Inexperience (86%) and overconfidence (86%) are the main reasons that new drivers are the riskiest group of road users, according to the latest poll from road safety charity IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists).  Respondents also rated peer pressure (67%), immaturity (52%) and shortfalls in the learning process (45%) as being important risk factors.

Sixty-eight per cent of respondents lack faith in the current driving test as being an adequate system to produce safe drivers.  There is a high degree of dissatisfaction with the current system for learning to drive. When asked to rate how well new drivers are taught using a scale of one to ten (1 being poor, 10 being ideal), half (57%) of respondents rated it as a 5 or below.

When asked about the idea of a minimum learning period, respondents’ opinion is split.  Thirty-one per cent believe it should be six months with thirty per cent believing it should be at least a year.

Poll results showed support for restrictions such as stricter drink-drive limits for younger drivers.  Forty-nine per cent of respondents believe that the drink-drive limit should be lower for younger drivers.

When it comes to the number of passengers younger drivers can carry, seventy-one per cent support restrictions on the in the first few months after passing the practical test.

Attitudes were more divided on night time curfews with forty-seven per cent support a nightime curfew while forty-five per cent do not want to see any curfew enforced for young people.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Our survey has shown that sixty-nine per cent of motorists lack faith in the current system which marks a clear need to review the learning process.  It is clear that motorists want to see more restrictions on younger drivers, but this will not solve the issue alone. There needs to be a lifelong learning approach to driving that starts at school and continues through experience and coaching into the higher risk early days of solo driving. The more experience of driving that young people get the safer they will be in the long run.”

Leading Helmet manufacturer Arai is the latest brand to back the inaugural Classic TT Races on the Isle of Man in 2013. Arai, which is distributed by Moto Direct in the UK, will receive a series of high profile sponsor benefits including trackside, programme, web and race guide advertising.

The company will be providing its well-established race service to the race paddock, which includes helmet servicing and replacement throughout the race fortnight. Many of the established Classic TT stars are Arai registered riders including Australian ace Cameron Donald. The company will also provide helmets to the Travelling Marshals who operate during the qualifying sessions and races.

Arai joins a number of well-established Motorcycle industry brands and blue-chip companies in supporting the inaugural Classic TT Races, which is part of the newly established Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling. Many of the leading TT Race specialists have confirmed entries and they will go 'head-to- head' against Classic Racing specialists in the three races.

This year's festival also includes two parade laps, which will feature some of the greatest names in motorcycle racing. Stars confirmed to appear include John McGuinness and Giacomo Agostini who will be recreating the 1967 Senior TT Race while World Champions Phil Read MBE, Kork Ballington, Chas Mortimer, Carlos Lavado, Freddie Spencer, Manuel Herreros, Steve Baker, Kel Carruthers and Brian Reid will join TT stars past and present in the 'Classic Racer Heroes' parade lap.

Laurence Skelly, MHK, Political Member, Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development for Tourism and Motorsport commented: "We have a long established partnership with Arai and as the leading helmet provider we are very pleased that they will be endorsing our event. They play a really important role in providing a race service to competitors at the TT and Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling and have become an established part of the paddock."

He continued:

"We have had a great reaction to the new festival from commercial partners and fans and look forward to welcoming everyone to all the events that we've got going on including the Classic TT, The Manx Grand Prix's ninetieth anniversary, the Classic and two day trials and the VMCC's festival of Jurby in what promises to be a great celebration of Motorcycle racing."

Moto Direct's Terry Birtles, on behalf of Arai, commented: "We always say that motorcycle racing is in our DNA and it's exactly the same with the Isle of Man. The TT Mountain Course is world famous and is instrumental in the development of our helmet technology. We are delighted to extend our partnership to include the Classic TT."

One in 20 adults was involved in a road accident in 2012, according to road safety charity, Institute of Advanced Motorists.

Using information  from the National Travel Survey published by the Department for Transport it shows that 5.2% of the population admit to having been involved in an accident.

Figures also reveal that men are more likely to be involved in an accident than women.

This means that an incredible 2.4 million Brits were involved in the trauma and stress of a road crash last year, with around 800,000 actually injured.  In the vast majority of these crashes those involved were car occupants.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “The good news is that our roads have never been safer and the headline death and serious injury figures continue to fall.  But we still kill five people every day, and these government figures suggest that millions are involved in minor bumps and scrapes every year.  Car and road design have delivered a safer driving environment, but it is clear that we must all share the responsibility of reducing accidents and collisions.”

The Honda TT Legends Endurance World Championship squad will head to Germany this week for the penultimate round of the 2013 season, while Michael Dunlop will compete for the team at the Ulster Grand Prix road races in Northern Ireland. 

John McGuinness, Michael Rutter and Simon Andrews will form a three-man squad for the 8 Hours of Oschersleben and following a disappointing first half of the season, the riders and crew are determined to put in a good performance. The TT Legends narrowly missed out on the podium at the same race in 2012, so hopes are high for another solid result this year. The 8 Hours of Oschersleben will begin at 13.00 CET on Saturday 17 August.

As the EWC team lines up in Germany, Michael Dunlop will be competing in the Superbike class at the Ulster Grand Prix aboard his Honda TT Legends CBR1000RR Fireblade. Dunlop already has six UGP wins under his belt and will be looking to add to his tally when he tackles the 150 Dundrod Superbike race on Thursday 15 August and the two Superbike races on Saturday 17 August.

Neil Tuxworth - team manager

We’ve had a few issues in the first two rounds of the Endurance World Championship so this time we’re hoping for a trouble-free outing and ideally a podium finish. If we have no problems and the riders are running to their full ability I think we can definitely achieve this. As for Dunlop and the Ulster GP, it’s the third major road race of the year following the NW200 and the TT and one with tremendous history. It’s also an event at which Michael has been very successful in the past and we’re hoping he can continue this success aboard the Honda TT Legends machine. We’re pleased to be able to support him in the Superbike category and also wish him all the best in the other classes, which he’ll compete in with his own team.

John McGuinness

After the first two rounds we’re due some better luck so hopefully that will come this weekend. Fourth place last year was a strong result and it would nice to do the same if not better this year. We need to get some points and get our foot on the championship ladder. It’s a magic atmosphere at Oschersleben and it’s a nice track that I think Simon and Michael will get to grips with pretty quickly. The team as a whole deserves a good result and there’s no reason why we can’t get one in Germany.

Simon Andrews

I raced at Oschersleben 10 years ago with World Superbikes so it’s not a totally new track for me but it’s been a long time since I rode there. I’m looking forward to the race as it’s a tight and twisty track so I think it will suit our bike well. We’re straight off the back of Suzuka and it will be good to race on the bounce as we all know where we’re at with the bike. The team got a fourth place there last year so I’d like to think we can come away with some good points and maybe even a trophy.

Michael Rutter

I’ve never ridden at Oschersleben before so I’ve got a bit of learning to do but I’m looking forward to this race. I hope that we can repeat last year’s strong performance and score some decent points as the team has been working really hard without much reward so far this year. We’re all determined to do well and we’re just hoping for a trouble-free race.

Michael Dunlop

I’m looking forward to racing at the Ulster on the Honda TT Legends superbike. We’ve done a lot of work on the bike this season with the NW200, TT and Southern 100 and we’re in a good position now. We’ve had some good results on it so it would be great to get a win at the Ulster too.

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