as new report show practically no change in casualty figures.

IAM RoadSmart is increasingly concerned that disruption to government, in part caused by Brexit, has forced road deaths down the political agenda, as the latest road crash statistics issued today (26 September) show no real change in recent years.

IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, has expressed disappointment that there has been practically no headway made in six years in the levels of those killed in road crashes on our roads.

This morning the Department of Transport announced there were 1,784 reported road deaths in 2018, compared to 1,793 reported in 2017 – which, although being 1% down over the previous period, is in real terms only a disappointingly marginal reduction.

There were 25,511 people seriously injured in reported road traffic accidents in 2018, compared to 24,831 in 2017 – a very discouraging 3% increase over 12 months.

There were 160,597 people seriously injured in reported road traffic accidents in 2018, compared to 170,993 casualties of all severities a year ago.

Although IAM RoadSmart welcomes this 6% reduction in overall casualties the charity feels it is not good enough.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “The uncertainty surrounding Brexit has swallowed up the attention of the decision makers for too long now, which means people are still dying on our roads at the same level as six years ago – as a developed nation, that is pretty disgraceful.

“It is really time the government renews its commitment to this issue which is affecting all communities in society, young and old, and make sure we don’t continue to kill and injure people in ways that could so easily be prevented.”

Neil added: “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and it is clear that working in partnership to promote it is the key to returning to critical, long term downward trends. More incentives for post-test training, consistent enforcement of new motoring laws, accelerating the uptake of AEB (autonomous emergency braking) equipped cars and promoting best practice in driving for work are just a few examples of the quick gains that could be achieved.”

OUTSTANDING TEAM EFFORT FOR THE APRILIAS AT ARAGÓN

ALEIX BATTLES WITH THE TOP TEN AND FINISHES SEVENTH FIVE SECONDS FROM THE PODIUM

ANDREA, SUFFERING WITH PAIN IN HIS SHOULDER, BATTLES AND FINISHES JUST OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN


At Aragón Aprilia takes the best result of the season, with Aleix Espargaró finishing seventh, but close to the leaders, and Andrea Iannone, still suffering with pain in his shoulder after the Misano accident, finishing eleventh.

After the good sessions yesterday that had placed him on the second row, Aleix started off strong, holding onto his position and fending off an attack by Rossi, staying close to the group of top riders battling for podium positions. The battle with Crutchlow for sixth continued all the way to the last lap when Aleix recovered ground, finishing in the Brit’s slipstream but, more importantly, keeping the gap to five and a half seconds behind the second place finisher in a race where the winner – Marquez – was in a race by himself. This is a great result that placed Aleix among the protagonists in the Spanish race and it is an excellent way to head off for the overseas tour.

Throughout the race Andrea had to deal with pain in the left shoulder he injured in Misano. He gritted his teeth and, although having to dose out his strength, he remained consistently in the positions battling for the top ten. He missed it by less than half a second, but after a nice battle where he prevailed over Petrucci precisely on the final lap. The week-long break before flying out to Thailand will be essential for his full physical recovery.

Bradley Smith, in the race with the third RS-GP, finished nineteenth, completing the work he had planned with the Test Team.


ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"Today’s result was good. The team and I gave 100% and we deserve it. At the start, with the fuel tank full, I didn’t have the best feeling with the front end, but things got better and better after a few laps. I had fun. Battling in the leading group is always nice, although the characteristics of the track undoubtedly helped us."

ANDREA IANNONE
"This weekend I had to grit my teeth and even in the race, the pain in my shoulder forced me to save my energy, especially when grip began to decrease. I am pleased with the team result, but we need to keep working hard, first and foremost, to reduce the gap in acceleration and top speed compared to Aleix. We can’t let this race fool us. This is a track that suits the Aprilia well and we still have a long way to go."

BRADLEY SMITH
"It was a good day for Aprilia, the result of hard work by everyone. I am happy, first of all, about finishing the race, since in my last wild cards that had not been possible. We took a shot in the dark, starting with an entirely new setting. It was also a functional decision because of the tests we’ll be doing here in a few days, during which we want to give Aleix and Andrea a little extra help for the rest of the season."

