Another Video . . .

This video appeared on the web a while back, then promptly vanished.  Interesting alternative to those Aussie ones.






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Australian Road Safety Videos

The Australians are very good at using the 'blunt' attitudes when creating road safety promotional material.

One classic example was of a banner hung across a race track, advertising a well-known brand of Aussie beer.  Next year the new race sponsor hung a banner in the same place: "If you drink and drive you're a ****".

So here's a selection of road safety ads [warning, if easily offended, etc.]:

'Dirt Racer'




'Legend'




'Small Penis'




'Doohan'





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"Dragons Den" meets "TV Burp"?

A couple of 'new product' videos for you.

The first is a radical new form of cycle lighting, which offsets increased complication with - presumably - increased conspicuity of the bike itself (and so the rider).

They're Revolights; more info: http://www.revolights.com/

Arcs of light are formed by LEDs programmed to detect your speed and blink on as they pass the front or rear of the bicycle.



An interesting idea, which I doubt the video does justice to.


The second new product is not Japanese (if Chinese, then "Ni hao" to any Chinese visitors who speak Mandarin.  I don't, that's as far as it goes), and is an interesting 're-invention' of the waterproof oversuit, aimed particularly at scooter riders.  It has numerous unique selling points, none the least the 'commode' option . . .



I know little more than can be gleaned from the video.  This may help a few of you:

回應整理


材質：高級尼龍布防潑水處理，車縫處使用防水膠條融壓。

騎上機車時，後片下擺剛好蓋過坐墊，不會濕！一個方一定會濕，你的眼框。



安全問題：安全掛環設計只是拉住雨衣，一扯就會脫離；彈性鋼絲末端為活動式結合，不會被鉤著跑。



風阻問題：試著在雨衣上描繪出騎士與機車外觀，就會發現！只是一個錯覺罷了！

前設置通風口，下面也簍空，透氣非常好。不建議飆車、不建議颱風天使用。



這是騎機車使用的雨衣，而雨衣是由防水布料製成的擋雨衣服。所以我賣的不是防護罩

讓我先趕出第一批貨，一定重貼下雨時的影片

檔車無法使用！對不起！努力研發中！



目前只在奇摩、露天預購的到，但目前缺貨中

9/29至10/02曾 於台北國際發明暨技術交易展索取預定單的朋友，期限延長至11/­30把握機會。



丰与開發公司

劃撥帳號：２２７２８５９６

公司Tel：04-26267889　傳真Fax：04-26267600

行動：0931-536738　信箱Email：ru03rup4z8@yahoo.com.tw

地址Address：台中市清水區鰲峰路358號2樓




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Crash On A Wet Corner, The Easy Way

I don't often travel by bus, but using a 'park and ride' recently included a return bus ticket in the price, so it seemed a waste not to go for a ride. And back. So it was that I stood at the front of the queue waiting for the 'back' bus to arrive. Unfortunately it was raining, heavily. I didn't mind too much, a waterproof coat with hood was keeping out the worst, although I had to feel sorry for groups of riders heading up the hill out of town since most of them had camping gear strapped to the back of their bikes (but not as sorry as I did for the two cyclists, also with camping gear, struggling up the hill). Did I mention it was raining, hard?
Due to a quirk of routing, the 'out of town' bus I was waiting for would actually arrive coming down in towards the town. And what set me thinking was a large Rorschach 'blot' on the road.
It wasn't water - the road was already sodden - but rainbow-coloured oil that had been dripping from the bus's engine, every time the bus had stopped in the same position. A regular route, same bus, same stop, every 15 minutes, drip drip drip . . .
The rainbow stain might be clear to me - but it might not be too obvious from a different angle, to any riders approaching.
I mentioned the road was on a hill, and a fairly steep one at that. An added complication was that just after the bus stop there's a tight right-hand bend.
Not just tight, but off-camber, and with a 'No Entry' junction straight ahead - an awkward hill start for traffic heading uphill.
So to recap: an off-camber, wet, tight, steep downhill, bend, with the likelihood of traffic pulling out and it's on a bus route used by a bus we know is leaking oil. Easy, eh?
No. Let's add a final complication: just around the corner the bus route takes a side turning to the right off the main [wet, steep downhill] road, often stopping to wait for oncoming traffic and so blocking the lane in the process. But of course, unless a rider is a 'local' they probably wouldn't know about the bus route . . .
So a rider could reasonably see:
- Downhill
- Wet
- Corner to right
- Limited view
- Junction to left
- Other traffic
- Adverse camber

How could those aspects affect their planning for the corner?
- Downhill braking requires significantly more effort, and the bike will be likely to increase its speed even with throttle closed or when the brakes are released
- The wet surface reduces grip, and a steamed or smeared visor may be more likely
- The corner is a right-hander. This gives a longer forward view - so the rider might be tempted to enter the corner faster
- The view, even then, is restricted by buildings on the right on the 'inside' of the turn
- Although the junction on the left (what previously would have been a 'straight ahead' for the road) is 'No Entry' for the rider, there's the possibility of traffic emerging - especially if the driver sees an approaching rider slow then move to (the rider's) left and so thinks the rider will be turning off (whether or not they should - the driver may not realise it's a one-way road, as this is a 'tourist' location with plenty of 'lost' drivers). On the other hand, at least the rider has a possible escape route if the driver does pull out!
- The adverse camber adds extra work for the tyres, and will make the bike feel as if it's being 'pushed' out of the corner

