The Ride

Australian Road Safety Videos

2011-11-30T12:09:00.000-08:00

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"?

2011-11-29T04:43:00.000-08:00

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

2011-10-04T04:46:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-09-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

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 . . .

2011-08-12T05:23:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-08-05T04:47:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-08-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-08-03T04:34:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-07-24T03:29:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-07-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

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.

Community Policing - Ilse of Man TT Style

2011-06-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-16T04:47:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

Ultimate hi-viz, perhaps?

The Stig - Allenminium?

2011-06-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

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 :)

2011-06-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-06-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-09T05:41:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-31T23:35:00.000-07:00

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.

Stay a Hero

2011-05-31T04:35:00.000-07:00

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)

2011-05-03T02:09:00.000-07:00

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 . . .

2011-04-27T05:17:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-04-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-15T05:28:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-03-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-02-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

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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Hi-Viz for Kids

2010-12-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

No, I didn't buy one for my lad for Christmas!

Bollards

2010-12-29T10:54:00.000-08:00

It has, occasionally, been said that I talk a load of bollards.

So, today, I am pleased to continue that long tradition, with pictures of one of the most weird bollards I've ever seen.

The pictures don't really do it justice, so some explanation, to give a sense of scale, is in order. The bollard is placed to prevent vehicle access to a bridge. The main platform of the bridge is about 8 feet across, and the side walls about 5 feet tall. The 'normal' handrails show how much higher the bridge sides are!

It's not just the 'outline' shape that intrigued me, but the 'fluting' down one side. It's a piece of art masquerading as a bollard, hidden down a footpath where (relatively) few people will see, and even less appreciate, it.

So, ladies and gentleman, the bollard!

Timing - The Secret of Comedy

2010-12-24T03:18:00.000-08:00

It's often said that good timing is the secret of great comedy. A similar principle applies while riding, careful timing helps the road work for you rather than against you.

On the road, Time = Distance = Space. Also, these factors are directly affected by, and influence, 'Speed'. Also, timing is an important part of 'positioning'.

'Space' is one of the keys to surviving on the road. Imagine if there were always huge spaces around you - you'd have removed any risk of conflict!

Adjusting your timing can improve your safety and give you greater safety margins from the same position on the lane width.

Adjusting your speed as you identify hazards will affect your thinking and braking distances. A small reduction in speed will give you more reaction time, and reduce your braking distance.

You can use careful timing to help you manage situations, by separating hazards which you would otherwise encounter together.

In the zone

The distance you can see ahead will affect how you plan your ride. Roughly, there are three 'zones':

If anything happens 4 seconds ahead or closer is an immediate emergency - it needs instant reactions rather than planning
5 - 12 seconds gives you time to plan, prioritise, then act
Over 12 seconds gives you plenty of time to consider all options and plan the optimum course of action

These time zones are only a guide - the actual time will vary according to your own reactions - they show the way in which planning ahead is limited by the time available, and that time depends on the speed you're using up the distance you can see ahead. They also show the potential benefits from looking significantly further ahead when it’s possible.

Your reactions can vary too, partly with your physical state - for example whether you're alert or tired - and whether you're mentally prepared to take action.

Remember, these timings are for your 'space' - there will be situations when that time and space can be 'invaded' or 'reduced' by other road users.

Two examples:

On a narrow, winding, country lane, with limited forward visibility, 4 seconds ahead may be sufficient for your reactions and skill, but leaves no margin for any oncoming vehicles

In an urban situation you may be able to see some way ahead, but the situation closer to you can change quickly. A car waiting in a side road could emerge close to you - your planning must allow for that likelihood

Backwards' and Forwards

When dealing with hazards, there are two ways of using timing when planning: 'backwards' and 'forwards'.

'Backwards' involves deciding the amount of space you need to complete a manoeuvre. You decide time (and so distance) 'back' from the hazard to work out how much space you will need, and decide where to start the actions you'll need to complete.

For example, if you're approaching a corner you'll need time and space to change position in the lane, brake to an appropriate speed, select a gear for that speed, then start to open the throttle - all before you enter the corner. These actions need space - and that distance will vary with your initial speed and the speed you choose to go around the corner.

'Forwards' is planning for the circumstances you can't immediately control. You time your riding to arrive at a situation at the optimum time for you - when risk is the lowest you can manage.

Typically this might be as you approach a side turning, with one car waiting to turn out and another waiting to turn across in to the junction. Adjusting your speed could allow time for one of the cars to move, so you'll then only have to pass one car.

Either 'forwards' or 'backwards', it's managing the situation ahead of you.

But just to complicate matters, you might have to plan for a situation involving both aspects; for example:

You're riding along a busy dual-carriageway, and there's a junction where you'll need to cross to the right-hand lane to then enter a short right turn lane - but to do that you will have to plan twice':

'Backwards' to give enough time and space for signalling, moving across, and slowing;

'Forwards' for the other traffic which is closing from behind you, predicting where it will be while you're moving and slowing.

Timing also works with 'positioning' on a 'local' and immediate level too - how you place yourself relative to other road users can improve the separation you have, giving greater safety margins.

This space can be in front of you, behind, and to the sides. The amount of space you keep from other vehicles will vary with your speed, and the degree of risk that you judge the other road user to be.

More examples of using 'timing':

On a dual carriageway or motorway, as you close on a slower vehicle ahead you may have to wait for another vehicle to pass before there's room for you in the right hand lane. Plan your move to the right hand lane so that the vehicle in the right hand lane is just passing the one ahead in the left lane - so you maintain the maximum clearance ahead.
Approaching a roundabout, adjust your speed so that you can flow in to a suitable gap as you arrive at the 'give way' line.
Ahead you see a pedestrian approach a zebra crossing, slowing earlier could allow you to arrive at the crossing just as it's clear to continue.
If you intend to turn at junction just after a bridge or crest, signal before the crest so that following drivers can react earlier, and don't lose sight of you - only to drive over the crest to find you slowing down . . .
Make rear observations when there isn't a hazard immediately in front;
Give signals early enough to inform, but not to confuse.

'Timing' can enhance your safety - by maximising clearances from other vehicles, or make riding easier - by reducing the amount of work you have to do.

However, when planning for other road users' actions remember that you're not doing their driving for them - you must allow for unplanned actions.

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Ice on the Roads Easing Congestion

2010-12-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

On the Welsh 'Daily Post' news web site:

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2010/12/08/ice-causes-more-problems-on-north-wales-roads-55578-27786735/

BLACK ice caused traffic chaos on the A55 for the third day running.
North Wales’ busiest road was closed for more than five hours yesterday after an articulated lorry jack-knifed into crash barriers near Llangefni on Anglesey.
Until repairs are completed just one lane will be open in each direction for a short distance.
The crash, which also involved a black Renault Clio, happened at 6.50am and police were forced to close the carriageway in both directions while the wreckage was cleared.
The last pieces were removed shortly after midday and one lane in each direction was re-opened on the stretch between junction six at Llangefni and junction seven at Gaerwen.
One eye witness said: “It was a huge Boots lorry which had jack-knifed across the whole carriageway.
“I spoke to one of the traffic officers and he said it was suspected black ice. The lorry had obviously hit a patch of it and skidded. The roads are treacherous.”
The fire service and paramedics were also called to the scene, but no-one was hurt. A diversion was put in place on to the A5 at Pentre Berw.

Now have a close look at the truck . .

(Click to enlarge the image if necessary)

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Ice Preparation for the Car

2010-12-05T04:27:00.000-08:00

Since I've recently given advice for cold-weather biking, it only seems fair to give you my tips for cold-weather car preparation.

My car has a diesel engine, and seems to take an age to warm up on cold mornings. Also, it doesn't have the modern techno-luxury of heated door mirrors.

These two combined mean that de-icing can be a long process.

So I take the time to decorate the car in the evenings :)

First on: plastic sheet across the windscreen; it keeps the worst of the frost and snow off, with the added benefit that the screen doesn't mist so badly on the inside.

Next: 'protect' the wipers. Windscreen wipers are easily damaged by trying to use them - even by accidentally knocking their switch - if they're frozen to the screen. Worse still, the wiper motor and mechanism won't know they'r frozen, so will keep trying to move them. The result can be a burnt-out motor. SO rummage in the paper recycling tub, and get some cardboard - the 'waxy' type used in packaging works well - tear small pieces and tuck them under the wiper blade keeping it off the screen. I find 3 pieces per blade, each piece about 3 or 4 cm long will do the trick.

Finally, the door mirrors. They're always a pain to clean off, as teh scraper never quite fits into the mirror housing. So avoid the problem by putting a plastic bag over the mirror. For my Vauxhall's mirrors, the 'tie handle freezer bags' fit well! Additional hint here: if it's just misted rather than iced or frosty, leave the bags on the mirrors until just before driving away, otherwise they're likely to mist up by the time the rest of the car's cleared.

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Have a Shay Day

2010-12-03T05:07:00.000-08:00

Received by email a few moments ago:

Two Choices
What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its
He offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the Plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.
The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'
So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

You now have two choices:

1. Delete
2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day.

Keeping Warm on a Bike

2010-12-03T04:51:00.000-08:00

I hesitate to suggest that anyone should even consider riding a motorcycle when there's snow or ice on the roads, but the last few mornings have prompted my - while de-icing the car - to think about advice on keeping warm while riding your motorcycle.

There's a couple of things to consider, which can be make a big difference to how warm and cosy you are while riding - but as with many aspects of riding it's planning that's really important:

First: in really bad conditions is your journey really important? You and your boss may have different views on this! So perhaps consider alternative transport, even to walking and thumbing a lift, or using public transport. Often it's side roads that are difficult to ride along, especially if untreated and with little traffic, but bus routes may be clearer (and falling off a bus is less likely).

Next, if the roads are icy - but you think you can cope - what's the route going to be like? Can you phone ahead for 'inside information'? Perhaps there's a security guard or recepptionist who can tell you what the roads near work are like. Or use the Highways Agency 'Traffic England' web site and view the information provided; OK, it's mainly only for motorways, but it can still give weather and temperature information, and camera images to see how clear the roads are.

The, keeping warm. There are two aspects to this: keeping heat in and cold out! Seal any gaps - especially try to avoid a breeze up you trouser legs! If you have a velcro'd storm flap over a zip, make sure it's fully pressed down flat as it'll help keep the cold air out. A neck tube or similar covers up that vulnerable gap between your jacket and helmet. If you have a jacket with 'storm' cuffs (where the inner part of the cuff goes inside your glove and the outer layer goes over the glove) thaey can great for keeping the wind (and rain) out.

But you only have a limited amount of 'heat', so manage it the best you can. If possible - considering theft issues etc. - try to load your bike then go back inside to get warmed up before riding off. Perhaps hang your jacket over a radiator to get the lining warmed up so it's not your body heat warming it. usual caveats apply to potential damage to leather should you over-heat leathers or leather gloves.

Finally: add heat. The two most common ways of achieving this are with heated grips fitted to the bike or from heated clothing such as gloves or waistcoats.

I've used all three. Be aware that you're likely to get some mick-taking - but 20 miles later when you're the only one who can ondo their helmet strap because you still have warm fingers then it's all worthwhile.

A couple of years ago I bought an EXO2 heated waistcoat, and it was a revelation. Partly because of how it transformed winter riding (after the first ride using it, 122 miles in 2C temperatures, through sleet, drizzle and winds, with just one T & P stop, I arrived home with cold toes - I'd even switched off the heated grips!) but also because of raised awareness that it's impossible for a person to create the amount of heat which the jacket can - heat which must be being lost as you ride.

Thoroughly recommended!

So put one on your Christmas present list!

http://www.exo2.co.uk/exo2.html#stormrider

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More On "Safety Is"

2010-12-01T04:58:00.000-08:00

As an addendum to my recent 'Safety Is' post, Nikos said...

The UK CAA obviously have a better script writer - "Safety is no accident".

And quite right too :)

I was asked many years ago: "Is a 'good' rider a 'safe' rider?" The knee-jerk instant answer qould be to blurt out "Yes, of course!". But I didn't, I managed to restrain myself long enough to think about it first.

Of course, if safe is 'no accident', then you don't have to be particularly 'good' to achieve that. Assuming that 'luck' plays no part, then it could quite simply be a case of recognising you're not a 'good' rider', and keeping with what you can achieve.

In fact, when I taught with the MSF on their Experienced RiderCourse they advised keeping within the limits of the road, your bike, and - most importantly - your own limits.

Sounds easy when you say it . . .

On one of the internet forums (yes, I know . . . 'fora' :) ), someone has a signature line which reads that 'advanced driving isn't just avoiding accidents, it's avoiding the situations where they might occur'.

