Category: IAM RoadSmart

1. Filtering

   Posted on 1:29pm Friday 25th Apr 2014

   IAM’s head of riding standards and advanced biker, Peter Rodger, is advising on filtering.
   
   •Plan ahead when approaching long queues. Make a decision in advance for passing each vehicle, but be ready to change your plans if the traffic situation changes
   •Be prepared for vehicles to move out or change lanes, particularly approaching junctions
   •In bus lanes, watch for cars that want to turn left across your path
   •Be aware of cyclists wearing earphones – they may not know you’re there
   •Watch side roads. Drivers waiting to emerge will be looking for larger vehicles – not necessarily a motorbike
   •When filtering give other vehicles time to notice you’re there – don’t arrive too quickly
   •Wait behind stationary vehicles unless you're sure you can get past them before they start to move. – avoid sitting next to them where you can be in a blind spot.

   Rodger said: “One of the great things about riding a bike is that you can reduce your journey time by filtering through traffic and congestion. But be considerate to other road users, and bear in mind they may not know or expect you to be there.”

2. Is our driving test fit for purpose?‏

   Posted on 10:11am Sunday 20th Apr 2014

   Thirty per cent of young drivers (aged 18-25) admit to breaking the law during their first few years on the road, according to a poll by Vision Critical and road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).1

   Despite spending many weeks learning to pass the test, a majority (68 per cent) of younger drivers feel that they need to improve.

   Twenty-five per cent of young drivers admit to crashing.

   These are backed up by official figures which show that:

   · A fifth of people killed or seriously injured in a reported road accident in Great Britain during 2012 were involved in a collision where at least one of the cars was driven by a young driver.

   · Around 22 per cent of all accidents involved at least one young driver. The 32, 400 accidents involving at least one young car driver resulted in 350 deaths and more than 4, 1000 seriously injured casualties.

   · Nearly a quarter of all car drivers (133 out of 542 drivers) who died in 2012 were young drivers themselves.2

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “This survey shows that younger drivers simply don’t feel adequately prepared for independent driving. The current learning system is failing the next generation of motorists and there needs to be serious review. Early experience of a wide range of traffic conditions is vital but so is dealing with negative attitudes. This can be done most effectively through peer group discussions rather than just relying on stricter controls and curfews.”

   The IAM’s objectives for younger drivers and an improved test include:

   •Road safety education as part of the school curriculum
   •Theory and hazard perception tests be delivered online and in education establishments
   •Insurance companies not penalising L drivers gaining experience in the family car
   •A 12 month minimum learning period with a logbook to build experience safely
   •A practical driving test that includes high speed roads
   •Post-test assessment and training for all in the high risk early months of solo driving

3. Motorists unhappy with pothole performance

   Posted on 10:22am Thursday 10th Apr 2014

   The government has got a long way to go to convince drivers that they have the pothole problem in control as 67 per cent of motorists think that they are doing a bad or a very bad job of maintaining the nation’s roads, according to the latest research published today by road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

   Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of female drivers believe that the government is doing a bad or very bad job, but the figure increases for male drivers 69 per cent unhappy with the current state of the roads.

   There is a clear lack of communication between the motoring public and local councils. A third of drivers (34 per cent) think that their council is cutting spending on road maintenance but 60 per cent of drivers don’t know if budgets are being cut, suggesting councils are performing poorly on informing and engaging with local residents. Over half of drivers (52 per cent) think that local councils are doing a bad or very bad job of looking after local roads. Fifty-seven per cent of males and 49 per cent of females believe their council is doing a bad or very bad job.

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Despite the government’s pothole review, there is a high level of dissatisfaction with the efforts of authorities to keep our roads safe and smooth drive or ride on.

   “The government need to convince motorists that they have a real cure for the pothole pandemic. This can only be achieved through clear communication on new policies, more sharing of resources, sustained long-term funding and a continued commitment to eradicating the maintenance backlog of crumbling British roads.”