All of those are 'physical' problems associated with the corner.  Each problem also brings an additional complication: increased mental pressure on the rider.
How does that pressure make itself felt? Tension, showing as a harder grip on the bars, reluctance to counter-steer, tendency to look down at the surface rather than around the corner, reluctance to drive the bike around the corner, loss of smoothness when using the controls, and panic reactions to any problems - possibly problems which originate from the problems just listed. In other words, the rider is starting to lose control - and this may even be before they've arrived at the start of the bend!
The 'cure' to these mental issues is simple to suggest, but more difficult for the rider to do. The rider must maintain - or regain - control, by either blocking the mental problems or overcoming them.
The problems aren't so much mistakes that the rider makes, but 'just' result from the rider making incorrect decisions on the approach - perhaps because some of the rider’s concentration is already focussing on the possible outcomes rather than working out a plan to deal with them. For example, if the rider has had a small slide in the wet at some time, then that's likely to be remembered when approaching a sharp, downhill, adverse camber, bend!
So what the rider must do is try to plan to stay within the limits imposed by the bike (tyre grip, brakes, etc.), the road (view, road surface shape and condition, and layout), and their own limits.
By their 'own limits', the rider needs to use self-restraint to ride at a speed they can cope with - if there's fear of a slide, which is causing tension, then ride at a slower speed where the tyres have an easier task to manage. Remove (or reduce) the fear of sliding, then the corner will become easier to negotiate as the tension is reduced.
Also, by taking those decisions the rider is using self control - staying in mental control as well as physical. The keys are honesty and realism, seeing the hazards, assessing them, understanding how they affect you, then planning your riding accordingly - and building in a reserve.
I mentioned having earlier seen groups of motorcyclists passing. Beware of peer pressure: just because the rider in front chooses a particular speed, doesn't mean it's the 'right' speed for you too. Ignore, too, the rider behind you're 'holding up'.
As is often the case with riding, the 'secret' of success with the corner is to get as much information as possible - actively search it out - then make the best decisions. The 'secret ingredient' is that honesty and self-restraint. The temptation with cornering is often to decide the fastest possible speed for a corner. Realism and honesty will build in a safety margin too.
On this corner the rider needs to allow for emerging vehicle - so have an escape route planned - and be ready to stop if the road is obstructed just out of sight. Particularly important if double-decker buses stop just around the corner to turn right . . .
Is that enough mental pressure: the bend, junction, wet surface, adverse camber, possible obstruction? Let's add some more: What goes up must come down. Or in this case, if buses are going down the hill, then there's a fair chance they'll be heading up the hill too - and they usually can't get around tight corners without swinging wide. You'll need to add that complication when planning a line through the bend.
Earlier I said that the 'secret ingredient' is honesty and self-restraint. That's on the approach to the corner. When starting to negotiate the bend there's something else you need to do. That nagging voice inside your head saying "Wet road! You've had slides on wet roads - you might crash here!" won't shut up and go away just because you've slowed a bit more. Instead of giving it free rein (or 'rain'), give it something to do to keep it occupied. Singing is a good distraction. Better still: give it something useful to do, like telling you what you should be doing to get smoothly around the corner, and when to do it!
You may have heard the expression PMA - Positive Mental Attitude. PMA doesn't mean you can achieve the impossible (e.g. ‘flying’; however hard you believe you could, you'll never be able to fly more than a few feet forwards, although you may manage some considerable distance downwards). But PMA can focus your attention is on what you want to achieve, rather than concentrating on failure (whether imagined or based on previous experience).
If this sounds odd, then compare a homo sapiens-based, British Standard, biker . . . with a mountain goat. Both are a few thousand feet up the side of a mountain, perched on a small ledge a short way across a sheer drop. The goat's mental process is (probably) "Ooh - grass! I'll jump over an eat it!", while the vastly mentally-superior human being will be looking at the drop, while thinking "Sod that for a game of soldiers!" and concentrating instead on legs turning to jelly while paradoxically managing to be frozen rigid at the same time.
For the goat, the drop could have been inches or miles - it makes no difference as the goat will only decide based whether or not to jump on to the length of the gap and the desire for fresh grass.
Lifting our rider off the ledge, and returning him back to his bike, approaching the bend, he needs to get his 'nagging' mind telling him about the bend [gap] and how to get around it [short jump] rather than the wet surface [the drop].
So the sequence becomes:
- Identify the corner, and all additional problems of wet surface, adverse camber, junction, traffic
- Choose a suitable speed to negotiate the corner, allowing for the downhill 'acceleration' effect, and then reduce the speed to allow a margin (so reducing that mental pressure)
- Slow earlier than you might usually, again this eases that mental pressure
- This gives a 'buffer zone' which allows you to make final adjustments if you need to
- Head and eyes UP! The temptation will be to look at anything which worries you. Resist it! Get the nagging part of your brain reminding you to look as far as you can around the corner, giving you the most time to react to anything you see, and maintain your sense of direction. You'll still be concerned about the wet surface - looking for problems at the limit of vision means you have plenty of time to react rather than a panic reaction to something just a few yards away
- Mentally prepare for likely problems. Being ready to change line for road surface problems, or brake if there's an obstruction, reduces your reaction time. Having a plan ready for these outcomes means you're more likely to do something useful rather than panic and grab at the controls, or 'freezing'.
- Negotiate the corner, using your - now useful - inner voice to help you around. Get it to tell you what you need to do. Keep the worrier too busy to worry!
- Finally, straighten up out of the bend, and smile - you had it planned and it worked as you expected, and even if there had been a problem mid-corner you already had an action planned.
So that's my 'Bus Stop' guide to cornering. According to a couple of motorcycle magazines I read, to achieve perfect cornering all that's required is either a new set of tyres, or a few laps of a roundabout. Who's right? You decide.




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Fight or Flight - Is It Enough?