This is similar to the idea of near miss recording, where a large number of near misses may eventually result in a few minor accidents but perhaps one serious accident. I haven't explained that very well, if you want to know more about accident theory, Google 'swiss cheese accident theory' :)

One UK construction company (Balfour Beatty) has a variation on the ' . . . no accident' line, they demand 'Zero harm' from (and for) their staff, and adjust procedures to suit.

Perhaps I should do a third post 'Moron safety'? :)

PS: Nikos! Why isn't this blog listed on your profile?

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So, You Think You're Funny?

2010-11-30T04:55:00.000-08:00

One of my pet hates (an ever-increasing list, it seems, as I become a grumpier old man :) ) is the 'you can do or be anything you want' mantra which has produced (perhaps aided by reality TV such as 'X Factor' and 'Britains got talent') a belief amongst some young people that they can be anything they want, and can do anything they want - but without the application of any effort.

Every now and again there's some home video footage shown on TV of a present-day star 'before they were famous', emphasising that 'overnight success' can take some considerable time . . .

Which leads, in a roundabout way, to a news story from my local paper, featuring a 53 year old chap called John Duffy. You may ever have heard of him - I certainly hadn't.

His 'overnight success' is a very successful Twitter page which has led to a book deal with a publisher.

But Dave's overnight success - partly due to an element of luck - has followed on from a part-time career of submitting one-liner gags to various TV and radio shows.

His latest creation eclipses those one-liners.

It features the 'tweets' of someone who - apparently - is something of a celebrity: Cheryl Kerl. She's Geordie who comments knowledgeably on many things.

For example, on cyber attacks:

"Willyam Hague's wurried aboot cybah attacks, aye itz a wurry aall reet buh leik if the Daleks torn up wor propah stuffed pet"

The book's out in time for Christmas, titled: "Woath it? Coase Ah Am, Pet"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Woath-Coase-Ah-am-Pet/dp/1444715151/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291121385&sr=8-1

It even has a chapter entitled "Grumpy Erld Cheryl'.

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Photographs Photography and Photographer

2010-11-29T13:23:00.000-08:00

A quick mention of one of my 'imaginary' friends, one of the many who I have more contact with on the internet than I do in real life (aka IRL).

She's Helen Rushton, and - perhaps rare for a photographer - turns her hand, and lens, to many types of photography.

These include:

http://www.seelifethroughthelens.com/

See LIFE through the LENS isn't just about buying professional, limited edition fine art prints, you can also join us on photography workshops in Dorset and Hampshire to learn how to create stunning images yourself.
The photography courses aren't about the latest must have technology or how to change images in photo editing, they are about creating fantastic images, in camera, by using some simple techniques that you will master through the course. The photography workshops are open to both beginner photographers looking for help on how to make the most of your camera through to more experienced photographers who are looking for stunning new places to capture in Hampshire and Dorset; everyone is welcome.

"I had a fantastic day out with Helen taking landscape photos. I learnt a lot at a pace that suited me and had a lot of fun as well. Helen listened to what I wanted and tailored the shots to cover my requests. She did all the driving leaving me to concentrate on the photography. She even let me loose on some of her filters! Thank you Helen for such a great day and for sharing your wealth of knowledge, I hope to book with you again in the future." Elaine, a recent participant on See Life Workshops
For fine art prints use the galleries to view images and easily purchase various sizes and effects to hang in your own home or workplace.
In addition we are producing a series of How to Photograph... weather-proof guides for you to purchase to get those shots even when on a tight schedule and don't have the time to join us on a photography workshop. Visit the How to... section for more information. See Life Through The Lens is also pleased to be able to offer gift vouchers, calendars and other gifts.

http://whippersnappers.me.uk/

Whippersnappers will be running professional underwater baby & toddler Photography sessions at Fleming Park on Monday 22nd December, Tuesday 23rd December and Wednesday 24th December between 10 – 11am.

http://oursecretboudoir.co.uk/

Boudoir Photography is an intimate and sensual way to photograph women of all shapes and sizes, it’s fun and flirtatious and a great way for you to celebrate your body in a tasteful and relaxed setting.
At Our Secret Boudoir we pride ourselves on providing a very warm and comfortable studio set up in a private house where you can rest assured you will not be disturbed during your photo shoot. Having been on boudoir shoots ourselves, we are very much aware of the hang ups and concerns you may have prior to your shoot and always offer a pre shoot consultation to ensure we aknow what you are looking for from your results and ensure that you are prepared and relaxed before and during your shoot allowing us to give you the fantastic boudoir shoot experience you are looking for.
Hair and makeup is provided by Emma, a professionally qualified beautician who is really friendly and absolutely wonderful. Emma will listen to your ideas and create stunning hair and make up looks for you – stuck for inspiration? Don’t worry Emma has lots of fantastic ideas to compliment all ladies to their best.
Photography is provided by Helen, a professionally qualified and experienced photographer. Not being a perfect size 10 herself, Helen fully understands the worries ladies may go through before their shoot and can promise that she will help pose you in the most flattering ways to suit you and your body shape – everyone can look absolutely gorgeous through Helen’s lens!

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Blondie - "The Tide is High"

2010-11-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

Blondie's "The Tide is High" was on the radio this morning. I remember Blondie from when her records were first in the charts . . . :(

However, and not wanting to make it sound like I'm always knocking local radio, I did think it an odd choice for the presenter to play as he talked over the tune's instrumental intro . . . talking about the recent flooding in Cornwall . . .

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"Safety is . . . "

2010-11-15T05:07:00.000-08:00

I've posted a couple of times about things said on my local BBC radio station, Berkshire (here's the most recent: http://the-ride-info.blogspot.com/2010/10/open-prison.html ).

Yesterday morning I had the radio on, and heard possibly the best yet. The presenter was Debbie McGee, and she was talking to a fireworks supplier about health and safety, during which she said:

"Safety is a double-edged sword"

Errr . . . really?

Well, if you say so. But it reminded me of a badge I found many years ago, one Sunday morning during a BMF-RTS training session based at a local school.

Very simply, the button badge stated:

"Be safe with fireworks"

So ever since then I've made a point of carrying fireworks in order to be safe.

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World's Fastest Mobility Scooter

2010-11-05T12:12:00.001-07:00

Yes, a World Record!

The fastest mobility scooter in the World - powered by a 125cc motocrosser engine!

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DSA - No more theory test Q&A availability

2010-11-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Latest update from the DSA:

DSA to stop publishing questions used in theory tests

Candidates need to understand theory
End to memorising answers
Unpublished questions used from 1 January 2012

The Driving Standards Agency is to stop publishing the multiple choice questions and answers used in theory tests, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

This will help to ensure that new drivers learn the principles behind driving theory rather than just learning answers.

The move follows the introduction of independent driving into the driving test and the DSA's decision to stop publishing test routes in October 2010, to make sure the test assesses a learner's ability to drive and not their capacity to memorise routes.

Mike Penning said: “The driving theory test should help to prepare drivers for real life on the road - good driving is not just about vehicle-handling skills, but also about having the knowledge and understanding of safe driving theory.

“No longer publishing these questions and answers will mean that successful candidates will have to understand the theory rather than simply memorising answers.

“I believe that this - along with the other changes we are making to the driving test regime - will lead to better drivers and safer roads.”

In September 2011 DSA will change the format of books and other learning materials available to help people prepare for theory tests. This will take place at the same time as more challenging case studies are introduced to car and motorcycle theory tests.

Then, from 1 January 2012, DSA will create theory tests using questions which will not be published.

Practice questions and answers, not used in theory tests, will still be available to help candidates with revision.

Other companies which publish products containing DSA theory test questions will also no longer have access to the questions used in the tests.

What I find of concern with this is that some of the multi-choice questions are, well, 'odd'. May favourite example is - for car drivers [probably] - this:

"What should you do when driving into a tunnel?"

I won't give you the full list of options, but the answer is 'Turn on your car radio' . . .

I can assure you that I didn't know that until I read a theory test Q&A book!

Riders for Health

2010-10-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

I mentioned Riders for Health in the Ross Noble tour post.

In case you don't know about RfH, here's some info from their web site:

http://www.riders.org/default.aspx

http://www.riders.org/about.aspx

Vision and Mission

Riders for Health’s vision is of a world in which no one will die of an easily preventable or curable disease because barriers of distance, terrain or poverty prevent them from being reached.

Riders for Health manages and maintains the vehicles used in the delivery of health care and other vital services to rural communities in Africa . We manage them on a planned, preventive basis so that the vehicles do not break down however difficult the conditions. In this way our partners can deliver their services predictably and cost-effectively.

Despite the fact that access to public health, as well as prevention and cure for disease, are basic human needs, men women and children in Africa die of easily preventable and curable disease because they do not have that access. The knowledge and resources exist to prevent this waste of human life and the associated suffering, but those resources routinely fail to reach the people who need them because of lack of reliable transport.

Riders works with ministries of health and other agencies working to improve the health and lives of rural communities in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, the Gambia, Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania.

The management of transport is the most neglected and yet one of the most vital aspects of development. It enables the Millennium Development Goals to be addressed and conserves the high costs of vehicle purchase and operation, so that resources can be refocused on direct humanitarian support.

Their shop http://www.riders.org/shop.aspx has some interesting ideas - rather than just buying something there's also the option of 'sponsorship' so that if you make a donation you'll know exactly what level of support that money will offer them, such as £55 - the most expensive option - buying a day's training for a health worker.

So if you're looking for an unusal Christmas or birthday present for the biker (or motorcyclist :) ) in the family, look no further!

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Ross Noble - Nonsenory Overload!

2010-10-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

Last week I was thoroughly entertained for two hours by the man that is Ross Noble, during a performance from his Nonsensory Overload tour.

Rather than try to describe the show, here's a quote from his web site 'reviews' page:

“All good comics are adept at weaving the odd heckler or late-comer into a stream of material. But I have never before seen anyone create an entire first half - about 50 minutes - from rapport with a couple of customers in the front stalls.” Daily Mail

Put it like this: a few people arrived late (I don't recommend you do that). From them came disabled Ninja warriors in wheelchairs causing grievous head injuries to a person waiting for critical medical test results, and the spectre of hooked lip poercings being used to display AlphaBeti Sphagetti . . .

If you get a chance - get tickets and go see!

And if you go see, spare some change for Rider for Health, who is is supporting.

http://www.rossnoble.co.uk/

http://www.rossnoble.co.uk/tour/

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Open Prison

2010-10-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

This week, the former Huntercombe Young Offenders Institution became Huntercombe Prison, with a change in the ages of its clientele. The former young offenders institution in Oxfordshire had been housing 15 to 18-year-old males since 2000, but because of a drop in the number of younger people being imprisoned it was decommissioned and has now reopened as a Category C prison for up to 370 adults.

Intriguingly, the BBC reporter who interviewed the new Governor said "It opens its doors today".

Errr . . . Hang on . . .

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US Police Training Video

2010-10-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

OK, it's not actually a 'training' video in that it isn't intended to 'teach' you the viewer.

What it 'is', is a US police instructor and one of his two trainees, practicing tight turns under 'adverse' camber.

Worth noting that, in the words of the instructor . . .

"One of my trainees wouldn't even attempt (a wise move) and the other one did great until he had a HUGE brain fart and grabbed a whole lot of front brake while still in a turn. After the bike went over it slid downhill about 5' until we grabbed hold of it."

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Save!!!

2010-10-11T01:41:00.000-07:00

Raffaele De Rosa making an incredible save, and in the process showing that - given a chance - the bike doesn't want to crash, it's down to the rider to keep things under control.

Bet he's glad of the metal plates on the knees of his leathers . . .

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Scooter Safety

2010-10-05T05:17:00.000-07:00

From the BBC's 'Odd Box' weekly video collection:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/newsbeat/newsid_7875000/7875393.stm

[The videos are changed weekly, so I'm not sure how long this link will remain active]

This particular collection features a BBC News report on scotter safety, withe orange-jacketed and be-helmeted kiddies on their small-wheeled scooters in the playground of a Brighton school.

Sadly, all didn't go to plan:

What's that old showbiz saying? Ah yes, "Never work with . . . . "

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Belstaff 'Iron Man'

2010-10-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Belstaff - a name from UK biking history, now owned by an Italian company.

Italians - renowed for style.

"Fail", as the modern saying goes, when they release the Iron Man range . . .

IRON MAN JACKET MAN

Fabric composition: 100% Leather

GBP 1189.00

The official Belstaff Iron Man Jacket has been created using Belstaff’s trademark design of combining protection with style. Every Iron Man Jacket is hand-made (just like the Iron Man suit) using the most durable yet finest leather in the Iron Man signature colours of red and gold, with each limited edition jacket tagged with its’ own unique number and official Marvel trademark.

Yes, that's £1189 of your Engleesh pounds!

CBT by Distance Learning?