At the chequeredflag the gap with second-place rider Garzo was more than two seconds, with the Spaniard now second in the standings 19 points behind Ferrari. There is now only Valencia left, the second and last doubleheader to wrap up the season in November.
 
Lorenzo Savadori, on the other hand, was 11^that the chequered flag and after staying with the big group and with a good battle with Terol he got to the chequered flag side by side with Terol, missing a top-ten finish for a split second.
 
It was a perfect weekend for Team Trentino Gresini, who will now get into an almost two-month break before the season finale in Valencia.

Celebrate the historic 60th Anniversary of the 59 Club with the official 59 Club CD album release from Veetone Records, featuring 30 rock n roll classics and rarities, all originally issued on UK labels in the 1950’s and early 60’s.
 
When the Reverend Bill Shergold rode his motorbike across London in 1962 to the iconic Ace Cafe, he had one goal in mind, to try and entice some likeminded motorcyclists to join his youth club based in Hackney.  Little did he realise that he was laying the foundations for what was to become the largest and most famous motorcycle club in the world!
 
The 30 track CD album features 30 original recordings by artists including Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Duffy Power, Jack Scott, Frankie Ford, Johnny Carroll, Dion, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Haley, Carl Perkins, Tommy Sands, Billy Fury, Vince Taylor plus many more.
 
This is the soundtrack of the Ton Up era, the subsequent Rocker culture, and of the establishing of the club that welcomed motorcyclists, the now legendary, 59 Club!
 
Available from Friday 6th September 2019, as part of the annual Ace Cafe Reunion, at the cafe and on-line (+ P&P)
 
Soon to feature on  Ace Cafe Radio 

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has called for the issue of deaths of young people in car crashes to be given equal attention to knife crime and drugs in government plans.

The charity reiterated its call for tighter restrictions on young new drivers in response to the government’s research into how the number of serious and fatal crashes can be reduced.

Friday saw IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest road safety charity, make its submission to a road safety inquiry by the House of Commons Transport Committee, which recently launched an investigation into ways of cutting the number of crashes involving those under 25.

In its submission, Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “The risk factors are well known; lack of experience in all traffic conditions including rural roads, darkness and poor weather, distraction by peer passengers or mobile phone use and alcohol. 

“Choosing restrictions to limit these risk factors should be the key objective of the government in creating a new graduated licensing system that is practical, affordable and effective in reducing young driver road deaths and injuries.”

IAM RoadSmart is calling for a number of measures to be introduced which would tackle this tragic issue and ensure young drivers are less at risk when they take to the road for the first time:

•        Road safety education should be part of the National Curriculum and theory and hazard perception training and testing should take place within the education system

•        IAM RoadSmart supports a 12-month minimum learning period with an online learning log for learner drivers to complete prior to taking the practical test

•        The practical driving test should include driving on high speed and rural roads

•        IAM RoadSmart strongly supports the development of a post-test phase to the licensing system. After passing the practical test, refresher and eco-driving lessons must be taken before full license status is granted

•        Alongside these interventions IAM RoadSmart supports graduated licence controls in the first months of driving to allow only one peer passenger (but no limit on older passengers) and a zero blood-alcohol limit

•        IAM RoadSmart does not support night-time curfews on young drivers as they reduce opportunities to gain experience, impact on the economy and job prospects and raise problems of enforcement

•        IAM RoadSmart is ready to provide its knowledge and expertise in developing the content of the minimum learning period and post-test interventions

Neil added: “Successive governments have brushed this issue under the carpet which is disgraceful as road crashes are the biggest killer of young people today, yet it gets scant attention in terms of time and effort at the top level of government and in the media compared to knife crime or drugs.

“It is time that the government took this seriously at last and show that it cares for the young people of the UK by supporting fundamental changes to save these valuable young lives.”