You may well be aware of the principle of 'fight or flight'. If not, here's a quick primer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight-or-flight_response

The fight-or-flight response (also called the fight-or-flight-or-freeze response, hyperarousal, or the acute stress response) was first described by Walter Bradford Cannon.

His theory states that animals react to threats with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system, priming the animal for fighting or fleeing. This response was later recognized as the first stage of a general adaptation syndrome that regulates stress responses among vertebrates and other organisms.


Immediate physical reactions associated with a preparation for violent muscular action. These include the following:
- Acceleration of heart and lung action
- Paling or flushing, or alternating between both
- Inhibition of stomach and upper-intestinal action to the point where digestion slows down or stops
- General effect on the sphincters of the body
- Constriction of blood vessels in many parts of the body
- Liberation of nutrients (particularly fat and glucose) for muscular action
- Dilation of blood vessels for muscles
- Inhibition of the lacrimal gland (responsible for tear production) and salivation
- Dilation of pupil (mydriasis)
- Relaxation of bladder
- Inhibition of erection
- Auditory exclusion (loss of hearing)
- Tunnel vision (loss of peripheral vision)
- Disinhibition of spinal reflexes
- Shaking

To be honest, you have to be pretty scared to suffer all of those in one go - and incredibly self-aware to recognise all of them (which would tend to suggest you still had mental capacity 'spare' to do something useful about it!).

But the one you're most likely to suffer from is the 'tunnel vision', and the way you'll suffer it is by keeping your concentration on whatever it is you're scared of.

In typical riding terms, this is likely to be an extremely hard object - wall, tree, vehicle - on the outside of the corner you're heading into.

Of course, where you look is - usually - where you go, so with vision firmly locked onto the very object which (if given a choice) you'd definately choose not to hit . . . you hit it. Of course, it's too late for 'flight' (unless it's a low wall), and you can't fight an oncoming vehicle (well, not for long, and not often with much chance of winning).

Keith Code has covered 'survival reactions' thoroughly in Twist of the Wrist 2.

http://www.superbikeschool.com/news/press-coverage/bike_this_man.php

SURVIVAL REACTIONS are the involuntary adjustments your body makes in situations that it feels are dangerous. "The body isn’t smart," says Code. "It’s only interested in right now." Survival reactions are bad. They make you brake too hard, turn in too early, tense up, get tunnel vision, chop the throttle and do a host of other things that interfere with good riding. With practice and skill they can be defeated.

However, I'm not sure that the way it's described there - in particular 'defeating' those reactions - is the best way of thinking about this.

So, perhaps we should 'enlarge' the fight or flight choice?

To me, fight or flight suggests two arrows: one head-on forwards, towards the 'fight', while 'flight' is directly behind us - an impossible task!

Instead, I suggest we had two 'sideways' options, to make a set of four arrows:

We'll call these arrows 'Escape' and 'Evade'.

Any of you who've spent time in the military may recognise the term, as it's used for the training given to aircrew who are likely to be downed behind enemy lines; evade capture and escape from captivity.

For us, as riders, they perhaps give a better idea of how the 'fight or flight' responses can be mastered. We can avoid the situation, or we can evade it getting worse.

Let's return to the corner with the wall/tree/vehicle: on the approach we put the 'avoid' into action by looking and planning, but - more importantly - we also are prepared for likely eventualities (it's not a big secret that tight bends are often followed by a bend the opposite way, that blind corners tighten, or that they can hide oobstructions). Being prepared means you've already taken care of some of the reaction time you'll need. You can even mentally rehearse the actions you'll need to take. If 'it' happens, then those actions go 'live' - you evade the danger.

Fight or flight? Nope, Escape and Evade!





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Google Reckons That . . .

Google's journey planner service suggests that I'll be able to complete this trip in 1 hour 47 minutes.
I'm not so sure . . .

I'll get the map book out . . .






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Am Dram and the DSA?

Recently I've been to see a couple of amateur dramatics shows, one in a small theatre the other outdoors.
The indoor show was "Dangerous Corner" (appropriate for a road-related blog :) ) by JB Priestly, and presented by the New Era Players.
http://www.neweraplayers.org/
The outdoor show (alongside the Thames in Reading, on a glorious July evening) was Shakespeare's "The Tempest", presented by the Prospect Players.
http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/
Both, as I've said, were by amateurs - but both were superb.

Sadly, though, mid-way between them I had a long talk with the owner of a local bike training centre.  To precis: he's not positive about the future of UK bike training, which is currently reeling from the recession and the effects of the introduction of the Module One off-road test - with the imminent arrival of the EU 3rd Driving Licence Directive to hammer a few more nails in the coffin . . .
There may be a glimmer of hope in that plans - although they've not progressed very far - are in place to take the off-road test elements on-road (although I'm not clear whether that would mean that Module One would be totally removed from the costly MMA sites).  However, this isn't likely to be in place (or any place, IYSWIM) until next year. 
And that on top of some terrible weather they've endured during the last couple of winters, too.
But there may, long term, be even more difficulties on the way for bike
instructors.
When I first got involved with rider training it was through the RAC/ACU motorcycle training scheme (in those days we trained the motorcycles, not the riders.  While we're on that theme, why have 'railway stations' now become 'train stations'?  OK, it ties with 'bus station', but why the change?)
But back then, in the late 1970s, all civilian rider training (as far as I know) was conducted by amateurs.
The first professional rider training I can remember hearing about (the Southampton Motorcycle Centre, IIRC) was in the very early '80s.
Now, of course, even the few amateur groups remaining are working in a business area where the requirement is for substantial investment in bikes and sites.  There are probably few true amateurs remaining, but many part-time instructors.
It's been no secret that the DSA have been gradually aligning rider trainers with car ADIs.  Years ago there was a suggestion that all CBT instructors must be Cardington-qualified rather than down-trained (which, originally, allowed one 'Cardington' instructor to supervise up to 40 down-trained instructors).
The more recent RPMT (Register of Post-Test Motorcycle traininers) has its entry qualifications based on the ADI accreditation format, and teaching assessments follow the ADI format closely too.