2010-10-03T04:18:00.000-07:00

Have to admit, this had me confused.

One of the forums (yes 'fora', for the experts) I use is funded partly by advertising, with content-specific 'Ads by Google'. Every now and again, it (the software driving the advert allocation) will understand the content but not the context.

For example: it was with some confusion that I noticed - in the header of a motorcycle training forum - an advert for CBT;

CBT Training Course Diploma Through Distance Learning Leading UK College, Find Out More!

So, interested to know howDSA-controlled rider training could be managed on-line, I clicked on the ad.

It led to:

http://www.oxford-learning.com/product_info.php?cPath=11&products_id=355&gclid=CKnGmrbHtqQCFQFI4wodayKI1g

This Ascentis Quality Assured Level 3 Diploma course is the fundamental foundation for people looking to offer cognitive therapy either via Counselling or Psychotherapy. Many counsellors use a person centred approach, but many are now using cognitive therapy within their sessions.
This course will be a pre-requisite to further studies in this area. The course offers the student great knowledge of the subject areas in which to progress from. The course is a fascinating insight into the world of both cognitive therapy and psychotherapy and asks the students to look inwards as well as outward during their studies.

The course comprises of a series of assignments, a thesis and concludes with an online examination.

Ah! That sort of CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy!

However, I was also intrigued to note that the final exam is an on-line multi-choice, after a series of assignments. When I was involved in the Edexcel-accredited BTEC L3 Advanced motorcycle instructor courses, we were heavily into observation of actual training, whether real or role play. How much easier if we could have done it all from teh comfort of our homes . . .

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Commuter Survival Guide for Motorcyclists

2010-10-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

A new DVD, suposed to be hitting the shelves soon (well, Amazon), from the makers of the Highways Agency 'Great Roads Great Rides' and 'Max Rider'.

The Commuter Survival Guide for Motorcyclists will be a fresh approach to providing practical tips and guidance for today's commuter rider.

More info here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=153777&id=109569872423252

Not to be confused with:

http://www.commutersurvivalguide.com/

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Independant Riding

2010-09-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

Although it's been fairly well publicised that there's a forthcoming change to the driving test - the inclusion of 'Independant Driving' - I don't think it's so well known that this also applies to riders taking the accompanied test motorcycle.

Further details of independant driving and riding in the test here:
http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Documents/MPTC/2010/dsa_atb_newsletter_issue_22.pdf
In a DSA newsletter.

And more info here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/PracticalTest/DG_189979

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Quiz Answer

2010-09-23T14:04:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Voyager for providing the correct answer and also suggesting chevrons - which since that bend is preceded by a long straight might actually be beneficial. That said, I can't ever recall hearing of a crash there.

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Cornering - The Missing Link

2010-09-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

OK, here's the 'answer' to yesterday's question, what was missing from the scene featuring a bend?

'A bend sign'

Here it is, in yesterday's photo it's half hidden by trees, some way in the distance. But a careful assessment of the scene from what was visible on the approach would have made this sign almost unnecessary.

Visible: a bend to the right
Visible: a railway viaduct
Visible: a bus stop, with waiting passengers

Add to that some general knowledge and common sense ( :) ), and the hidden details are already coming to life:

If the railway builders made a hole in the embankment and put a bridge in . . . that's where the road's likely to go.

If the railways almost crossing perpendicular to the road you're on - but you can see a bend to the right, there's likely to be a bend to the left.

Older bridges often weren't built for large lorries and double=decker buses - which have to pass through the centre of the arch.

But the signs are there for everyone, however good they are, to read and use. But often - as is almost the case from a distane with this one - they get overgrown. Then you need to rely on what you've seen earlier, combined with good assessment based on what you can see.

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Cornering . . . Continued

2010-09-21T11:37:00.000-07:00

So, over the last few posts I've suggested my updating of a couple of well-known systems.

Safe, Smooth, Style - for an overall assessment of riding

Slow, Settle, Steer - a systematice approach to setting up for a corner

Now for another prompt, this time for assessing bends as part of that 'slow' phase.

Obviously (?) if you're slowing for a bend you'll need some sort of basis on which to decide what speed to slow down to. Mostly riders will do this without conscious thought, but some guidance on what to look for might be useful, both for riders as they start to work on bend assessment and for instructors encouraging the uptake of new concepts.

What should we look for?

A simple set of prompts which cover most aspects of assessment is:

Safety
Sight
Surface

Yup, more 'S's :)

This isn't an 'absolute' list, there's actually an element of overlap between them, and it's certainly not intended to be a 'checklist' to go through in sequence on the approach to a bend.

How might these prompts overlap? Here's an example:
Safety: your safety might be affected by something very obvious, such as gravel on an adverse camber . . . even though they're 'surface'.

Similarly, a blind bend might hide all manner of dangers, but is the greatest risk being from danger you can see or being able [or not] to react in time for a 'fresh' danger as it appears. So here 'sight' closely ties with 'safety'.

On bends where there is no apparent major danger then sight becomes the limiting factor, how much clear road surface can you see? What you can't see becomes a potential danger (remember the old 'Roadcraft' list: "What can be seen, what can't be seen, what may reasonably be expected to happen"), and that's what will limit your approach speed - or, more exactly, how much stopping you can achieve in the distance available.

Surface, when not a major danger on its own, becomes a limiting factor, perhaps due to poor quality surface or adverse camber, perhaps because of inspection covers.

I'll leave you to 'sort' the 'contents' of this post's header picture into the various categories and find the overlaps, but as a starter there are:

- Speed limit sign
- Road markings (hazard line)
- Road markings 'SLOW' x 2
- Junction sign
- Oncoming vehicle
- Bus stop, with waiting passengers
- Junction visible
- Other 'things' (signs, entrances, fences) on the left
- Railway viaduct visible over the trees

But what's missing from this view of a bend . . . ?

Answer tomorrow :)

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Through a Glass, Clearly

2010-09-19T03:24:00.000-07:00

In these financially trubled times it's a brave move to start your own business, let alone manage to keep an existing business working well.

And, as with many things from 'D list' celebrities up, publicity - in the form of marketing - is lifeblood to business.

Take, for instance, a company web site. Many companies have web sites to be proud of, but how many actually get the visits they deserve and lead to the business those companies need?

This is where marketing comes in - good marketing, that is. And where Richard Avis has taken that jump to start his own business enabling others to benefit from his extensive knowledge, skill and experience of digital marketing through his new company Clear Digital Marketing:

http://www.cleardigitalmarketing.co.uk/

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More S Theory

2010-09-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

Start with yesterday’s post if you haven’t already read it.

In 1992 I became involved the US-based Motorcycle Safety Foundation, which taught a simple cornering ‘system’:

Slow, Look/Lean/Roll

Slow upright and in a straight line
Look where you want to go
Lean the bike (by counter-steering)
Roll the throttle on through the turn

Like the 5xS, I was quite happy with this for several years, but moer recently have found that it wasn’t what I actually did.

So I spent some time analysing my own riding and found that I actually started to open the throttle slightly before looking and steering, although I would still roll on the throttle through the turn.

As with the 5xS, this was part of a longer re-assessment of how I taught successful cornering.

So now I’m pleased to introduce the ‘S’s of motorcycling numbers 4, 5 and 6! (Although, of course, they’re really another 1, 2, 3)

This is the Malc improved cornering system: Speed Settle Steer

Slow: set the speed for the bend, select the appropriate gear to suit

Settle: both bike and rider
– off the brakes
– check you’re relaxed and comfortable
– open the throttle to balance the bike

Steer: head and hands, look where you want to go, press to steer, roll on the throttle

This allows a rider a little bit of ‘breathing space’ as they approach the bend, which encourages a riding style where the bike enters the bend balanced and under control.

It also acknowledges that all three of head [look], hands [bars & throttle] are important elements of steering.

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How Many ‘S’s in Motorcycling?

2010-09-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

A while back I posted about the expanding numbers of ‘E’s in road safety, starting from the original education, engineering and enforcement, and moving on to encompass (see what I did there? : ) ) Evidence, Engagement, Evaluation and Encouragement.

http://the-ride-info.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-many-es-in-road-safety.html

I promised that I’d re-visit this theme, and look at the number of ‘S’s in motorcycle safety. I also introduced that with a clip from Monty Python’s Spanish Inquisition (“Our chief weapon is surprise, surprise and fear” etc.). But being in a hurry I selected the wrong clip.

So on the basis that this post won’t have too many laughs, have a compilation of the the SI’s appearances on Python:

So, ‘S’s.

When I started my involvement in rider training (although, in those days we used to train the bike, because it was ‘motorcycle training’ :) ), there was a well-known, derived from police ‘Roadcraft’-based training, Four ‘S’ list:

Safety
System
Smooth
Speed

‘Safety’ was the priority, then ‘System’ - riding to the Police System of Motorcycle Control:

Next, ‘Smooth’, all actions should be carried out smoothly. Finally, if all three ‘S’s could be achieved, then add ‘Speed’.

Sometimes, there was a fifth ‘S’ added: Gloss :) , or ‘Sparkle’, often defined as “That indefinable gloss” . . . very helpful.

After a few years of repeating that, it struck me that – in my opinion, anyway – there was a significant problem with the existing 4xS list: it encouraged systematic riding ahead of smooth riding.

In my opinion this could be unsafe. Why? Let’s use ‘braking’ as an example: you’re slowing for a hazard, you need to lose a fair bit of speed (more than can be achieved by just closing the throttle), so you brake – but rather than applying them smoothly you ‘grab’, with the potential for wheels to lock etc.

Reverse the order, and take a similar scenario slightly further on through the ‘old’ system: having slowed using the brakes a gear change is needed, but although you survived and stayed upright despite the harsh braking, now you’re ham-fisted with the clutch and don’t match the revs.

Compare this to where’ smooth’ is more important than system: before braking you change gear [‘System’ rider now having a fit, “No No No NO!”] – but match the revs perfectly and use the clutch smoothly . . . then close the throttle and start to brake, again applying the brakes smoothly and weighting for the balance to shift to the front tyre before braking more firmly . . .

So my ‘improved’ prompt became:
Safety Smooth System Speed

With:
Safety Smooth System Speed Sparkle
If you wanted real ‘high standard’ riding.

This kept me happy me many years, provoking a few discussions along the way.

But more recently I’ve been thinking about this, particularly in light of my gradual move away from ‘advanced’ training.

A few years ago I took the decision to end my involvement with the BMF Rider Training Scheme, under which I trained riders for the Blue Riband Advanced Riders Award. This was a wrench, as I was the person who managed its introduction across the UK at 15 centres, launched at the 1989 BMF Show, and subsequently took it to 45 centres across the UK from the Orkneys to Northern Ireland and down to Cornwall.

Instead of training riders to towards an ‘advanced’ test, I’ve been working more on sorting problems, really helping riders to enjoy their riding, and overcoming hurdles they had.

As part of that I developed the three-level Whole Rider assessment format – I really must make that available some day – which is a single assessment format which can be used for all riders from novice through to advanced.

For riders who simply want to enjoy their riding, without the ‘progress’ imperative often felt by those taking advanced training, the ‘speed’ and ‘sparkle’ elements may be irrelevant.

Also, those riders may not want to ride like a police officer on his best behaviour, they may prefer to move around like a motocross rider, or hang off like a grand prix star. That’s up to them to chose!

So I’ve shortened the 5xS back to three. Keeping ‘Safety’ and ‘Smooth’, I’ve removed the final three and, instead, added ‘Style’.

As I was moving away from ‘advanced’ training, I simplified my basic assessment of someone’s riding (although I’d use the Whole Rider Assessment and an advanced test format as necessary), asking just a few simple questions:

“Is their riding safe?”
“Is the riding in control?”
“Does the rider know what they’re doing and why?”

Which ties reasonably well with Safety Smooth Style.

Now, Q‘3’ isn’t just about ‘style’, it also encompasses far more about the rider’s awareness and the decisions they make. But from decisions come style, even self-expression. Hence the picture at the head of the post :)

So now you know, there are three ‘S’s in modern motorcycling.

Or are there . . . ?

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Greg Bennett - Guardian Angels and More

2010-09-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

One of the favourite pastimes in the Palmer household is Gregwatching. It's a bit like birdwatching: you know the likely locations, typical appearance, so sit, wait, watch . . .

And, there! It's Greg Bennett - on our TV screen, wehterh in Foyle's War, The Bill [RIP], Midsommer Murders, or any of his other TV appearances.

But Greg has more talents, including writing as well as appearing.

Read more about Greg, his colleagues, his ideas and scriptwriting here

One of his current projects is Guardian Angels. I'll let Greg explain:

“One new English DCI. Five Welsh cops. Six bodies. Seven angels on a pier…”

A series of five fifty-seven minute scripts based around a CID unit in Swansea. Rooted in the culture clash of a new English DCI with his Welsh team, it starts light then becomes a serial killer thriller – with supernatural overtones...

