Category: IAM RoadSmart

1. Advanced motorcyclists get skilled‏

   Posted on 2:27pm Sunday 2nd Jun 2013

   Coaching motorcyclists to advanced riding standard comprehensively improves their skills and attitudes, according to a study published by road safety charity, IAM.  
   
   Respondents said undertaking the IAM advanced riding course made them feel safer, more confident, more attentive, more observant and more decisive in their riding. By doing so it also adds to their enjoyment on the road.  

   The top five reasons for taking the IAM advanced test were:  
   
   • To improve general standard of riding
   • To become a safer rider
   • To reduce the risk of being involved in an accident
   • To become a more confident rider
   • For achievement/challenge  
   
   Riders under the age of 30 were more likely to identify ‘improving my general standard of riding’ as a reason for taking the test and to obtain cheaper insurance.   Younger riders also showed a pleasing level of responsibility as they  were more likely to select ‘to demonstrate to others that my riding was of a high standard’ and ‘to influence other peoples’ riding’ as reasons for taking the test.   Results of the survey showed:  

   • Ninety-nine per cent of riders said the IAM advanced test had a permanent positive effect on them as a rider.
   • Ninety-seven per cent of respondents said that the IAM advanced test had increased their enjoyment from riding.
   • Ninety-four per cent of respondents said that the IAM advanced test had made them safer riders.
   • Sixty-one per cent of respondents said that taking the advanced test had helped them to avoid a specific accident or incident.  

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “The IAM advanced riding qualification makes motorcyclists safer and more skilled. Motorcycling has a positive role to play in reducing congestion and emissions and should not be held back by safety concerns. We want to work with the government, manufacturers, dealers, police and road safety officers to promote the many benefits of safe motorcycling.”

2. Vulnerable road users need much more protection, says IAM

   Posted on 8:51am Sunday 12th May 2013

   As UN Global Road Safety week puts worldwide pedestrian safety under the spotlight, the IAM is asking the UK government and car makers to make pedestrian-friendly car fronts a top priority.

   The government should be taking the lead in lobbying the European Commission and car manufacturers to make radical changes so that vulnerable road users can get the same five star protection as those sitting in the vehicle.  

   The number of deaths and serious injuries to car occupants fell by 524 in 2011 but amongst vulnerable road users they increased:  

   • Pedestrians - 48 more killed, 254 more seriously injured
   • Cyclists - four fewer killed, 425 more seriously injured  

   Since 2006, car occupants' deaths and serious injuries have fallen by 35% but for pedestrians the fall is just 16 per cent, while cyclist deaths and serious injuries have increased by 31 per cent. Car occupants benefit increasingly from the high standards of crash protection brought about by the Euro NCAP crash testing programme, ensuring more four and five-star cars than ever are on the market. Improvements to the front of cars that would benefit pedestrians and cyclists in a collision have simply not kept pace.  

   New research by IAM shows that the average Euro NCAP rating for car occupants in super minis in the last three years is eighty-two per cent while for pedestrians it is much lower, at 53 per cent. There needs to be a new focus on bringing pedestrian safety up to the level now enjoyed by car occupants.  

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “While the people in the car are much safer, in the case of a crash with a pedestrian or cyclist, the front of the car is not as forgiving. Much more can and should be done through car design to minimise the damage caused by hard metal on soft tissue.”

3. TEXTING DRIVERS WILL FACE £90 FINE

   Posted on 10:50am Friday 10th May 2013

   Sending a text message or making a phone call while at the wheel will land drivers with harsher penalties, the tranpsort minister warned. In a move to crack down on dangerous driving, Patrick McLoughlin indicated that fines for a variety of offences would rise by 50%, from £60 to £90.  

   The number of penalty points offenders receive on their licence will remain at three. The cost increase will cover fixed penalty notices for the offence of using a hand-held device while driving, the Daily Mail said, and also for speeding and going through a red light.  

   A new penalty of three penalty points and a GBP90 fine will also be introduced  for a number of careless driving offences, including cutting up other drivers, eating a sandwich or lighting a cigarette at the wheel, driving at an inappropriate speed and needlessly hogging the middle lane on a motorway.  

   New drug-driving laws will also be introduced, and the current drink-drive limit will not be lowered.   Mr McLoughlin, who admitted at a road safety conference in London that he had used a mobile phone to make calls while driving, but would not do so now, said: "We want to send a clear message to dangerous drivers: If you continue to show complete disregard for the safety of other road users, we will catch you - and we will punish you."  