So what's missing?

CPD - Continuing Professional Development.



http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1082825407
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) can be both formal and informal professional development, based on an individual's needs.

To maximise individual potential and retain credibility within your profession it is essential that you maintain high levels of professional competence.
As a driver trainer you can make a commitment towards professionalism by keeping up to date and continually seeking to improve your knowledge and expertise.
CPD is strongly supported by all the national driving instructor associations. The Driving Standards Agency continues to work with these organisations and other stakeholders to encourage and promote the take-up of CPD.
A structured CPD scheme is one of the options being considered as part of wider proposals to modernise the driver training profession. This would be the subject of public consultation before it could be implemented.

So, if DSA take the bike=car instructor qualification route even further (an noting that commercial vehicle - eg HGV - drivers also now have to take a minimum amount of CPD), then it won't be too long before it's imposed onto rider trainers.  Not ideal for full-timers, but nowhere near as 'good' for the part-timers, who'll have to give up unpaid time (and, presumably, take leave from the 'day job') to take CPD training.

But, in my experience, the 'average' bike instructor isn't that bad, and will be doing the 'job' because they have the interest both in what they're doing and in self-development.  The difference is that any development will have been informal and might not meet any 'mandatory CPD' requirements.
There's also a reasonable point that the bike test pass rate has historically always been higher than the 'car' rate - suggesting that bike instructors might be 'better' anyway :)  Remember, too, a lot of that will have been with amateur instructors . . .

It's a mistake to think that qualified = better, or that amateur = worse.

After all, one of Prospect's amateur actors from a few years ago is now fairly well-know, a certain Kenneth Branagh . . .



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Radios - Can You hear Me?

The use of bike-to-bike radios during rider trainng really only 'took off' after the introduction of CBT.

Since then, radios have improved from the 49MHz sets first used (with a range of about 100 metres line of sight - great when you have one trainee in front, three behind, and the traffic lights change as the convoy is half-way through . . . ) to the widespread availability of the 'PMR446' systems.

Also, there are more 'professional' GMRS radios available (the PMR sets are often little more than 'toys', although there are some more substatial systems on the market, such as the Kenwood systems).

Unfortunately, there is a minor hitch in that those professional and PMR radios have channels that aren't compatible!

However, if you're in the situation where you need to pair-up one of each, it is possible to set the channels to get them talking (and listening).

One example set up is for the TH-3101 (GMRS) <> UBZ-LJ8 (PMR446)


Channel 1 Ch 1 <>  Group Mode 10
Channel 3 Ch 3 <>  Group Mode 13
Channel 5 Ch 4 <>  Group Mode 17
Channel 6 Ch 2 <>  Group Mode 18
Channel 7 Ch 7 <>  Group Mode 19
Channel 8 Ch 5 <>  Group Mode 7
Channel 10 Ch 8 <>  Group Mode 15
Channel 12 Ch 6 <>  Group Mode 6

 
NB
The GMRS typically has 15 GMRS channels with channel scan and 121 sub-channels/privacy codes (38 conventional QT codes and 83 DQT codes).
PMR has 8 channels, usually with 38 mode codes per channel.


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It's Not The Drop . . . Is It Your Invisible Energy?

An oft-heard expression amongst drivers and riders is that 'speed isn't dangerous' - after all, like parchutists say: "It's not the drop, it's the stop!".

This theme is expanded in 'STEVE and animation for road safety!'

STEVE - a quirky, lively and poignant animation aims to give the viewers a different perspective on road safety by focusing on the hidden danger on the roads. Deaths due to road crash injuries is the number one killer of youth between 15 and 29 years old.



GRSP is a hosted project of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, based in Geneva. GRSP's vision is a world free of road-crash death and injury.





More information on the YOURS (Youth for Road Safety) campaign here:
http://www.youthforroadsafety.org/

Downloads available include posters:
http://www.youthforroadsafety.org/uploads/tekstblok_bijlagen/rs_surreal_posters_ob_eng_lwres.pdf


One area they're looking at is that of people wearing earphones and not being able to hear traffic noise, with some 'official' videos and others made . . . err . . by 'others':











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Bikesafe - The Secret is Out!

The rumour mill is leaking news that Thames Valley Police (covering Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire) have been given approval to take part in the national Bikesafe initiative, typically one-day sessions as a 'taster' of advanced rider training.  Until now they've been a noticeable 'hole' in the UK coverage map of areas providing it.

The sessions are likely to start next year, and cost £75.  With the recent news that TVP are likely to be losing many officers over the next few years and with their 'traffic' division merging with Hampshire's - and further manpower cuts, this introduction of Bikesafe is somewhat surprising!

What, perhaps, makes this all the more amazing is that Thames Valley police were involved right at the start of Bikesafe back in 2000, including this video featuring the late Phil Curtis, a legendary character, police motorcycle instructor and experienced racer, and some bloke called Troy Bayliss (whatever happened to him?):








More about Bikesafe:
http://www.bikesafe.co.uk/Index.aspx

‘BikeSafe’ is a nationwide police-led motorcyclist casualty reduction initiative that is run by the majority of forces throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The scheme in various guises has been in existence for many years. There are presently 43 forces in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland participating. Large numbers of riders attend ‘BikeSafe’ sessions annually. ‘BikeSafe’ works toward Government casualty reduction targets in an effort to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured in road collisions.