Centred on a core team of professionals - who enjoy a spot of banter but like to get the job done - it focuses on their private lives, the moral dilemmas they encounter and their individual spiritual journeys.

Rather than being a traditional procedural police drama, it is characterized more by elements of fantasy - with story arcs that will take key characters deeply into the world of the Paranormal...

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Situational . . .

2010-09-02T01:24:00.000-07:00

There's a mental 'system' which has been in use mainly in the flying business for many years called 'siutational awareness'.

It mirrors the mental systems often recommended by rider (and driver) training, such as the UK's Observe Plan Act, the MSF's 'old' Search predict Act and their new Search Evaluate Execute.

If you want to know more, read INTRODUCTION -Situation Awareness and how it can help drivers

But like many aspects of training, you need a way of assessing how well someone has learned the process.

Enter: situational judgement. This is a bit like hazard perception testing, but rather than 'just' identify whether someone can pick out a 'developing hazard', situational judgement looks at what your response would be to the situation (hazard) you've identified. After all, you might identify a hazard, but decide to accelerate rather than brake . . .

But following on from those two aspects of 'situational', I was intrigued to hear of 'situational leadership'.

This is a style of leadership (really? ;) ), Wiki tells us:

The Situational Leadership Theory, is a leadership theory developed by Paul Hersey, professor and author of the book Situational Leader, and Ken Blanchard, leadership guru and author of The One Minute Manager, while working on the first edition of Management of Organizational Behavior (now in its 9th edition). The Theory was first introduced as "Life Cycle Theory of Leadership". During the mid 1970s, "Life Cycle Theory of Leadership" was renamed "Situational Leadership theory".

In the late 1970s/early 1980s, the authors both developed their own Models using the Situational Leadership theory; Hersey - Situational Leadership Model and Blanchard et al. Situational Leadership II Model.

The fundamental underpinning of the Situational Leadership Theory is there is no single "best" style of leadership. Effective leadership is task-relevant and that the most successful leaders are those that adapt their leadership style to the Maturity ("the capacity to set high but attainable goals, willingness and ability to take responsibility for the task, and relevant education and/or experience of an individual or a group for the task) of the individual or group they are attempting to lead/influence. That effective leadership varies, not only with the person or group that is being influenced, but it will also depend on the task, job or function that needs to be accomplished.

All intersting stuff, but what's it got to do with motorcycling? :)

Well, consider the three 'situationals' as a process:
Awareness
Judgement
Leadership

You identify the hazard, decide the best plan, then put it into action.

That plan, and subsequent action, may mean you need to take the lead, to manage a sitation on the road - making what you want to happen actually happen. Pro-active rather than reactive.

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"I Have Seen . . . "

2010-08-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

Not had an 'I have seen' post lately - not had that many posts lately, for that matter.

However, a few registration numbers, plates that have attracted my attention:

M1NE on a scooter - I'm not convinced it was genuine

PR51TGE ('prestige'?) on an expensive-looking 4x4

P1KEY on a jag or merc at building site

P1TOT- presumably a pilot

And one I, personally, wouldn't have:

R1SOL

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Hi-Viz - The Ultimate

2010-08-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

Spottted in - oddly enough :) - the discount clearance rack of a shoe shop, ladies shoes in hi-viz fluorescent yellow.

Form a queue . . .

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New FF bike

2010-08-26T05:04:00.000-07:00

A rare beastie indead - another new 'FF' (that's 'feet first' rather than the 'head first' riding position most of us have) bike from Royce Creasey:

Royce explains:
This conversion is based on a nearly new 2008 Tmax scooter. The first conversion, the "Comfortmax", left me as a crude 'proof of concept' demonstrator and after completion by Andrew Gibbon is in road use. This conversion is intended as a full-specification road vehicle for everyday use.

More photos:
http://www.bikeweb.com/image/tid/10
Includes photos of the Norton rotary-engined, fully-enclosed FF under construction!

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French despatch rider vs. naked moped man

2010-07-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

French despatch rider vs. naked moped man . . .

. . . No further explanation required!

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Zerotracer

2010-07-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

Zerotracer is the latest development of the Peraves Montracer, which itself is the little brother of the well-established (although, at C. £60,000, still rare!) Ecomobile.

The video includes a drag race against a brisk motorcycle and a fast car (of a brand famous for being red).

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Good Mental Health and Motorcycling

2010-07-02T04:28:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I was told about a group called 'Young Minds'.

In their own words:

YoungMinds is the UK's only national charity committed to improving the mental health and emotional well-being of all children and young people.

Part of the presentation they gave contained "7 'learnable' skills of resiliance".

In other words, seven aspects of how you 'are', and how you interact with other people, that you can influence in a positive ay to improve your mental health.

In one of those serendipitous moments, this co-incided with a discussion on The Rev Counter forum about peer pressure, particularly in group riding situations.

Some of this discussion centred around how people may not always 'represent' their own needs and wishes to other people - and how that can lead to probelms and the potential for increased risk, whther from perhaps continuing on while tired, or from riding more quickly than they feel comfortable to keep up with the lead rider.

It struck me that the "7 'learnable' skills of resiliance" would be a good reminder for all motorcyclists, whether 'ordinary' riders on their own, or in groups, but also for trainers to consider as an aspect to incorporate in their courses and help develop their riders.

This also has implications for trainers' implementation of the GDE (or 'Gadget' Matrix, which places 'skills for life' far higher in importance than develooping machine control skills.

7 'learnable' skills of resiliance

1. Emotional awareness or regulation
2. Impulse Control
3. Optimism
4. Causal Analysis
5. Empathy
6. Self-efficacy
7. Reaching Out

In more detail:

1. Emotional awareness or regulation

Ability to identify what you are feeling and manage these appropriately

2. Impulse Control

Ability to tolerate ambiguity and not rush decision making

3. Optimism

Explanatory style - wed to reality

4. Causal Analysis

Ability to view difficulties from a number of perspectives and consider many factors

5. Empathy

Ability to read and understand the emotions of others. Help build relationships with others and give social support

6. Self-efficacy

Confidence in your ability to solve problems - includes knowing your strengths and weaknesses

7. Reaching Out

Being prepared to take appropriate risk - a willingness to try things and view failure as part of life

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International Level Crossing Day of Action

2010-06-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

In a way, that title is a bit wrong, as what the organisers actually want is a different action - ie people not driving through level crossings when there's a train coming.

Some figures:

A dedicated website with background information on level crossing issues has been established at www.levelcrossing.net and special educational material is available from the Awareness Day site at www.ilcad.org.

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How Many Es in Road Safety?

2010-06-15T05:31:00.000-07:00

With thanks to James Butlin of Northants road safety for the original presentation.

'E' is a favourite in the road safety community.

In past years, there were just three.

Then three Es became six, now it's risen to seven!

The original three were: Education Enforcement Engineering.

Within a few years the concept of a restricted road safety alphabet had caught on, and more had been added:

Evidence Engagement Evaluation.

Now another has tagged along: Encouragement.

Where will it all end?

Coming soon: How many 'S's in rider training :)

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Everything you need to know . . .

2010-06-12T04:59:00.000-07:00

I'm usually very cautious of a book of video which claims to cover 'everthing you need to know', or to be 'the ultimate', or even 'complete' (and a recently-published UK riding book falls into one of those categories.

So it was with some interest that I noticed a new programme buried in the back catalogue available on my BT Vision box (obviously not in the box, but via the internet connection ;) ).

Featuring Todd Colbert, it's the ambitiously-titled:

"Everything you need to know about learning to ride a motorcycle from safety and maintenance to riding the street"

Or similar. I got bored half way through writing it all down.

It manages to achieve (?) all this in half an hour.

"Featuring Todd Colbert" OK . . . he presents the information, but in case you don't know his name (I didn't) there's 4 (yes, four) minutes introducing him by showing various magazine covers and articles. This isn't even rostrum camera (is Ken Morse still the king of rostrum - it always used to be his name in the TV credits?), but a roving camera over framed pages and photos.

The programme rattles on with an introduction to clothing, bike controls, maintenance, moving the bike around, and eventually - 20 minutes in - the key's turned and the bike started up.

Basic machine control exercises follow, including cluth (sic) control :)

Then the final section: "What Not To Do".

This doesn't feature Todd riding, but is a short list of things not to do, each illustrated by a clip - some I'd seen many times before - of riders (usually failing stunt riders) getting it wrong.

The video links to "learntoride.com" so out of interest I had a look at that site. It auto-redirects to "crashclipsforsale.com". Well, if you have a clip, don't send it to You've been framed - at least, not if the clip prices on that site are anything to go by!

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French Motorcycle Safety Videos

2010-06-11T04:53:00.000-07:00

The Frnech transport ministry have relesaed a series of safety advert videos, several motorcycle related.

They all use a common theme, of 'Now . . . you know what it is like"

Caution: not for the feint hearted . . .

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Self-Teach Advanced Rider Training

2010-06-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

Final post in the set

Wondering where all these 'games' are from?

'Drive around the bend' originates from the MSF (in the USA) who teach 'Slow, Look/Lean/Roll' for all cornering. Add in the 'No brakes' game and you may have Keith Code's Day 1 from the California Superbike School!

'See and be Seen' is also heavily emphasised by the MSF.

SSV & SVA depend on which Police driving school you listen to.

'Keep out of line' is in one of Dave Jones' books.

'No Brakes' has been around for years . . .

The ink bottle originates from Jackie Stewart's Formula Finesse 'balls on the bonnet', via Sir John Whitmore's RAC Superdriver. (CSM had a good variation: blu-tak an egg cup onto the rider's helmet, place one fresh egg, set rider off around tightly-cornered cone layout, stand well back)

'Loose as a goose' MSF again;
'Zen' is from a 'Rapid' instructor;
'Chicken' is from . . . ?

'Time to spare' based on Keith Code's track version in Twist of the Wrist. As with so much in his books, track techniques can be adapted to road riding, but you have to be sure about what you are trying to achieve.

'What if?' again, originally from MSF, now the title of DSA videos.

'Spot the difference' is part of the 'Smith Cumming Sherman visual road search system', from the Driving Instructors Handbook, and possibly elsewhere. The SCS is a five-part system, which can be expanded to six with a motorcycle-specific 'keep level-headed' prompt, i.e. although you may be leaning your body into a corner with the bike, keep your head upright.

Spotting tension and awarding a 'mark' is from cognitive behavioural therapy, another type of CBT!

'Ain't no stopping' from Steve Fox (of Kestrel FM fame), who I managed to beat by cheating - using a long-cut (as opposed to a 'short cut') which bypassed an awkward junction.

'Swoop-de-woo' suggested by Gerry, am ex-Hampshire police traffic officer.

Self-Teach Advanced Rider Training

2010-06-05T04:40:00.000-07:00

Post . . . 4? in the set

Over the next few posts I'll be adding the 'Games' content currently on the Cooper Bike Training web space.

These allow you to train yourself without the necessity of trailing an advanced motorcycling instructor or observer along behind.

Each 'game' is intended to work on a particular aspect of riding skill, awareness, or planning.

Games for grown-ups!
Playing games isn't just for children. Setting aside the "Football, more important than life or death" theory, there are a number of games you can play to help improve your riding.

Pick and choose from the list below. You will find that some of the games build on earlier exercises, so there are benefits to working through in order.

You may also find it helps to print this out and carry it with you for roadside reference, although there are 'armchair' exercises to do in the comfort of your home!

Spot The Difference
If you've taken any type of rider training, or driver improvement course, you will probably have been told 'Improve your observation'. Well that's easy, isn't it? Here's one way of 're-training your eyes':

Most of the time you 'see' things, particularly detail, with just the very centre of your field of vision. Around the edge, your peripheral vision, is very good for spotting movement. Are you aware of how much you can 'see' around the edge?

Sit comfortably, then look at a mark or point on the wall opposite. You will notice that most of what you see in detail is in a very small area. Without looking away from that point - although you are allowed to blink! - gradually be aware of everything around that point, and move your concentration further out.

When riding, use that peripheral vision to attract your attention to objects that are away from your main 'view'. But remember: where you look is where you go, so if you look at a hazard for too long you'll steer towards it! Look for an escape route instead.

Way out, man
It can be a good idea to have an 'escape route' planned before you need it.

This develops the 'What If?' theme, and rather than just concentrating on, for example, being able to stop within the distance you can see is clear, brings in those situations where you don't have enough time to stop.

So, if that car driver sat waiting in a side turning hasn't actually seen you, what are you going to do if he drives out? Can you stop, or swerve (do you know how to, have you practised?), or will you hit the car whatever you do?

