IAM RoadSmart, the UK's leading road safety charity with a focus on improving driving and riding skills, is an official supporter of TyreSafe, the UK’s not-for-profit tyre safety awareness organisation.  

Formed in 1956, IAM RoadSmart has 60 years experience in making Britain’s roads safer by improving driver and rider skills through coaching and education. With more than 200 groups nationwide and 7000 drivers and riders actively participating in its acclaimed and widely-recognised courses, IAM RoadSmart is considered the leading advanced driver training provider in the UK. Having direct contact with thousands of motorists every day, a significant presence in the media and being a respected source of information for road safety policymakers and stakeholders,

IAM RoadSmart CEO, Sarah Sillars, OBE and Hon FIMI, said: “IAM RoadSmart’s mission is to improve driving and riding skills to help reduce the number of accidents and incidents on Britain’s roads. Over the course of the charity’s illustrious 60-year history, our trainers and coaches have enhanced the skills of nearly half-a-million drivers and we have ambitions to increase the number of participants through a broader offering. Educating drivers and riders on all aspects of road safety will remain an essential part of that, and access to TyreSafe’s expertise and materials will be a considerable asset.”

Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, said: “IAM RoadSmart is not only the pre-eminent provider of driver training in the UK, it’s also one of the most respected names in the automotive industry. Its official support for TyreSafe reflects the growing number of organisations acknowledging the need to raise the tyre safety awareness agenda among Britain’s motorists. Tyres are one of a vehicle’s primary safety features and need regular maintenance checks to ensure they are roadworthy - we welcome IAM RoadSmart’s support in spreading this message to Britain’s motorists.”

TyreSafe raises awareness of the dangers of defective and illegal tyres.
The not-for-profit organisation recommends drivers check their tyres’ pressure, condition and tread depth at least once a month and before long journeys, and offers advice and information relevant to all motorists. 

It’s time for a new chapter of the Virtual Grand Prix season, and this weekend you could enjoy a new event at Silverstone circuit. The Gresini Racing Team will be on the grid with two of its raising stars: Nicolò Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini) for the Moto2 Category and Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini) for the Moto3 one. 

You can watch our riders from 3pm on motogp.com and esport.motogp.com (for free and with no register), and on selected TV broadcasters including Sky Italy, Canal+ in France, DAZN (in Spain, Italy and DACHS), BT Sport in the UK, ServusTV in Austria and Germany, Viasat in Sweden, NBC in the USA, Fox Brazil and ESPN in Latin America, Motorsport TV Russia, Eurosport India, Fox Asia, Fox Australia, TEN, and SuperSport across Africa.

I used to like the idea of being spontaneous and also did not fancy using a sat nav however once you have tried to get a room somewhere to find you cannot get one as they are full due to a local festival, over priced (Italy circa 2001, 11 pm in a roadside motel style @ €175 comes to mind) , you cannot find one (sounds strange I know but there are miles and miles of nothing in parts of Germany and France - well apart from excellent scenery) and to book into somewhere and find it awful, we now do as above - i.e. find a final destination and plan route around it. 

We use a combination of Biker Friendly accommodation on www.thebikerguide.co.uk and if there is nothing in the area we want we also look on other accommodation websites. 

We did a trip a couple of years ago with the final destination being Colditz Castle, which you can stay in. Went in July for 3-ish weeks with everything booked, set into sat nav and you know what - thank goodness as it rained everyday but one. We would set off with the next place in the sat nav - take off route when we wanted and arrive at destination stress free.

We stayed at some great places, travelled fantastic roads and routes, ate well, found our way easy even with the many roadwork diversions and would pass by others at the side of the road battling with a big wet soggy map to find their way. We did also pack a map as back-up or to look at a vaster area on a larger scale, however we are happy to say it return dry and not soggy. 

I think once you have used a sat nav on a big trip which gets you to destinations easy, gets you out of a diversion and back on route, helps you navigate/find food and petrol, you wonder what you did before the United States militaryreleased the technology for GPS!

In fact travelling without the technology and maps on hand is a gamble... 

Motorbike insurer Bikesure, recently surveyed 1,000 commuters in London and found a 141% increase in the ownership of low-emission mopeds, scooters and motorcycles ahead of the new measures to improve air quality in the capital.

The survey also revealed that:

• 82% of Londoners have changed or thought about changing their usual mode of transport
• 31% of commuters won’t be able to afford to drive/ride in the ULEZ anymore
• 32% of commuters won’t drive/ride in the ULEZ as much as they used to

The respondents were also asked how they felt about the ULEZ:

• 47% of Londoners think it is a good idea and they don’t mind it being brought in
• 45% of Londoners can understand the reasons, but feel frustrated by it
• 8% of Londoners think it’s a bad idea

The ULEZ, which was introduced on April 8 2019, means vehicles driving through a designated area around London need to meet new, tighter exhaust emission standards or pay a daily charge.

Drivers don't have to pay if their vehicle meets the minimum emission standards (Petrol: Euro 4 / Diesel Euro 6). Otherwise, they will incur a daily charge of £12.50 or risk a fine of £160 if it fails to meet these standards. The ULEZ is also set to expand further in to the North and South Circular Roads in 2021.

A spokesperson for Bikesure said:

“The results that have come through from the survey are quite interesting, and show Londoners have been getting prepared for this.

“They are also opting for low emissions mopeds, scooters and motorcycles to travel around the city when the ULEZ is introduced.

“This could be a sign of changes happening in the industry as more, and cheaper electric and low-emission models are entering the market. The next five to 10 years will be a very interesting time.”

To see the findings in full, head here

article supplied