‘BikeSafe’ strategy is to engage with post-test riders in a conflict free environment to consider and analyse why motorcycle crashes are happening, including the attitudinal and motivational issues. There are fewer causes than you might imagine with five strong themes emerging throughout the country. Filtering, junctions, cornering, overtaking and group riding are the problem areas. Really obvious things seem to be placing everyday riders in life threatening scenarios.

In the classroom, ‘BikeSafe’ can offer potential solutions to the most prevalent crash causes and thereafter, following an observed ride element, prepare an individual rider development report which can be taken to a post-test training provider. ‘BikeSafe’ is about ‘Bridging the Gap’ into accredited training.



Fast approaching . . .

The National Bikesafe Event
http://www.bikesafe.co.uk/News/Article/National-BikeSafe-Event.aspx

A great family day out on the 4th September 2011. 10am – 5pm at The Heritage Motor Centre, Junction 12, M40. Entry into the event is free. Museum admission prices apply. For more information http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/ or call 01926 641188
If you ride a motorbike or scooter this is the show for you!
• Manufacturers/dealer bikes
• Motorcycle clubs
• Motorcycle stunt riders and displays
• Try before you buy scooter arena
• Observed rides available - conditions apply
• Motorcycle clothing and accessories
• Refreshments

Information flyer (pdf):
https://www.bikesafe.co.uk/Uploads/ContentPages/CMS/Documents/National%20Event%20flyer%202011.pdf



And finally . . . (as they used to say on all the best TV news broadcasts), this isn't from Bikesafe:



I think they meant 'bike save'!


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Big Match Nerves

There seems to be a variety of sport about at the moment in the news: Henley Regatta, Wimbledon tennis, golf, and the Olympics are never far from the news either.
All of these require the participants to be a the peak of their potential - but able to perform without distraction from the inevitable pressures of crowds and media attention.
You might not think that sort of 'big match' pressure would ever apply to you while out riding, but it can.

I had a Born Again trainee who could do one thing at once, not two. She could perform good clutch control and ride well in a straight line. When parked, she could turn her head to look through a turn.
But not together.
So I asked whether she liked music, and what type?
“Well,” answered this mother of two teenage boys “Heavy rock, actually!”


So I got her to sing ‘Born to be wild’ as I pushed her around a loop (big enough that we’d just got to the chorus at the end of the first verse as I collapsed). Quite happily, she was looking through the turn.


The way I use this is that the left, logical, side of the brain is the side that nags: “Oooh, last time you were in front of a crowd you tensed up. Whatever you do, don’t think about TENSING UP!”. So the right side of the brain, that just wants to get on and do it, gets over-ruled.

Solution? Give the left side something to do, it’ll be happy when it’s busy and won’t make mischief.
Singing is good as it takes a lot of concentration. Another – particularly good for riders who’ve had cornering problems (that’s a euphemism for ‘crash’) can tell the L side to talk them through what they should be doing rather than picking fault: “Slow now, press now, look now, roll now”, etc.

People talk about ‘the power of positive thought’ without actually understanding what it can achieve or its limits – try using the ‘tell me’ method to juggle and you won’t be able to think fast enough! Also, if you’re going to talk yourself through an action you need to know what ‘perfect’ looks like.
Then use self-awareness to measure how you need to ‘close the gap’, set small targets for achievement that you can complete. This is where an instructor can help, both with target setting (deciding exercises etc.) and encouragement.

Visualisation is excellent, too.
Long version:
http://www.dropzone.com/safety/articles/Visualizing.shtml
Shorter:
http://www.skydive-info.com/skydiving/showthread.php?t=235
http://www.skydive-info.com/skydiving/showthread.php?p=1711

 
 
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Road Safety Dog?

No, not that dog, it just seemed like a good place to re-use the photo.

 

 

 

The BBC's Top Gear programme has its very own TGD - Top Gear Dog - so I thought there should be an equivalent: Road Safety Dog :)

 

I've used a 'dog' comparison previously when discussing better riding (or better driving, if you prefer), in particular comparing the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) use of the mental system 'Search Predict Act' (now superseded by Search Evaluate Execute) against the UK's 'Observe Plan Act'.

 

What's the difference? Well, I like words and, following on from the UK's history of police-derived rider training, the word 'observe' puts me in mind of a copper sat in a car 'on obbo', filling his face with coffee and doughnuts - observing a premises or person; very static, very reactive.

 

Compare that to the police ‘drugs’ dog, searching for a hidden stash - sticking his nose in everywhere, no stone unturned; an active, dynamic process.

 

Now put both into the riding context. Which do you think is best, a passive 'waiting for something to happen' attitude - or an active attitude, searching for hazards ahead. It's probably not a surprise that I prefer the 'active' attitude of the word 'search'.

 

So why am I bringing Road Safety Dog out for another walk along the highways?

 

Well, he provides a very simple way of explaining how 'visibility' differs from 'conspicuity', and the varying types of conspicuity which exist.

 

So, what is 'visibility'? Quite simply, it means something is visible, it's not hidden. Inside his kennel RSD is probably hidden from your view, so he's not visible. When he walks out to bask in the Sun he then becomes visible.

 

 

 

But is he 'conspicuous'?

 

 

 

Well, possibly. But there are three levels of conspicuity:

• Search conspicuity
• Attention conspicuity
• Cognitive conspicuity

 

RSD can do all of these! In doing so, he may help you understand how you may - or may not - be seen when out on the road.

 

If you walk into a room, and just glance around, you may miss Road Safety Dog because he’s asleep in the far corner. But if I ask you to look for a dog you’re more likely to see him. That, perhaps unsurprisingly, is called ‘search conspicuity’.