Can you look for a 'soft' option? In 'car' terms this means the front or rear of the car, the crumple zones, rather than the mid-section crash-cage. Is there an escape route which might involve a hedge, rather than hitting a car?

How about jumping? This is likely to be a far better option than hitting the car! See elsewhere in 'Articles' for more on this.

To an extent, this is 'last ditch' stuff - but if you leave it too the last moment you won't have time to look for an option and put it into practice, so it has to be planned before you need it! You have to be a pessimist - expect trouble and plan for it, then be pleasantly surprised if the driver doesn't pull out. But realism says that drivers can, and do, pull out, so have a continuously-developing plan in place.

Self-Teach Advanced Rider Training

2010-06-04T04:39:00.000-07:00

Post 3 in the set

Over the next few posts I'll be adding the 'Games' content currently on the Cooper Bike Training web space.

These allow you to train yourself without the necessity of trailing an advanced motorcycling instructor or observer along behind.

Each 'game' is intended to work on a particular aspect of riding skill, awareness, or planning.

Games for grown-ups!
Playing games isn't just for children. Setting aside the "Football, more important than life or death" theory, there are a number of games you can play to help improve your riding.

Pick and choose from the list below. You will find that some of the games build on earlier exercises, so there are benefits to working through in order.

You may also find it helps to print this out and carry it with you for roadside reference, although there are 'armchair' exercises to do in the comfort of your home!

Follow My Leader 1
One of the key points of 'Roadcraft' is that you should always have "Time To React". And one of the easiest ways to loose your reaction time is following to closely behind the vehicle in front: it's easily done - you're eager to get on, so gradually close-up, losing the gap and reaction time.

Use the 'two second rule'. The basic principle is to watch the vehicle in front pass a particular point - for example, a drain cover - then count the seconds. There's a couple of easy options: "One thousand, one, two thousand, two", or the old TV advert favourite: "Only a fool breaks the two second rule." If you pass the same marker before you've finished counting - and be honest, don't say "One thousand one, twothousandtwo" so as to finish in time - then you're still following too closely.

Then ask yourself: "Is there a benefit to me of being this close to the car in front?" If you're not looking to overtake as soon as possible, it may well be beneficial to you to increase your following distance, and create a bigger safety margin.

Improving your riding is often about honesty, responsibility and self-discipline: if there's something you know you ought to be doing, then it's up to you to do it. No-one else is to blame if you get caught out.

Follow My Leader - 2
Been practising FML 1? Now test yourself! As the car in front goes over a manhole cover or mark in the road, see if you have sufficient time to react and avoid it (usually caveats about confusing other traffic etc.). If not - you're still too close!

Talk To Yourself
Personally, I find that talking to myself is one of the best ways of getting a sensible reply. However, this variation is from typical car 'advanced' training, where the driver gives a commentary, demonstrating to the instructor how far ahead they're looking, what at, and how they intend to react to it.

Look as far ahead as you can - remember that 'Time to react', and talk - or yell - out to yourself what you can see and ("What If?" & "How Can That?") how you intend to react to it.

At first you may find that by the time you actually talk about something you're already passing it, but with practice - and looking as far into the distance as you can - this should improve.

You may also find that you have too much to think about. Two things you can do, first is to prioritise, the second to abbreviate.

Ain't no stopping me now . . .
This a game to help develop your planning. In involves keeping going.

No, that doesn't me riding through red lights or over 'stop' lines. Like using the brakes in the 'no brakes' game, if you have to stop, then stop!

What it does involve is trying to arrive at junctions and roundabouts just as there's a gap, arriving at a parked car on the left just as a gap in oncoming traffic allows you to overtake, and arriving at red lights and pedestrian crossings just as it's safe to go through - although beware of practising your slow-riding skills so much that you build a long queue of bemused or annoyed drivers behind you who just don't know what you're doing.

There's another version of this 'Tag no-stopping'. If there's two of you out together, one leads until they have to stop, then the other takes the lead.

Nodding Dog
The 'nodding dog' just sits on the car parcel shelf, permanently agreeing with everything and everyone.

Your task for this game is to shake your head. Not always, just every time there's a side turning. As you approach the side turning turn your head and look for any early warning of emerging vehicles, which might be visible through gaps in hedges or walls etc.

You can also use the same principle when approaching tight bends: look 'across' the bend, perhaps you'll see an approaching car through gaps in the hedge.

Now take this a big step further. 'Where in the World' and 'No Brakes' encouraged you to look as a far ahead as possible, but at the road itself. Now look either side, but still in the distance. Widen your view. Can you tell by the shape of fields and hedges, or gaps in trees, where the road goes. Can you see a group of trees at the side of the road, with telegraph wires disappearing in the trees? If so, there's a house in there. Houses mean people, cars, children, footballs, dogs. Where's their gateway? Does it have high hedges or walls? Is there a mirror opposite?

Self-Teach Advanced Rider Training

2010-06-03T04:37:00.000-07:00

Post 2 in the set

Over the next few posts I'll be adding the 'Games' content currently on the Cooper Bike Training web space.

These allow you to train yourself without the necessity of trailing an advanced motorcycling instructor or observer along behind.

Each 'game' is intended to work on a particular aspect of riding skill, awareness, or planning.

Games for grown-ups!
Playing games isn't just for children. Setting aside the "Football, more important than life or death" theory, there are a number of games you can play to help improve your riding.

Pick and choose from the list below. You will find that some of the games build on earlier exercises, so there are benefits to working through in order.

You may also find it helps to print this out and carry it with you for roadside reference, although there are 'armchair' exercises to do in the comfort of your home!

Drive Yourself Around The Bend!
One of the easiest ways to improve your cornering is to 'drive' the bike around each corner. There's two elements to this:
1. You need to finish all braking or gear-changing while the bike is still upright and traveling in a straight line;
2. Opening the throttle as you lean into the corner (remember that cornering with the throttle closed is effectively braking around the bend).

Using these two points means that you brake while the bike is most stable, and corner with the throttle open, which gives good weight distribution (taking weight off the front so it's less likely to slide) and can increase your ground clearance..

To achieve both 1 & 2 you may find that you have to brake earlier and more firmly than usual.

Whether or not you are comfortable with opening the throttle is one way of judging the accuracy of your choice of speed for the corner.

To start off, just notice whereabouts you open the throttle, with the bike still upright and in a straight line, just as you start the turn, or do you corner with the throttle closed? Does this vary between corners, perhaps 'open' or 'blind' bends? When you change the point where you start to 'drive', does the bike seem more 'comfortable'?

No Brakes?
When you've got 'Drive Yourself . . . ' off to a fine art, build in an additional element of good forward planning. Try to identify hazards (actual or potential danger) earlier so that you don't need to brake, just close the throttle, then arrive at the corner (or other hazard) at the correct speed and ready to to open the throttle.

As before: use the brakes if you have to, remember that 'engine braking' means using the engine to slow you - not the gearbox, only change down when the revs have dropped, then use the throttle to match the revs with your road speed.

Funky Chicken
"Tense, nervous, headache." Remember the T.V. advert.? Well, tension in your shoulders while riding a motorcycle will initially cause discomfort, then pain. Worse still, it will adversely affect your riding as you will not be allowing the 'bars to move when the bike wants to balance itself. Another potential problem is that if your shoulders are tense you are far less likely to steer easily, and you will tend to feel that you are 'fighting' to get the bike to go where you want it to be.

Unfortunately, you can't stop tension happening, or just make yourself relax. What you can do is 'mark' your tension level, on a 1-10 scale. By being aware of tension you can start to overcome it.

So, you need to watch for the signs of tension - a 'death-grip' on the bars or straight arms and tense, raised, shoulders, for example - then tense even more and release. If in doubt, do the 'chicken' to check: your arms should be 'loose' enough that you can 'flap' your arms!

Although the easiest way to explain counter-steering is as a 'push' an the bars in the direction you want to turn, it's often better if you can keep that arm relaxed and pull back on the other bar. When cornering, try to keep your arms relaxed, particularly the arm on the side you are turning to, the 'inside' of the turn. It may help if you lean slightly forwards as you start your turn. Depending on your bike, you may be able to sit slightly further forward, which will also help to avoid the 'straight-arm syndrome'.

One instructor I've met calls this sort of thing 'Zen motorcycling'. Another well-known instructor will chant "Relax, relax, relax . . . " through your earpiece, in a soothing voice! At Cooper Bike Training, during our 'Born Again' courses, we encourage riders to have a comfortable, relaxed, riding position. To remind them we quote the American expression 'Loose as a goose'.

Are you uptight, chicken, Zen or goose? Keep a check while riding!

All Together Now: 'Drive', 'No Brakes' & 'Funky Chicken'!
So: at the start of the turn, turn your head and look where you want to go. Press - or pull back, you choose which works for you - on the bars, and roll the throttle open, all the time keeping 'loose'.

Swoop-de-woo!
Occasionally the council will paint direction arrows on sections of road. Usually they'll be on the approach to junctions to indicate which lane you should be in. In other locations they probably suggest that drivers could be confused by the road layout, and might head the wrong way. However, they may have an unintended benefit for you as they can be a great place to practice counter-steering (see 'Funky Chicken') at 'reasonable' speeds. Don't scare the daylights out of other road users, please!

Time To Spare?
Here's the one for a quiet few moments at home: You will require a comfy seat, a watch, and a good memory.

Think of one of your 'best' roads, the one you regularly use for a 'clear the cobwebs' ride. You're going to ride a few miles of that road from the comfort of your armchair! So sit down, check the time, close your eyes and imagine riding down that road . . . . . . and when you get to the other end, check the time again. Did it take as long to imagine the route as it would to ride it?

If not, what have you missed? Go back and 'ride' through it again, this time in detail and in 'real time': think of each gear-change, braking point or throttle movement, every change in the road surface, every side turning, change in camber, bend & twist, any pub, shop, school or house entrance, all signposts, road markings or diesel spill.

The armchair ride should take at least as long as the real ride - if it doesn't, where are the 'blanks', the sections of road where you've not noticed the details? Next time you ride for real, slow down and fill in the gaps, seeing the detail is the key to good observation. Then ask yourself "How could that affect me?"

If you're interested in becoming an instructor, this 'ride recall' is probably an essential skill to develop, in order to discuss and assess a trainee's riding. It's also a great way to improve your own riding, rather than just sitting there without a full awareness of what's going on around you.

What If?
This game has been around for many years, but is about to become well known as a result of a recent pair DSA videos (one for car drivers, the other for motorcyclists).

It's a variation on the Roadcraft 'Observation Links', and involves asking yourself one question, many, many times. Whatever you see, ask yourself "What if . . . ?" For example, as you approach a blind corner, and are about to try and get your knee down, ask "What if there's a broken down car around the corner?" and choose your corner entry speed accordingly.

Another variation is:
How Can That . . . ?
As in "How can that affect me?" Try to be as imaginative as possible. Could a low flying aircraft have any effect on you? Probably not, but if you've noticed it then other drivers may have done too. Are they still looking at it? is it taking their concentration away from you?

So ask "How can that affect me?

Self-Teach Advanced Rider Training

2010-06-02T04:32:00.000-07:00

Over the next few posts I'll be adding the 'Games' content currently on the Cooper Bike Training web space.

These allow you to train yourself without the necessity of trailing an advanced motorcycling instructor or observer along behind.

Each 'game' is intended to work on a particular aspect of riding skill, awareness, or planning.

Games for grown-ups!
Playing games isn't just for children. Setting aside the "Football, more important than life or death" theory, there are a number of games you can play to help improve your riding.

Pick and choose from the list below. You will find that some of the games build on earlier exercises, so there are benefits to working through in order.

You may also find it helps to print this out and carry it with you for roadside reference, although there are 'armchair' exercises to do in the comfort of your home!

Where In The World?
If you've recently taken a CBT or test-level course, then you will probably have been encouraged to ride about a metre out from the kerb, or in the centre of your line. Real-world riding suggests that moving across the lane width can have significant benefits - but also serious risks.

Enter, two mantras:
• Safety - View - Advantage
• Safety - Stability - View

It doesn't particularly matter which you use, as long as you understand what you can gain from each.

Safety. Children are warned: "Run away from danger". For you, a grown-up, thinking rider, this means keeping as far away from danger as reasonably possible, e.g. if there's a car in the junction to your left, move across to the right of your lane. If there are two hazards (add an oncoming car to the example above) then separate them either in time, i.e. change your speed so that you only encounter one at a time, or distance, i.e. go equidistant between them.

Stability. Choosing the best surface to ride on, i.e good tarmac rather than oil, gravel, horse . . . dust, or sunken drain covers.

View. See and be seen. One classic example of this is following HGVs, several of which now sport warning signs: "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you". Try to make eye contact with other road users; if the driver at the junction mentioned above can't see you, it's far more likely that he will pull out! A more extreme example of 'View' is positioning for corners, which is really beyond the scope of this 'game'.

