co.uk/
http://www.thebestrides.biz/index.html

BBC Motoring News

The World's lowest car
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7380706.stm

No plaice to park
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/7138250.stm

The fish created by:
http://www.andyhazell.co.uk/
Take a stroll through his gallery :)

UK motoring facts

Make of them what you will, but some facts:

http://www.iam.org.uk/Documents/IAM%20MT/Motoring%20Facts/IAM%20Motoring%20Facts.pdf

All sorts of stuff, including costs, emissions, test pass rate, offences, and loads more . . .

BMF Rider Training - a new direction (at long last?)

The voluntary training group (North Hampshire Motorcycle Training Scheme) I was with for many years rose from the ashes of the old RAC/ACU scheme, which was shut down when the 'Part One' test was introduced in 1982.

To act as umbrella groups for the 360-odd newly 'homeless' training centres, both RoSPA and the BMF set up their own training organisations, the RoSPA one receiving significant funding from the Government.

However, within months the BMF-RTS ('Rider Training Scheme', and a registered charity) became the bigger of the two, eventually numbering over 180 training centres across the UK, from Cornwall to The Orkneys, via Northern Ireland.

However, times changed, and the 'voluntary' and charitable aspects became less important and viable, so the 'RTS' was quietly closed down a couple of years ago, to be replaced by BMF Rider Training.

A new venture by the BMF is track-based training, run (as is much of the BMF 'events') by an outside contractor, VNE Consulting, who have a seriously impressive 'bike racing' heritage in their staff.

More details on http://www.bmf.co.uk

Long Distance Challenge

The National Rally is back on again, supported by the ACU & BMF (and various bike clubs across the UK), and supporting Mencap.

http://www.nationalrally.co.uk

Can you blame them?

It seems that the May Day Bank Holiday wekend has been declared 'National Biker Vs Police Day', with notification from several forces that they'll be running campaigns targetted specifically at bikes.

Or, more accurately, their riders . . .

But can you blame the police? When you hear quotes like this one from Kent police:
"Statistics show that a quarter of serious road collisions involve motorcycles,even though only one in 100 road users is a rider."
Then they'd be in serious trouble if they ignored the problem.

And, much as 'we' don't like the suggestion, it's 'us' that are the problem - and we give the authorities the amunition they need to plan these campaigns.

Whether they do any 'good' is another matter, of course. And part of the anti- feeling that these campaigns cause is created by the concentration on 'non-safety' items like small number plates.

Unfortunately, there is a proven link between 'law breaking' attitude and 'road safety', so perhaps there's a thesis in the making for a motorcycle-oriented PhD student?

Whatever, if you're on the road this weekend, on a bike, don't be too surprised if you're stopped for a chat.