 

However, I didn’t ask you to look for him, so you’ve walked across the room but, unfortunately, happen to be near his favourite toy. He’s not happy - so growls. You look around, and see RSD. He growled, you looked. That’s ‘attention conspicuity’. In ‘road user’ terms that might be a headlamp, DRL or hi-viz – or tooting your horn to try and get a driver to look at you.

 

But you may not actually know what a dog is, or how sharp RSD’s teeth might be . . . If you know those things, then you might be more wary of picking up his bone without his permission. And that knowledge, those associations, are cognitive conspicuity – an understanding of the meaning ‘behind’ what you see. Again, in ‘road’ terms, a driver needs to know that ‘single light = motorcycle’, not ‘single light = car far away’, and also that ‘headlamp = person on a bike’. Better still, the driver would have an understanding of a bike’s braking and handling limitations.

 

 

 

At a guess, this was the 'ruff guide’ to road safety :)

 

 

  

Want to know more? Have a read here:

 

http://www.visualexpert.com/Resources/inattentionalblindness.html

Loads of interesting articles.

  

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Community Policing - Ilse of Man TT Style

Some people enjoy their work, but this police officer on the Ilse of Man really enjoys his work - and provides entertainment for the crowd too!

Seen during TT week 2011.




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Training Downloads

A couple of free training downloads, written by US MSF rider coach Becky Tillman of the Riders Edge Harley Davidson Academy of Motorcycling.

Slow riding and turning at slow speed
http://www.provincewidehog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Chapter-Slow-Riding-HD-Info.pdf

Understanding traction ('grip') and the traction 'pie'
http://www.windwardhog.net/Safety/GRABBING_A_PIECE_OF_TRACTION_PIE.pdf



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Hi-Viz - The Meaning is Clear

Ultimate hi-viz, perhaps?

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The Stig - Allenminium?

A visit today, to a show at Highclere Castle, which included ride in the 'Stig' simulator, featuring two laps of the 'Top Gear' test track (in a Veyron and a Caterham open-top single-seater). But I was intrigued by the advertising blurb displayed on the side of the truck . . .

To be honest, I don't know - and can't decide - whether this is a 'translation error' in best 'Chinese Whispers' fashion, whether the blurb was written by someone with limited (or no) engineering knowledge, or whether it's a simple mistake where someone knew what they meant but just didn't know exactly what the tool is called.


Background reading:

Allen Key

Alum

BBC Top Gear Test Track

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Cornering - Smug :)

Having a few minutes to spare, I took a rare opportunity and wandered into the local WH Smith to browse the motorcycle magazines.  MCS&L . . . interesting, but not that interesting . . . Ah!  RiDE, a 'better riding' article.  Who's it by?  members of the Lincs. casualty reduction team, or similar organisation.

Content?  Hmmmm . . . some's based around the three-step cornering system of 'Look-Lean-Roll'.

This particular system is taught by the Thames Vale Advanced Motorcyclists group (IAM affiliated) during a one (or half?) day course.

It's been developed from principles used by the US Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and taught on their courses.  In the early to mid 1990s the US Air Force had several bases in the UK, and one USAF Master Sgt, Garth Leonard, managed to get about 80 UK civilians through the MSF's 'advanced' course, the Experienced RiderCourse.  That number included 25 members of TVAM.

When the USAF mostly moved out of the UK at the end of the Cold War, and access to the course was no longer available, TVAM picked up the gauntlet and developed their own machine control course concentrating on just the 'cornering control' aspect.

So, why the 'smug' title to this post?

Well, I initiated the link-up with the USAF, initially in 1992 attended both 'leaner' and 'advanced' courses as a trainee, then in 1994 qualified as an MSF instructor, bringing along TVAM members to come of the courses I taught.  It's interesting to see how far the 'system' has moved on - especially since the current RiDE article doesn't use the system as originally intended.

In a strange way this also goes through, if not a loop then a twist, in that several years ago RiDE organised a set of post-test instructors to put some RiDE readers through training.

Here's one of the trainees, putting the MSF system into practice during the RiDE training session with, particularly here the 'Look through the corner' head turn is very obvious:

And here's the group during the theory session, including instructors from other training organisations:

Far left is journalist Damon I'Anson.

Read more on Slow, Look/Lean/Roll - and how it can be improved and simplified as a cornering system, here:
http://the-ride-info.blogspot.com/p/cornering.html


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Cornering - Going Viral?

Ever wondered why some Youtube videos go 'viral' but others don't?

Well, at the time of posting (Sat. 11th June) this one has gathered 55,800 views since it was posted on Youtube on the 7th June!




Rather him than me!  Although it did amuse that, when you watch it on Youtube, there's a 'show more' option . . . :)


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Helibikes new web site

Latest news from Alf Gasparro of the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance:
Further to my previous correspondence, I am writing to update you on the Heli
Bikes Initiative.

After launching the Helibikes Facebook Page & Group Page, which has proven to be a good vehicle to disseminate information relating to motorcycling safety.

I have now launched a website to achieve the same objectives;www.helibikes.co.uk and I consider training to be a key component in
improving safety.

I have established a contacts page for training operations on the facebook
pages and I will be creating an area on the website shortly.


The site includes several first aid videos:
http://www.helibikes.co.uk/videos.html

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Yellow Dot Car Program

From USA Today News:

A national program that immediately provides first responders with vital information about automobile crash victims is spreading rapidly, fueled by the growing wave of maturing Baby Boomers.

The Yellow Dot program is designed to help crash victims, especially seniors, communicate with rescuers during the crucial "golden hour," the first 60 minutes after a serious crash that can make the difference between life and death for the critically injured.