Advantage. Again, this is slightly more involved, but one example is adapting your following position to overtake when leaving a bend, using the advantages of an earlier view and the bike's superior acceleration.

In the second version: Safety - Stability - View, Ask yourself how you chose the position in the lane width you're riding in. Then 'project ahead' and choose - or plan - where you want to be, rather than deciding when you get there - by which time it's really too late to decide that you really ought to be somewhere else!

Mark My Words
Councils often go to great lengths to help road users, by erecting signs, placing 'cat's eyes' and painting markings on the road. Unfortunately, those same road markings may not give quite as much grip as good tarmac.

This game involves accuracy in your riding, as well as forward planning. Building on 'Where In The World', start to really choose the exact place on the road for you.

If you're riding towards a hazard for which the council have painted 'SLOW' on the road, ride between the painted letters rather than over them. After all, if you're braking you may need the best grip available.

Of course, to avoid these markings you will have to read them . . . and ponder on why exactly the council have bothered to paint 'SLOW' on the road. Don't get so engrossed in the game that you forget to watch what's happening in front!

Keep Out Of Line
As a variation on 'Mark My Words', when changing lanes try to avoid line markings or 'cat's eyes'.

P.S. With both these exercises, don't get so fixated on the road surface that you ignore everything else happening around you!

Pick A Gear, Any Gear
Keeping your speed constant, change up and down the gearbox. 2-3-4-5-4-3-2

By careful choice of revs, and care with the clutch, you should be able to make your changes without any noticeable change of speed. This exercise is good for extending the life of your chain, sprockets and clutch. It will also improve the journey for your pillion passenger.

Give yourself a mark from 1-10, for how smooth each gear change is, and try to be aware of what affects this.

Ink Bottle
Building on the smoothness of 'Pick A Gear', imagine that there's a bottle of ink on your pillion seat - without a lid (and that's not 'without a safety helmet').

Try to ride smoothly, so that the ink won't get spilt. Gentle acceleration, smooth gear-changes, ease the brakes on and off, come to a halt carefully avoiding that sudden, fork-compressing stop as you lose the last few mph. Known as 'taper braking', it involves gradually increasing and easing off braking pressure.

Again, this will also improve the journey for your pillion passenger.

Coal/Ink to Newcastle
So you're getting smoother at carrying that ink around, now start to reflect on your riding at the end of each journey: where could you have been smoother?

The Road Safety Druid

2010-05-25T05:24:00.000-07:00

It's not often you'll see the words 'road', 'safety' and 'druid' in the same line, so let's take just a few moments to treasure this rare time.

Yes, the Australian Road Safety Druid has made the headlines!

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/827498-druids-use-rock-and-magnets-to-stop-road-accidents

As well as using quartz standing stones to restore the area’s ‘natural energy’, the druids have come up with a cheaper modern-day option – burying plastic slates with magnets in the ground.

Arch druid Ilmar Tessmann was called in as a last resort after a high number of fatal accidents were reported on a straight stretch of motorway near Salzburg.

He said the crashes were caused by radiation from a nearby mobile phone mast disrupting the area’s normal ‘terrestrial’ radiation.

Installing the monoliths has successfully counteracted that, he claimed.

Austrian motorway authority ASFINAG said it was sceptical at first and kept the project a secret. But it went public after the druids’ efforts cut the number of deaths at the notorious crash site from six a year to zero in two years.

Mr Tessmann said: ‘Plastic was not available in ancient times but it seems to work well.’

But he warned: ‘It is a big job. These masts are now spreading negative radiation over 120 to 200 miles.’

Scientists, however, are not convinced.

‘Natural sciences need evidence. ‘Whatever can’t be measured, does not exist,’ Dr Georg Walach from the geophysics department at Leoben University in southern Austria said.

‘These energy lines and their flow cannot be grasped or measured therefore their existence is rejected by scientists.’

But Mr Tessmann claims the proof is in the results. ‘If you ask me to give you a scientific explanation, I can’t, I just know it works, and even critics can’t argue with our success rate,’ he said.

A road safety expert I know suggests that any reduction may be due to 'regression to the mean'. Aother road safety person commented that some road safety speed camera partnerships claim that installing cameras - which look strangely like grey stone monoliths - often achieve a reduction in accidents.

Perhaps the colour is what's important . . . ? ;)

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Multi-Storey Car Park

2010-05-22T05:24:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered who designed the multi-story car park?

Nope, neither had I :)

Until I happened across Popular Science magazaine, for April 1921 (I'm spending some time catching on reading - there's a bit of a backlog).

We're told that Fernand E. d'Humy has patented a throughly practical plan.

The key elements are that "The floors and ceilings are not on a line, for the floor of one corresponds with a point midway between the floor and ceiling of the other. Thus an inclined passage . . . leads only half a storey at a step."

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X-Prize

2010-05-22T04:54:00.000-07:00

The X-Prize is a competition currently underway in the USA. Its goal is to inspire a new generation of viable, safe, affordable and super fuel efficient vehicles that people want to buy.

http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/

$10 million in prizes will be awarded in September 2010 to the teams that win a rigorous stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 MPG energy equivalent (MPGe). We are proud to announce that the on-track Competition Phase will be hosted at Michigan International Speedway.

40 teams, from 11 coutries, have entered, although some have already fallen by the wayside.

One team is Swiss, with electric versions of the Monotracer, the newer descendant of the Ecomobile, both built by Peraves.

Monotracer (note: automatically retracting/deploying stabilisers)

Monotracer site

Ecomobile (after the ad.)

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The Eyes Have It - Improve Your Observation

2010-05-21T04:51:00.000-07:00

If you take 'advanced' training, it’s quite usual to be told that “You must improve your observation”.

The following system (the ‘Smith, Cummings, Sherman visual road search system’) ,with an addtion, will provide some simple, but effective strategies for doing so:

1. AIM HIGH IN STEERING
• "Look where you're going - go where you look."
• Look as far around an approaching corner as possible, you will tend to steer to that point. Look well ahead, check the road surface while it is still in the distance. Motorcyclists tend to spend much of their time looking at the road surface - and not looking for other hazards, especially near junctions.

So...
2. KEEP YOUR EYES MOVING
• Your eyes are the most efficient method you have for gathering information. Keep looking around - avoid becoming fixated on one hazard.

How else can you be aware of what is happening around you?
3. GET THE BIG PICTURE
• Make full use of your peripheral vision.
• Try this exercise: Look at object in centre of wall. While still looking at the object, be aware of everything else on wall.

Other people can cause problems, so...
4. MAKE OTHERS SEE YOU - SEE AND BE SEEN
• Use conspicuity aids, lights, signals, and horn when necessary - but be aware that they may not be noticed - or could be ignored! Use road positioning to your advantage - move out from behind obstacles. Reduce your speed. If in doubt, brake.
• Move through the other driver's field of view, moving objects attract attention – move across the lane width. Look for eye contact.

But if the worst happens...
5. ALWAYS LOOK FOR AN 'OUT'
• Look for an escape route - BEFORE you need it.

6. BE 'LEVEL-HEADED'
• When cornering, keep your eyes level, parallel to the ground. This will help to avoid disorientation.

Extra Points to consider:
• When approaching a hazard try to reduce the amount you have to concentrate on. For example, if a car is about to emerge from a side turning it is unwise to use a lot of your concentration on the road surface - it isn't going to change!
• Slow down! Half the speed gives you twice the amount of thinking time and reduces your braking distance by three-quarters. Reducing your speed by just 10mph will reduce your braking distance by half.
• Cover the brakes. This will reduce your reaction time and help avoid a tendency to 'grab' rather than apply the brakes.

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NLP - Neuro Linguistic Programming

2010-05-20T04:40:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I attended a one day introduction to NLP - Neuro Linguistic Programming - held at newbury College.

For anyone involved in education, whether formal (teachers, lecturers, trainers etc.) or voluntary (such as IAM Observers, RoSPA Tutors) it's a fascinating insight into how training can be acheived in ways other than 'chalk and talk'.

That's not to say that NLP is just about training or coaching (although the day included an good example of how coaching can be achieved without actually discussing 'technique'. It's actually far more, and I couldn't do justice to the day in just a few sentences.

Thoroughly recommended!

More details here:

http://www.newbury-college.ac.uk/courses/course/courseid/109596/discover-nlp/

Newbury College is less than two hours drive from a fair chunk of central and southern England. I don't know if other colleges run similar sessions; if not, this would be a reasonable trip and well worth the effort.

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Card Models

2010-05-17T04:53:00.000-07:00

Getting bored at home in the evenings?

Perhaps not!

A conversation at work reminded me of an aquaintance who moved back to the USA several years ago.

He makes his living from designing and retailing card models, particularly of aircraft and buildings.

Have a look here: https://www.fiddlersgreen.net/

There are loads there - including one based on a building I walk past most days while out with the dogs.

So if you are getting bored, start card modelling empire-building, with your own village or airfield.

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Police Camper Action!

2010-05-14T04:41:00.000-07:00

You gotta love it when a plan comes together - or whatever it was the bloke with the cigar used to say. But you have to grin when it doesn't, quite, go to plan . . .

With a top speed of just 80 mph it is more likely to cause traffic jams than strike fear into the hearts of Birmingham's hardened criminals.
But this camper van, complete with full West Midlands Police livery, has been deployed on the mean streets of Britain's second city.
Officers complain they are being openly mocked very time they are seen driving the 3.5-tonne motor home.

The five-berth Peugeot Elddis attracted curious glances when it was spotted outside the up-market Mailbox shopping centre in Birmingham this week.
It was responding to a theft at the centre's Armani store and collecting items of evidence and some stolen goods.

The Elddis usually comes complete with tasteful decor that looks more 'Butlins' than 'The Bill'.

However the force insists it is definitely not for sleeping on the job and the beds have been taken out.

Some disgruntled policemen have moaned they are more likely to raise chuckles than feel any collars in the eye-catching but unwieldy vehicle.

A source at West Midlands police said officers driving the camper van face ridicule every time they used it.

He said: 'They get mocked for driving it. When they turn up at a job people just laugh at them.

'It is supposed to be used for community events and shows but we are having to use it for responding to incidents now. No one likes having to drive it.'

The force defended the £17,000 caravan - one of five out of a total fleet of 1,600 vehicles - and stressed it was not used for emergency pursuits.

A spokesman said its extra headroom made it a 'versatile piece of kit' which can be used both for routine operations and as a 'mobile police station' where members of the public can meet officers in the community.

The spokesman said: 'West Midlands Police has an extensive fleet of vehicles, ranging from high performance cars to mobile community police stations.

'All drivers undertake relevant training, appropriate to the vehicles they are required to drive.

'Mobile community police stations such as these are not used to respond to emergency calls for help.

'They may, however, be used where deemed appropriate, by officers for conducting routine enquiries as was the case in this instance.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1278342/West-Midlands-Polices-latest-crime-fighting-weapon-motor-caravan.html

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Bus - Roof - Bridge - Observation

2010-05-13T05:51:00.000-07:00

BBC News tells us:

The incident led to rail delays of up to 60 minutes between London Paddington and Reading before services resumed just before 2000 BST.

The driver was the only person on board and was not injured.

Police said there was no structural damage to the bridge and the road was reopened after several hours.

Jenny Mulholland, landlady of the nearby Willow Tree pub, said: "I just happened to look out the window and saw a bus with no roof and thought, 'that's a sight you don't see very often'."

Engineers worked at the scene to restore normal rail services.

Why am I posting about it?

Two reasons:

First, the local radio DJ, giving out traffic information, who mentioned - several times - that the impact was having a 'Knock on' effect on train services. Probably could have phrased it better . . .

Second, I was intending a comment on observation - guy forgets (?) he's driving a double-decker bus, 'misses' (now I'm doing it) a low bridge and warning signs.

But the BBC also tell us:

The driver of a double-decker bus which had its roof ripped off when he drove it under a railway bridge has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

The 49-year-old man failed a breath test at the scene after he drove under the bridge in Langley, Slough.

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Motorcycle Crash Scene

2010-05-12T04:51:00.000-07:00

Some while back I posted a series of motorcycle security information.
http://the-ride-info.blogspot.com/2009/10/bike-security.html

This time it's what to do at the scene of a bike crash

Crash!

It's likely that, as a road user, you'll either be involved in, witness, or arrive at the scene of, a crash. The Highway Code gives the helpful advice that you should stop if involved in a crash, motorcyclists rarely have a choice . . .

If you are first on the crash scene, remember that the first, and most important, priority is to look after yourself - you're no use if you become another casualty.