   More than a million drivers have been convicted of using a hand-held mobile phone behind the wheel since 2003, when using one other than for making an emergency call was made illegal. Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "With both texting and hand-held use of mobile phones at the wheel causing more impairment than being at the drink-drive limit or under the influence of cannabis, the police need to target the large number of motorists continuing to flout the law."

   IAM's response to the fine increase for texting while driving

   IAM director of policy Neil Greig said: "An increase in fixed penalty levels is needed to maintain the deterrent effect. But the fear of getting caught is the key to changing driver behaviour and high profile policing must be a top priority. Any income from new fines should be put back into road safety to counter recent spending cuts." 

4. DRINK-DRIVERS FACE TOUGHER RULES

   Posted on 12:58pm Thursday 2nd May 2013

   Drink-drive rules involving the most serious offenders are to be tightened up.

   Under new regulations the most dangerous offenders will have to prove  they are no longer dependent on alcohol before they are allowed to get  back behind the wheel.

   The new measures will also see those drink-drivers who obstruct the  police by refusing to allow their blood samples to be analysed being  treated the same as other high risk offenders.

   Currently, all high risk offenders must pass a medical examination  before they can be issued with a driving licence following their  disqualification. However, drivers can start driving as soon as they  have applied for their licence and before they have taken and passed the  necessary medical.

   But from June 1 the most dangerous drink-drivers will have to pass a  medical confirming they are no longer alcohol dependent at the end of  their disqualification and BEFORE they start driving.

   Also, those offenders who refuse to allow their blood samples to be  analysed will also, from June 1, only get their licence back following  disqualification if they pass the required medical.

   Under the  High Risk Offender (HRO) scheme, drivers convicted of certain  serious drink/driving offences must have a medical investigation to confirm that there are no on-going problems with the misuse of alcohol  before they can be issued with a licence.

   The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA is notified of such  offenders by the courts. Last year the DVLA was notified by the courts  of just over 50,000 drink-driving convictions.

   Nearly 22,000 of those were classed as high risk offenders. Of those, around 5,000 drivers either failed, or failed to attend, their medical.

   Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said: "Drink-drivers are a menace  and it is right that we do everything we can to keep the most high risk  offenders off the road."

   The IAM's response to tougher drink-drive rules:

   Director of policy and research Neil Greig said: "Persistent drink drivers are a menace on our roads and these new rules will be welcomed by the law abiding majority."

   "Numbers of repeat offenders are still far too high and the government should urgently consider bringing in a vehicle forfieture scheme like that in Scotland. This has been a success with the strong sanction of having your car sold acting as a real deterrent. Enhanced Drink drive rehabilitation courses may also be an option for these problem drivers but ultimately their selfishness means that they deserve the strongest possible punishment."

5. Councillors agree road safety is neglected

   Posted on 8:54am Monday 29th Apr 2013

   The top road safety priority for local councillors is improving road surfaces and reducing potholes, according to a survey conducted by road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). 

   74 per cent of councillors placed potholes in their top five road-safety priorities while 61 per cent think that the budgets for repairing them will decrease or stay the same. 

   Almost half of councillors surveyed think that road safety targets should have been kept. Fifty-eight per cent of local councillors agree that budget cuts are having a negative impact on roads and road safety, with one in four councillors strongly agreeing. 

   Although councillors agreed that transport was a priority half of them thought that their transport budget would reduce in the next year. 

   Other key findings include: 
   • Fifty-nine per cent of councillors support 20mph speed limits, with 15 per cent supporting 20mph for most urban roads.
   • Twenty-nine per cent of councillors think that the government’s policies have been bad for road safety.
   • Councillors in the north of England are more likely to say they anticipate spending reductions while councillors in the south and east of England are less likely to report reductions in their transport budgets.

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “It’s good to see that potholes are councillors’ top priority as this is a big concern for motorists. 

   More must be done to fix our roads before the backlog of repairs becomes unmanageable.  The results show that different political parties offer the electorate real choice on their transport priorities. Conservative councillors are more likely to focus on road building, road surfaces and car parking, while Labour councillors appear to be more likely to prioritise road safety and the use of public transport. Liberal Democrats are more likely to focus on cycling and walking. Councillors say that road safety is a priority so they must put up a stronger fight to protect road safety budgets.  It’s also clear that there is a need to set up smart new targets that will help everyone in road safety focus on the highest risk groups in society.”