It is simple but effective: Participants in the free program receive a yellow dot to place on their rear window; it alerts emergency services personnel to look for a corresponding yellow folder in the glove box. That folder contains a photograph, their medical conditions, prescriptions and other vital information.

In Alabama, the program started in Etowah County in 2009; by June, it will be operating in 27 counties.

"There's a lot of interest from two different groups," says Lora Weaver, program coordinator for the Northeast Alabama Traffic Safety Office, who is adding two or three counties a month to the program.

"The residents of the state … realize the importance of it, particularly someone with a lot of medical issues. The second group is the first responders, because they know when they arrive, if the person is unable to communicate, they know they can go to the glove compartment and get the information they need, and they can do it immediately without wasting a lot of time."

The nation's first Yellow Dot program began in Connecticut in 2002. Yellow Dot programs, with slight variations from state to state, are in counties scattered across at least eight other states: Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Virginia, Alabama and New York. Georgia is among other states considering the program.

"It is very nice to see innovative programs to address the unique risks associated with older Americans and car crashes," says Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Since older individuals tend to have more medical conditions, are on more medications and are generally more fragile, this sounds like a well-justified program, especially in light of the growing number of older Americans."

"It's a promising approach," says Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association. "Actually, this is one of the goals of automated crash notification systems. Eventually, when there is a crash, these key data such as medication needed will automatically be available to EMTs, etc. The Yellow Dot program may be a system that can be helpful in the meantime."

Traci Pondick, 47, of Rainbow City, Ala., swears by it.

Her husband Marc's parents, Norman and Ping Pondick of Southside, Ala., enrolled in Yellow Dot soon after it began in Etowah County. Several months ago, Norman Pondick, 83, was driving alone in his pickup when he swerved to avoid hitting a car that had stopped in front of him. He left the road and hit a tree, lacerating his head.

"The first responders saw the sticker and immediately pulled the folder out," says Traci Pondick. "They called Marc. They were worried about the cut on his head."

Norman Pondick was air-lifted to University of Alabama-Birmingham hospital in Jefferson County. The family drove there.

"When we went back to see him, the nurse held up the Yellow Dot folder and said, 'Where did you get this?' Yellow Dot was not in Jefferson County at that time. I told her about it. She said, 'This is the best thing I've ever seen.'"

Norman Pondick soon recovered. Traci Pondick got her mother to enroll.

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Stay a Hero

Do you remember the 'Embrace Life' seatbelt ad (which is heading for 14 million views on Youtube!)?

This is the new motorcycle ad from the same team.



Sussex Safer Roads Partnership say:

Stay A Hero, Stay Safe’ is our new campaign aimed at reducing the number of motorcyclists casualties on Sussex’s roads each year. Currently, nearly a quarter of all individuals killed and seriously injured are riding a motorcycle – a massive over-representation when you consider that motorcycles only account for around 5% of vehicles on the road.


We have worked again with Writer/Director Daniel Cox and Producer Sarah Alexander of Alexander Commercials to create ‘Stay A Hero’, with the express aim of developing something more than the standard biker safety ad.



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"Sesame Street" does Road Safety (and so do Top Gear)

Sesame Workshop has appointed Grover at the Road Safety Ambassador as part of the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety. In these three Public Service Announcements, Grover promotes road safety behaviors addressing seatbelt, helmet and street crossing safety. The goal is to make road safety a family priority and a shared family experience.









Although, I like Top Gear's road safety broadcast:




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Keith Code? Cornering Lines? That's Just Plain Wrong . . .

Many riders (and readers) don't like the Keith Code books and 'style', but it works for me.

OK, the books take a bit of 'translation' - both from the US-speak and because they're track-oriented rather than road.  That said, I've found them useful and they've influenced how I train other riders.

But Keith also places articles on his web site forum, the most recent is about cornering lines:
Lines

Usually they're an interesting read (although you need to gently peel away the sales blurp that's knitted within the text ;) ).

But this one had me muttering, at the line: "The most obvious component of riding is the space the rider used to negotiate the bend, in common speak it is his line."  To be fair, the rest of the article makes sense.

The gist is that you should hone 'accuracy' of lines on a track (by taking training ;) ) before you try lines on-road.  To a point I agree - although he's talking about 'accuracy' from some riders of 'within +/- 5 feet'!!!  That's a good part of the width of a typical UK road!  With that degree of random riding, being on a track has to be good for road safety.

But as far as skills and 'training' for on-road cornering go, I emphasise the approach, set-up and negotiation of the bend long before getting into the necessity of 'lines', as the basic skills should be fluent before essential brain capacity (Code's '$10' to spend) is used for planning and implementing 'lines'.

See the specific cornering page for more details.



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Highway Code - 80th Birthday!

From the DSA:


On 14 April this year, the Highway Code celebrates its 80th anniversary.


When it was introduced in 1931 there were just 2.3 million motor vehicles in Great Britain, yet over 7,000 people were killed in road accidents each year. In 2009, this had fallen to 2,222 killed, despite there being over 30 million vehicles on the road.
Although road safety has come a long way over the years, the spirit of the Highway Code remains the same: the very first edition urged all road users to be careful and considerate towards others, putting safety first.
But of course some aspects of the Code have changed considerably. For example, in 1931 mirrors were not even mentioned and drivers were advised to sound their horn when overtaking.
More than a third of the original 24-page booklet was given to hand signals, compared to the single page covering the subject in the current edition.
The latest edition, published in 2007, was updated to include new legislation on vehicle emissions and smoking in vehicles, and references new initiatives like high- occupancy vehicle lanes, home zones and active traffic management schemes.
The Code is substantially updated every 8-10 years, meaning the next new edition is likely to be published sometime after 2015.