You're already carrying a basic first aid kit with you: your brain and hands. A first aid course will give you the basic skills to use them at the crash scene. But having knowledge of basic first aid techniques may could in useful at many other times.

Hopefully, you'll also be carrying a mobile 'phone - the questions you'll be asked are detailed later.

Dealing with a crash scene - assuming you're in a fit state to do anything to help - is, in a way, similar to other hazard management on-road: identify the problems, prioritise, deal with them.

To help you do this, there are two simple reminders: 'ACT', and 'DR.ABC'.

ACT is a prompt list for accident scene management:
A Assess
C Control & Communicate
T Treat

DR.ABC is used as a reminder for first-aiders:
D Danger
R Response
A Airway
B Breathing
C Circulation

Use both to gether to help you deal with a crash scene:

D Danger (Assess)
Remember: You're no help to anyone else if you become a casualty too! So, protect the scene:
Are approaching drivers able to see the crash scene early and stop in time?
Is there any fuel spilt, or other danger of fire?
Switch off vehicle ignition - but don't touch any other switches.

D Danger (Control)
Unless other bystanders are helping, someone (ie you) will need to take control:
Ask other bystanders to warn traffic, give a 'slow down' arm signal, use torches or wave something white (eg carrier bags) at night.
If warning triangles are available, place them 100m from the scene, but don't use them on motorways.

Response (Assess)
How many casualties are there?
Is it possible that any casualties have been thrown from the scene, or wandered off?
Are they conscious?
Are unconscious casualties breathing?
Can you quickly see the extent of severe injuries?
Look for 'Hazchem' ('hazardous chemicals') markings on lorries.

Response (Communicate)
Contact the emergency services. In the UK you can use either '999' or the European '112' numbers. However, if you are on a motorway, it's best to use the emergency phones if you can as they identify your location to the motorway police control staff.

(More details of calling for help later)

ABC (Treat)
It's beyond the scope of The Ride to do more than give you an overview of very basic first techniques, and that overview can be no simpler than:
"Keep them breathing, stop them bleeding"

Remember that you are always carrying a first aid kit with you: Your brain & hands. The difficult part is knowing, and remembering, what to do.

If you suspect broken bones, try to keep the casualty still.

Casualties should not be moved unless in danger.

You can easily carry a few extra items in your pocket, such as disposable gloves and a face shield for rescusitation.

Traditional small (ie bike-underseat-sized) first aid kits should be supplemented with additional, large, wound dressings (a bandage with pad fixed to it) - it's always easy to use a bigger dressing than is needed.

A thorny question is whether or not to remove an unconscious casualty's helmet. The only reason this should be considered is if the casualty is not breathing and rescusitation is needed. Even then, it is important to support the casualty's head and neck as far as is possible when removing the helmet.

If the rider is unconscious but breathing then just support the rider's head to avoid aggravating any neck injury.

Calling the Emergency Services

Having assessed the situation, when you call for help you will talk to an operator, then ambulance controller, and will be asked a number of questions:

The Emergency Operator will ask:
Your phone number and which service you require.

Unless there is a fire, ask for 'ambulance' first, as police are automatically called to road crashes.

You will be asked for details of your location, and the number of casualties
If the call is made by mobile phone then your location can be identified, but it is easier and quicker if you can give an accurate location such as road numbers & place names.

The Ambulance Controller will ask:
- Your exact location (give landmarks if appropriate - including post code if known).
- If you are in an area that you are not familiar with, describe where you have come from and where you are going to, they will try and work the route out from the information you provide.

What has happened ( eg Road traffic Accident):
- Describe what's involved,
- Number and type of vehicles (eg lorry and motorcycle)
- How many casualties,whether patients are concious and breathing or not
- Type of injuries if known and severity.

Is anyone trapped ?
Any other hazards eg fire ?
Is the road blocked
Any other relevant information.

Depending on the situation, the ambulance controller may offer you guidance and instruction on helping the patient(s) involved. eg to prevent further blood loss or CPR instructions. Be aware that you could be the person that saves someones life by doing some basic first aid until the ambulance arrives.

Based on the information you provide - the ambulance controller may decide to send a range of resources, including responder cars, doctors, land ambulances or air ambulance. Stay calm and give as much factual information as possible.

The ambulance may be sent to you within a seconds of the first piece of information being passed. The controller will enter the information onto their system and this is sent immediately to the most appropriate ambulance resource, so don't worry if they continue to talk to you, there will not be a delay - the ambulance will already be on its way.

Crews aim to be with you as quickly as possible - obviously calls are categorised , but they aim to be at the most serious lifethreatening incidents within 8 minutes of the call being made, and aim to attend all other incidents that are not immediately life-threatening within 19 minutes.

If you don't make the call yourself, but ask someone else to do it, ensure they report back to you - particularly with an estimate of how long it will be before help arrives.

During that time, monitor the casualties; in particular look for any changes in their response, colour, etc. If there is any deterioration, keep regular records. Try to keep them warm.

If a casualty is conscious, don't give them anything to eat or drink.

When the emergency services arrive give them a brief description of the casualties and any other information they ask.

When casualties have been taken to hospital, don't forget to look after yourself.

Unfortunately, one of the consequences of a crash is usually paperwork. This can be easier to deal with if you can gather information at the crash scene.

If you have a camera, take pictures showing the scene, damage to vehicles, and any skidmarks etc. (it's worth getting a small disposable camera and carrying it on the bike. Don't forget that many mobile 'phones have built-in cameras);

Get contact details for any other drivers and witnesses: name, address, insurance details if appropriate. (If you have a mobile 'phone, you may wish to check any numbers you're given);

Note the name and number of any police officers attending;

Note down the make, model, and registration numbers of any other vehicles involved.

Draw a map or plan of the scene and any signs, road markings, etc.

Note weather, road, and traffic conditions,

If you are asked by the police to make a statement, you don't have to make one immediately.

Oi, You!
Contact Details
A recent suggestion is to list 'ICE' ('In Case of Emergency') numbers in your mobile phone's directory, which can be used by emergency personnel to contact next of kin.

If you have any medical condition which emergency medical staff would need to know, consider using an 'SOS Talisman' or similar.

As a form of 'insurance', if you're not already then consider becoming a blood donor and bone marrow donor.

Finally, looking on the 'worst case scenario', consider carrying a donor card. If you do, you should discuss your wishes with your next of kin.

Phone Home!
If you're going to be late home, or if a journey is taking longer than expected, phone to let other people know. Otherwise they'll worry.

(C)M Palmer 2010

With thanks to South Central Ambulance for additional information

Bike Safety Web Sites - Help, Please

2010-05-06T04:32:00.000-07:00

Now's your chance to tell me what you think.

Err . . . I'd better narrow that down a bit :)

Below, screen shots and links to a pair of bike safety web sites.

If you have a few moments, could you follow both links, and let me know by adding a 'comment' what you think of each?

http://www.maxrider.co.uk/countrymile.htm

http://www.think.norfolk.gov.uk/Motorcyclists/Campaigns/2009-Campaigns/Hugger-Campaign

So there you are; two very different web sites.

I'd really appreciate your comments, even if you usually read the blog through RSS rather than a direct 'visit' to the page.

Go on! Click 'add comment'. Please ;)

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Protective Equipment for Riders

2010-05-06T02:15:00.000-07:00

A campaign informing riders and raising their awareness regarding the benefits of a good motorcycling equipment.

Motorcycling apparel can help motorcycle, scooter and moped riders reducing the effects of accidents. Nonetheless the benefits of good quality motorcycling clothing are still widely underestimated.

With the aim of encouraging a wider take-up of protective gear ACEM, the Motorcycle Industry in Europe, has released a booklet in seven languages with indications on which equipment to choose. This brochure has been developed within the eSUM Project ensuing from the cooperation between ACEM and four European motorcycling capitals (London, Paris, Barcelona and Rome). The goal is the identification, practical demonstration and adoption of measures for the safer use of powered two-wheelers in the inner-city traffic.

While much is being done on aspects such as vehicle safety features, training and awareness raising, improvements in road safety can be achieved also by promoting protective motorcycling wear adapted to the type and the use of vehicle.

Most riders use helmets. However moped riders and commuters tend to neglect the benefits of protective equipment in terms of safety and comfort. In Mediterranean countries, for example, due to their warm climates, users are still widely unaware that good apparel can combine comfort and safety.

The goal of this booklet is to provide some simple guidelines supported by scientific evidence to help increasing the number of motorcyclists equipped with appropriate protective clothing. According to evidence gathered by MAIDS*, if involved in an accident, riders wearing appropriate protective gear are likely to reduce injuries. A «Protection Factor» for every piece of garment indicates the percentage of MAIDS accidents, in which the protective gear has mitigated or even better prevented injuries. Knowledge about the benefits of wearing the correct apparel will help users in making the right choice and contribute to their safety.

Leaflet (English): http://www.acem.eu/PPE/html/EN_eSUM_ppe.pdf

More: http://www.acem.eu/cms/ppe.php

Change!

2010-05-05T02:10:00.000-07:00

Couldn't help but be amused by my local Conservative MP's election material.

It calls for 'change'.

Ah well, if that's what he wants, Lib Dem David Rendell it will be then . . .

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Training Scrappage

2010-05-01T05:04:00.000-07:00

With HM Govt's car 'scrappage' scheme now closed down, I see another 'gap' in teh market: 'Training' scrappage.

No payout from the government, but you get the option of scrapping your own skills and riding off with a new set of skills!

Of course, that relies on there being a suitable supply of new skills . . .

. . . Which, of course, there aren't. What usually happens in a bike crash is that a rider just runs out of their existing skill, they 'over-ride' themselves.

The root problem is usually a lack of forward planning, not just in the traditional sense of 'observation and acinticipation', but in a lack of expectation and preparedness.

In other words, if you're riding up to a blind bend, don't simply 'observe' the bend, identify the limit point - and so the 'correct' speed - you should also expect a problem around the corner (an obstruction, or the bend tightening) and be prepared to take action (have the mental plan ready, know which control actions you'll need - steering, head turn, braking, whatever).

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New study reveals motorcycle deaths were down dramatically in 2009

2010-04-30T05:24:00.000-07:00

From:
http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news.php?NewsID=21192#loaded

A report has been released in the US by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), which reveals that motorcycle fatalities declined in 2009 by at least 10%. Based on preliminary data, GHSA is projecting that motorcycle fatalities declined from 5,290 in 2008 to 4,762 or less in 2009. The projection is based on data from 50 states and the District of Columbia. The declines come on the heels of 11 straight years of dramatic increases in motorcyclist deaths.

The new report – the first state-by-state look at motorcycle fatalities in 2009 – was completed by Dr James Hedlund of Highway Safety North. Dr Hedlund surveyed GHSA members, who reported fatality numbers for every state. While data are still preliminary, most states have quite complete fatality counts for at least nine months, making GHSA confident to forecast that deaths are down at least 10% for the full year.

GHSA is projecting declines in approximately three-fourths of states. The declines are notable in many states and in every region of the country. In California, for example, based on data for the first nine months, motorcycle deaths are predicted to be down 29%, while Florida and New York are down 27 and 16%, respectively.

As part of the report, GHSA members were asked to suggest reasons for the decline. States offered several reasons, including: less motorcycle travel due to the economy; fewer beginning motorcyclists; increased state attention to motorcycle safety programs; and poor cycling weather in some areas.

GHSA chairman, Vernon Betkey, said: “Clearly the economy played a large role in motorcycle deaths declining in 2009. Less disposable income translates into fewer leisure riders, and we suspect that the trend of inexperienced baby boomers buying bikes may have subsided.”

Betkey noted that, as with decreases in the overall highway fatality rate, progress with motorcyclist deaths can be attributed to more than just the economy. Betkey continued: “Multiple states indicated that because of the increases in motorcyclist deaths from 1997 to 2008, addressing this area has been a priority for state highway safety programs.”

As more than half of motorcycle fatal crashes do not involve another vehicle, states have been increasingly funding targeted enforcement to ensure that motorcyclists are in compliance with laws regarding endorsements, required insurance and helmet usage. State and federal governments also have stepped up efforts to address drunk motorcyclists.

Amazingly honest that they don't attribute the reduction to one main 'cause'. perhaps they don't have speed camera partnerships over there? :)

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Big Elephants . . .

2010-04-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

. . . Are Useful

Who says?

I say!

After reading the book of the same name. To give it the full title:

Big elephants are useful, a compendium of mnemonics and idioms. By SJ Hartland

And, of course, that's a mnemonic for spelling 'beauty' etc.

It also has a 'motoring safety' section. You may have heard the acronym 'COAST' for:

Concentration
Observation
Attitude
Space
Time

The book includes 'CAT', for:
Concentrate
Anticipate
Tolerate

And an expansion of the 4xS principle, which I use as:
Safety
Smooth
System
Speed (although many people prefer 'system' as the second one)

The book suggests 5xS
Safety
Smooth
System
Style
Speed

- a variation on the oft-mentioned but rarely understood 'gloss' or 'finesse'.