   The IAM offers tips on avoiding the risks associated with potholes:

   •Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front so that you can see the road surface before you drive or ride on it.
   •If you do hit a pothole accidentally, make a point of checking your tyres once you’ve stopped. Check the inner as well as the outer tyre wall, which may have been damaged as a result.
   •Avoid suddenly pulling out to avoid a hole – you might discover that there is a motorcyclist trying to get past you, or encounter an oncoming vehicle.
   •Bikers and cyclists need to look well ahead and change direction early so they have time to deal with the holes, and so that their movements don’t cause surprise to other road users.
   •Potholes tend to reappear in the same place again and again as previous repairs fail - remember where you saw one and expect it to be there again.
   •Be extra vigilant on roads with lots of lorries and also around bus stops. Extra pressure is put on the road surface wherever heavy vehicles stop, start or turn.

4. Driving with dementia

   Posted on 8:00am Thursday 3rd Apr 2014

   A decline in cognitive abilities – for example the onset of dementia – is the greatest concern that families have about elderly relatives driving. Nearly half (46 per cent) of people are worried about it, according to a survey by the IAM.

   Forty-two per cent of people who have concerns about an older relative driving have tried to discuss this with them.

   People with dementia may still be able to drive safely for some time after it has been diagnosed, but because of the progressive nature of the disease, there will come a time when they have to give up.

   Drivers must tell the DVLA if they have dementia or another condition that affects their driving.  The law assumes that people have a right to drive safely and will only intervene when medical conditions impair driving ability.  The aim is to allow people to drive for as long as possible. If the DVLA allows someone with dementia to continue driving, then they will almost certainly have to have periodic medical assessments.

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said:  “Staying healthy is the simplest way to ensure you are fit to drive but an independent and objective driving assessment will also help people make the right decision at the right time. Experts warn that the numbers suffering from dementia will continue to grow and it is important drivers seek advice before using their cars.  Families and friends need to be aware of the early warning signs of dementia and seek advice and medical help as soon as possible.”

   Signs that an individual no longer has the skills needed to drive safely; •Difficulty judging speed, distance and space •Getting lost on familiar roads •Straying across lanes or hitting kerbs •Confusing the gas and brake pedals •Making slow or poor decisions •Failing to observe road signs and traffic signals •Parking inappropriately •Becoming angry or confused while driving •Causing passengers to have concerns about their driving

   Given the varying progression of dementia, the driving skills of an individual with dementia can decrease significantly in between evaluations, therefore those who have demonstrated they are able to drive should gradually modify their driving to reduce the risk of an accident.

    

   Over 800,000 people in the UK currently have dementia (17,000 are under 65).   This is expected to increase to over a million people by 2021

5. Getting back on the road

   Posted on 2:00pm Tuesday 1st Apr 2014

   IAM’s head of riding standards and advanced biker, Peter Rodger, is advising on getting back on the road after the winter.

   •Check your bike’s fluid levels, brakes, lights, horn and coolant to make sure they’re all in good working order.
   •Try starting your bike to check if the battery needs recharging.
   •Check that the tyres have sufficient tread, no obvious damage, and are inflated to the right pressure. If you have taken any part of the bike apart over the winter check it is properly back together and that the nuts are all tightened appropriately.
   •When you’ve given it the once over, switch on the engine and let your bike warm up before you go out on a ride.
   •If you’re feeling particularly rusty, get on your motorcycle in a car park before taking it out on the road.  The first ride should be about settling in gently – you need to get used to riding again.
   •Gain confidence by having a few short, simple rides. Consider it a warm up for you and the bike; you've had time away, and both need to warm up again.
   •Make sure your leathers and helmet are in good nick– don’t be tempted to take that first ride in street gear because you’re not planning on being out for long. 

   Rodger said: “It’s that time of the year when many riders are taking their bikes out from winter storage. Check the bike before you begin this season’s rides, and make sure the rider is up to it as well.”