The 1931 edition:•cost one old penny
•was the only one to carry advertisements
•contained 18 pages of advice, compared to 93 pages in the 1999 edition
•included advice to drivers of horse drawn vehicles to 'rotate the whip above the head; then incline the whip to the right or left to show the direction in which the turn is to be made.'

Take the quiz
DSA's official publisher, TSO, has created a short quiz so all road users can see whether they need to brush up on their road knowledge. Take the quiz here: http://tinyurl.com/68u968p


From:
http://resources.govdelivery.com/resources/UKDSA/dsa_despatch_april2011.pdf


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Roman Bath

Or, more specifically, the Roman Baths in Bath.

We visited a few weeks ago, and enjoyed the tour.  There's an excellent audio system, which - as well as being multilingual - gives both adult and child versions and additional comments by Bill Byrson.

Although there was a fair-sized queue outside, it moved along fairly quickly (if you get offered the chance, tell the poet three words!) and once inside it never seemed over-crowded. 

The majority of the tour is underground - Bath must be hollow! - and the exhibits are very well displayed.

One example of the imagination that has been used is in the presentation of the 'temple pediment' stonework, which faces tiered seats.  You can either stand at the top and listen to the explanations, or sit in the seating area.  There's also the option of walking close to the stonework without getting in the way of other visitors.  The stonework is illuminated to show it 'as is', then using a projector to fill the missing detail and then to show how it would have originally been painted.

More: http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/

Take a tour: http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/Tours/Panomorphic_Museum_Tour/reception%20hall.html

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More Books from Kevin Williams at Survival Skills

Kevin Williams, of Survival Skills rider training fame, has expanded his publishing empire.  Until recently, you could read his articles either on-line via his web site or in a variety of magazines.

However, he's now widened the scope, with both traditional 'print' and iPhone e- versions, more details here (including free downloads of pdf 'minibooks').

The books include:

Also available for free, his blog.


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Ever Ridden a Chopper?

No, not a bike of the 'extended forks, ape-hanger 'bars and alternative lifestyle' type, but the whirly-bird variety.

The UK is served by a network of air ambulances, all - as far as I know - privately funded.  My local service is run by the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust .

This year the trust is particularly interested in motorcyclists - but as fund-raisers rather than potential customers! :)

Amongst other events planned, the H Cafe in Dorchester on Thames will hold an Air Ambulance & Bikes day on the 25th Sept.: 'HELI - BIKES day'.

They're also offering speakers to come to your club nights, the opportunity of visits to their base (at RAF Benson near Wallingford) for groups, and even a fly-past if you are planning a major event.

I'll keep you updated as I hear more.


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Travelling with Mr Turner

When lawyer Nigel Winter takes a few days off to follow in the tyre-tracks of one of England’s greatest engineers on his way from Land’s End to John O’Groats, he finds far, far more than he expects. For Mr Turner designed the motorcycle that powered Marlon Brando to fame in The Wild One and also the Triumph Bonneville, so beloved of sixties tearaways.
Travelling with Mr Turner throws wide open a portal into another world. As the author travels north you begin to feel the ghost of Mr Turner, and his larger than life personality, peering out of the pages. Behind him looking on, are the multitude of ordinary working people from the 1950s and 1960s, their fears and hopes, and the weird and wonderful class prejudices and management styles of the day.

And as they ride towards John O’Groats, the author on his modern Triumph and Mr Turner on his Triumph Terrier in 1953, we encounter the bizarre history of Triumph Motorcycles.

Record breaking machines that sold around the world, and whose entire work force locked out the management just so that they could continue to make motorcycles and prevent Triumph from being consigned to history. A history so completely off the wall that it simply has to be true.

Travelling with Mr Turner draws the reader in to experience how life was lived in those post war decades of tumultuous change and Rock ’n’ Roll and how the legend of Triumph encapsulates an entire generation in a world now nearly vanished into history, but still somehow wonderfully alive today.

Witty, satirical and a truly riveting read, one that leaves the reader just begging for more!


Travelling with Mr Turner

Price £9.99 approx including UK p&p 160 pages approx, 198x128mm, Paperback, ISBN 978-0-9564975-4-3 illustrated

 
The book is available at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Travelling-Mr-Turner-Nigel-Winter/dp/0956497543/ref=sr_1_1/276-8051650-5210047?ie=UTF8&qid=1288213498&sr=1-1

Waterstones ( but not in store ) http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/nigel+winter/travelling+with+mr+turner/8140782/

Tescos ( again online only )
http://www.tesco.com/books/search.aspx?Ntt=travelling+with+mr+turner&Ntk=primary&VSI=1&Ntx=mode2Bmatchall&Nty=1&N=0

WHSmiths
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=9780956497543

BBC Show Extreme Political Bias?

In, perhaps, a rare hint of true feelings, the producers of BBC1's 'Question Time' may have shown us, the British public, what they really think of the UK's politicians.

And they didn't show political bias towards just one party, more against all of them :)

Yup, not just Dagenham Dock, totally Barking :)

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Voice in a Million

Tuesday 1st Feb 2011 saw the O2 Arena (aka Millenium Dome) invaded by a choir of 7,500 schoolkids, and an audience of probably 15,000 (probably mostly proud parents and other relatives) taking part in the annual Voice in a Million concert.

More info on Voice in a Million

The Voice in a Million event at the O2 raises awareness for the British Association For Adoption and Fostering (BAAF).





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First Aid & Agonal Breathing

Just had a first aid refresher course at work, which included this video:



The 'good' is that they saved the guy's life.  The 'bad' is that they took a long time to do it!

It's also very good for seeing agonal breathing - the body's last gasp attempt to survive.

Here's a coupl e of training videos which show how it should be done:




However, no video is a substitute for actual training.



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