Last one: 'Up up and away'

Any ideas? It's for parking your car on a hill! If the car's facing uphill, turn the front wheels away from the kerb, the idea being that if the handbrake fails then the car won't roll back down the hill.

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Keith Code Article

2010-04-29T04:39:00.001-07:00

Keith Code and the California Superbike School regular mail out articles.

His most recent is 'Electronics Or How a Chip Can Save Your Bacon'

In it he details the development of the various training bikes and rigs he's developed over the years, including teh famous 'No BS Bike'.

But this article is about what he considers the most important bike so far . . .

As a purist, my viewpoint on competing with sophisticated electronics on road racing motorcycles is: get rid of them. On the other hand, they’ve cut down on highside crashes and injuries, a real blessing in that sense. However, my area is rider training so let’s talk about how computer chips and an obscene amount of horsepower can help you become a better rider.

Several months ago it was announced that the California Superbike School was going to put students on the new BMW S1000RR. Hold on - you’ve got to be joking - that’s the most powerful liter bike ever produced for public consumption. It is the only one that puts over 180 bhp to the ground and will propel it through space at 200 mph. I wouldn’t call the reaction to that announcement actual hate mail but let’s just say there were some strong opinions concerning Keith Code’s sanity.

My current unequivocal statement: For track-based, high performance rider improvement, this ultra fast bike (which also handles with the best of the class) tempered and tamed by its state of the art electronics is the most fantastic training aid ever developed—period!

. . . in 1984 when I built the first training aid, the Panic Braking Trainer. oach riders on recovering from a locked up front wheel. Two years later in 1986 I built the first On-Board Camera Bike which gives the closest-to-real view of how you are riding.

. . . 1997, I conceived and had built the Lean & Slide Bike trainer. It provides rapid correction of body position problems and trains riders on how to save rear-end slides due to misapplication of throttle.

In 1999 . . . I began work on the electronic Control Trainer. It’s a stationary bike, connected to a computer, that walks the rider through all of the combinations of braking, downshifting and upshifting, both with and without the clutch. I’m still working the bugs out of that one.

. . . No BS Bike which has two sets of handlebars . . . gave riders a definite feel for how their unconscious bar inputs affect the bike and how positive and accurate the steering is when only using the bars to change directions.

And finally, . . . designed another stationary training bike we affectionately call the Fukka. The bike flicks side to side on air rams to simulate steering and lean and a variety of body positioning techniques we’ve developed . . .

Add to those 6, the S1000RR and you’ve got all 7 proven training aids that exist and the last is, by far, the best.

So far this year, over 400 or our students have run 49,000 track miles at 4 tracks in 13 days of riding. The training was conducted in all sorts of weather, including rain, on our 2010 BMW S1000RRs fitted with Dynamic Traction Control and Race ABS systems. Yes, we run the first session in Rain Mode which limits the power output to “only” 150 bhp. After the first ride students are allow to go for the full power.

The bike provides an electronic cushion that forgives the rider some of the more common errors. This curtails panic; riders have that cushion and it provides time to gather themselves together before it escalates to out-of-control proportions. At the same time, NO, the bike cannot and will not forgive truly stupid riding.

Here are the results. Compared to the 600s we’ve used for the past 30 years; 12 million miles of track training; over 125,000 students; at 106 tracks around the world…our crash ratio has reduced by 400%. In real world numbers it looks like this: Last year we had 1.2 crashes per per school day average. This year so far, it’s down to a very convincing 0.3 per day.

Let me point out once again, bone stock, these bikes put out 193 bhp, add an Akrapovic pipe and that number is 204.5 bhp. Horsepower is not the cause of crashing and the S1000RR is the best high performance rider training aid ever invented. I rest my case.

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Road Safety Advertising

2010-04-28T05:19:00.000-07:00

Much road safety advertising is of the 'crash and burn' variety, working on scaring the viewer.

There are notable exceptions, such as the DfT's 'Perfect Day' (if you haven't seen it, there'll be a link from the 'labels' listed on this page), and it's recent motorcycle (or 'motorcyclist') awareness ad. currently screening on TV.

Here's another which takes a different viewpoint, from the Sussex Safer Roads group..

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Vision Zero?

2010-04-27T05:12:00.000-07:00

Are you aware of Vision Zero?

It's an ambitious - many would say unrealistic, impossible even - ideal, of reducing road deaths to zero. It gained momentum in Sweden, and has been picked up over the last few years across the world.

One 'problem', through, is that motorcycles sit very uneasily into the ideal, as it heavily features 'safer roads' and 'safer vehicles', while motorcyclist deaths usually feature 'unsafe riders' . . .

However, here's a list from iRAP, of ways motorcycling could be made safer.

http://toolkit.irap.org/default.asp?page=roaduser&id=6

In many countries, motorcycles are a popular form of transport. Motorcycles are relatively cheap compared to other forms of motorised vehicles, and provide mobility to millions of people worldwide.
However, unlike other forms of motorised transport, there is very little protection for motorcycle riders and passengers. When crashes do occur, they often have very severe consequences, especially at higher speeds or in situations where larger vehicles are involved. The chance of a motorcycle rider or passenger surviving a collision with a car is greatly reduced at speeds over 30 km/h.

Even in countries where motorcycles form only a small part of traffic, motorcycle casualties can form a significant part of the crash problem, and the risk of injury or death is many times greater for motorcyclists than for other forms of transport.

In many low and middle-income countries motorcycles are a major means of transport and their requirements should be reflected in road design and traffic management measures. In high-income countries motorcycling is often a more minor transport mode but also a significant leisure pursuit, and the two groups of motorcyclists present very different risks and require different countermeasures to improve their safety.

The page goes on to detail about 20 'treatments' and their potential for casualty reduction.

Now, if you haven't already Googled 'vision zero', as soon as you have search for 'risk compensation' too . . .

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Money buys advertising

2010-04-26T05:06:00.000-07:00

Nothing new there, then.

But I recently saw a novel advertising idea which relies on having money without actually costing money.

It's for a local taxi firm, and involves smaller stickers on one pound coins. (It's also probably illegal, defacing the coin of realm or something . . . )

I guess they spread them around the town, as they take punters 'in' for a night out - but I can't remember where I picked it up as part of my change during a purchase!

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Delivery Mopeds

2010-04-23T06:14:00.000-07:00

The use of mopeds for pizza delivery riders is well-established in the UK. The first company in Newbury was 'Heroes', and I ran a session for a couple of their riders in the days just before CBT came in.

But the French have riders delivering newspapers!

All hi-tech stuff, with electronic mapping software managing their routes etc.

Sud Ouest, one of France’s leading regional daily newspaper groups, has successfully increased the number of home deliveries of newspapers its agents can make, and at the same time made its deliveries much more efficient, by introducing StreetServicer, an advanced route optimisation system from MapMechanics, a UK company specialising in logistics solutions and geographic information systems.

Crucially, StreetServicer has enabled the group to re-optimise and restructure many of its existing delivery rounds without radically changing them – essential in an operation where the individual self-employed delivery agents, or “porteurs”, have extensive local knowledge and experience of their own areas, and where a total change in delivery patterns would have brought more problems than benefits.

“StreetServicer has proved to be exactly the solution we need,“ says Philippe Sender, logistics manager at Sud Ouest. “So far as we know, there is nothing else quite like it on the market.”

Home delivery of newspapers remains an important feature of daily life in France, and Sud Ouest delivers to around 120,000 customers in an area stretching from La Rochelle in the north down to the border with Spain.

Deliveries are carried out by self-employed teams, usually using mopeds in urban areas and cars in more rural areas. On average they make 180 deliveries a day each, and some make up to 300. All newspapers must arrive no later than 7.30 am.

Two factors prompted the company to look for a more efficient solution. It wanted to take over some deliveries that were previously made by post, ensuring earlier delivery and saving cost; and it was required to take responsibility for delivering certain national newspapers in its area. This second demand was driven by a nationwide political initiative to find a more environmentally friendly method of newspaper distribution.

For some years Sud Ouest has used TruckStops, the routing and scheduling system from MapMechanics, to plan newspaper deliveries to shops and kiosks. “We have been very pleased with TruckStops on our store deliveries,” says Philippe Sender, “so we tried applying it to the home deliveries as well.”

He adds: “However, we found that it was not the ideal solution for this very special requirement. It always attempts to produce the most efficient routes possible, but in this application, that would have involved too much change from our existing practice. We wanted a system that would allow us more flexibility in deciding how much to change and how much to keep the same.

“Although TruckStops can do this to some extent, we hoped we would find a system that would approach the scheduling task in terms of street segments rather than individual points.”

If possible, Sud Ouest wanted a product that would integrate effectively with GeoConcept, the powerful geographic information system, which it was already using with TruckStops and for various other types of location-related business analysis. GeoConcept had proved invaluable in identifying those customers who received their newspapers by post, but would be suitable for switching to direct deliveries.

It also hoped to find a product that would take advantage of NAVTEQ street-level map data, which is its mapping of choice. As it happens, MapMechanics distributes both GeoConcept and NAVTEQ data in the UK, and therefore has extensive knowledge of them.

Sud Ouest explained its requirements to MapMechanics, which suggested that its StreetServicer solution would be suitable. This is a specialised optimisation system for scheduling the movements of people who make multiple calls on the same roads or streets, whether driving or on foot. It is designed to integrate with GeoConcept, and is fully compatible with NAVTEQ data. For its latest version MapMechanics has taken special account of the requirements of Sud Ouest and other users with similar optimisation requirements.

“StreetServicer allows us to insist that a specific porteur will continue to serve a given area,” says Philippe Sender. StreetServicer does this by applying a concept called a “preferential penalty”, which allows the user-company to stipulate that specific existing routes must be retained, even if the objective result might seem less than optimal.

MapMechanics’ director Mary Short explains: “Whilst some scheduling optimisation systems allow users a degree latitude in terms of ring-fencing existing or preferred operations, StreetServicer takes the concept of ‘preferred routes’ to a new degree of sophistication. This is especially important where the people doing deliveries have existing relationships with customers or recipients.”

Not only does StreetServicer offer this flexibility; it also allows users to produce routes where the priority is either the time taken or the distance covered (or a mixture of the two). And it takes full account of the minimum and maximum work load that each person or vehicle can take on – the quantity of goods they can carry, vehicle capacity, distance travelled and time available.

Initially Sud Ouest deployed StreetServicer to handle around 30,000 deliveries in the Bordeaux area, which is covered by 130 porteurs. The company has been able to add a number of new routes to accommodate almost 2,000 new customers; yet only about 20 per cent of the existing routes have been altered – which has been sufficient to meet Sud Ouest’s objectives.

“The roll-out has been very successful,” says Christine Duquesne, business analyst at Sud Ouest specialising in logistics and geographic information systems. “Our routes are more efficient now, and StreetServicer has helped to show up mistakes that were not evident before. In one case, for instance, it revealed that a porteur was travelling 10km further than was necessary – a significant excess on an urban operation.”

She says StreetServicer helps the company to avoid the “domino effect” that can arise with more conventional scheduling systems. “If you alter one route, the changes could affect all the others. With StreetServicer, we can control this much better, and prevent it from becoming a problem.”

Christine Duquesne says the logistics platform managers have been happy with the new system. “They have told us it works well.” She says it has also reduced the amount of time it takes to plan the routes for the platform, and makes it easier for the company to negotiate with the porteurs to implement the new routes. The optimisation process will be repeated periodically as delivery patterns change, so the time-saving will apply on every occasion.

The StreetServicer system is now being extended to the rest of the Sud Ouest region – a process that should be completed within a couple of months.

“MapMechanics spent a lot of time ensuring that StreetServicer produced the right result for us,” says Philippe Sender. “Now we are sure it is exactly what we want.”

He adds that it will be possible in future to achieve even further benefits. “MapMechanics has proved itself eager to meet our requirements, and is therefore continuing to develop the software.”

He says other regional newspaper groups are looking for new systems for home deliveries, “and they will certainly be interested in StreetServicer.”

Map Mechanics

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Another . . .

2010-04-15T04:50:00.000-07:00

And here's the afrementioned 'crash and burn' type ad.

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Perfect Day

2010-04-15T04:48:00.000-07:00

Just in case you haven't seen it, and now the better weather will be encouraging more riders out on the roads:

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Think!

2010-04-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

Seen the recent DfT 'Think!' motorcycle ad?

It's very different from previous 'crash and burn' types, and is more along the theme of the excellent 'Perfect Day'.

Watch here, with the ad itself on the end of the 'How . . . ' section.

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