Category: Safety & Compensation

1. Why does it always rain on me?

   Posted on 9:16am Wednesday 3rd Oct 2012

   IAM’s head of riding standards and advanced motorcyclist, Peter Rodger, is offering monthly motorcycling tips. This month, he is advising on riding in the wind and rain.   

    • Give yourself enough following distance. In the rain you need to see the road surface ahead of you early enough to be able to avoid puddles, drain covers and potholes full of water.
   • Lorries often throw up a wall of spray that you can’t see through.  Don’t be tempted to rush into an overtake when you can’t see. Stay further back to avoid the worst of spray until you can see clearly enough.
   • Heavy rain creates pools of water across the carriageway. If you see water pooling, avoid it if possible. If you see one too late to avoid it, don’t brake or accelerate in it – ease off the throttle a bit, hold the handlebars firmly and steer straight ahead.
   • Remember, braking distances increase in the rain. Slow down, look further ahead and increase your following distance.
   • Strong winds severely unsettle your bike and blow you off course. Look ahead at the trees and bushes, and the behaviour of other vehicles to see how the wind is affecting them – it will show you where the worst patches are. Watch for gaps in buildings or trees – such as firebreaks in forests – they often cause strong side winds. Riding past lorries and trucks has a similar effect.
   • Wind affects other vehicles too. Large and flat sided vehicles are usually most affected – so give them more room, and plan where you are going to overtake. Avoid spots where they are likely to get blown across your path.  
   
   Rodger said: “Riding in bad weather is more challenging. If the weather is really severe, you need to consider whether you need to go out at all, but if you do, give it more thought. The wind itself is invisible, but its effects aren’t – watch them. Getting both cold and wet will really destroy your concentration, as well as be unpleasant, so make sure you have suitable kit for riding in wet conditions.”  

   The IAM has launched a new website, for biking advice and tips, with traffic updates, touring advice by country and all you need to know about events and local groups. Tips cover riding with pillions, in groups and night riding.

   There’s also a videos page and you can upload your touring photos and stories - get involved at www.betterbiking.org.uk

2. Drive safely in severe rain

   Posted on 12:01am Tuesday 25th Sep 2012

   Road safety charity the IAM is offering driving advice in response to the current severe weather warnings for heavy rain and wind.  

   • Before you set off, set your heater controls – rain makes the windows mist up in seconds. You don’t want to be fiddling with controls when you should be concentrating on the road.

   • Slow down. In the rain your stopping distance should be at least doubled. Giving yourself more space helps you to avoid spray, especially when following a large vehicle.

   • Keep your eyes on the road ahead and plan your driving so that you can brake, accelerate and steer smoothly – harsh manoeuvres will unbalance the car.

   • Strong winds can also unsettle your car and even change your direction of travel. Grip your steering wheel firmly and be aware of the effects of the elements on other road users, particularly motorcyclists and flat-sided vehicles.

   • If you have cruise control, avoid using it on wet roads – it may create problems if you start to aquaplane.

   • See and be seen. Put your lights on – as a rule of thumb, whenever you need to use your wipers you should also turn your headlights on, and before overtaking put your wipers on their fastest setting. In cases of severe flooding, you should reconsider making the journey at all. If it is unavoidable, and you have to drive through deep water, the IAM recommends drivers take the following precautions:  

   • Drive on the highest section of the road and don't set off if a vehicle is approaching you

   • Leave time and space to avoid swamping other cars and pedestrians  

   • If you can’t see where you are going to come out of the water, such as when approaching flooding on a bend, think twice about starting to drive into it  

   • In deep water never take your foot off the accelerator, as this could allow water to travel up the exhaust pipe

   • Once you're out of the water, dry the brakes before you need them. The best way is to lightly apply the brake as you drive along for a few seconds, after checking nothing is following you too closely.  

   Rodger said: "A suddenly very wet road surface increases the chances of slipping when braking or steering, which is a problem not just for motorists, but cyclists and motorcyclists too.  When driving in wet conditions remember that stopping distances will increase, and visibility will be reduced. Drop your speed and give yourself more time to slow down."

   www.iam.org.uk

3. IAM comment on Q1 road casualty stats

   Posted on 10:47am Monday 20th Aug 2012

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said:  “It is unacceptable that road deaths and serious injuries have risen for children, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.  

   “Cutting road safety education, scrapping casualty targets and cuts in council spending all suggest this isn’t a major priority. The government  needs to show much greater leadership on road safety. Last year’s increase in people killed was a serious warning, but this could be the start of a trend. More must be done to get drivers to look out for vulnerable road users. We must have changes to the driving test, greater enforcement and incentives for driver training.”   The latest Department for Transport road casualty statistics give the first set of figures for this year, covering January – March 2012. They show some worrying trends for vulnerable road users.

   •The number of cyclist casualties rose by 10 per cent from 3,775 to 4,160.
   •Cyclists killed or seriously injured increased by 13 per cent compared to the same period last year. 700 cyclists were killed or seriously injured compared to 621.
   •Motorcyclists killed or seriously injured increased by 8 per cent from 1,024 to 1,110. The number of overall motorcyclist casualties rose by 7 per cent from 3,946 to 4,240 (Jan-March 2011, compared with Jan-March 2012). •The number of children killed or seriously injured in road accidents rose by 9 per cent from 522 to 570.
   •The number of children killed or seriously injured as pedestrians increased from 360 to 410, a rise of 14 per cent. 

   Over the same period (Jan-March 2011, compared with Jan-March 2012):  
   •Car users Killed or seriously injured dropped by 4 per cent, from 2,227 to 2,140. The number of overall casualties among car users also dropped by 4 per cent, from 29,627 down to 28,420.
   •The total number of road casualties decreased by 2 per cent from 47,235 to 46,270.
   •However, the number of road users killed or seriously injured rose by 4 per cent from 47,235 to 46,270 – suggesting that increases in KSIs for vulnerable road users is having an impact on the overall KSI figure.

   www.iam.org.uk

4. Carbon Monoxide poisoning in tents - Stormin the Castle

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 6th Aug 2012

   We have been asked to take measures to advise our customers of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning in tents.

   Witton Castle have received a visit from environmental health officers, it appears they are doing a tour of campsites warning them of incidents as described below.

   This Bank Holiday (5th – 7th May 2012) saw the tragic but avoidable death of another teenage camper.
    
   Earlier Saturday afternoon this teenager had been enjoying watching the FA Cup Final with her family in the pub to which their campsite belongs. After the match they left the pub and the family barbecued at the families tents.
    
   Sunday morning, family members from other tents realised their relatives had not yet stirred and approached their tent. Horror struck as they realised the family were almost unwakeable. Two adults, the girls mother and stepfather, stirred as did her 11 year old brother, sadly the young girl could not be revived despite the efforts of a doctor on site and paramedics arriving shortly after the discovery. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her parents were very ill and her brother still recovering in hospital.
    
   Why did this happen? A disposable barbecue, the kind in a foil tray costing around £3, was found in the tent and the carbon monoxide fumes emitted from this are believed to have been responsible for the incident.
    
   All Fossil Fuels emit carbon monoxide when burned. They continue to emit carbon monoxide for may hours after they cease to be of use for cooking. Campers are tempted to take the residue of the burning embers in the foil tray, in to their tents to make use of the warmth it is still generating. Then, disaster strikes! The odourless carbon monoxide released increases the already tired occupants drowsiness and sends them off to sleep. Sadly for some, never to wake up again.

    

   Stormin’ the Castle 2012

   31st Aug - 2nd Sept
   Witton Castle
   Pre Book £25
   On the Gate £35

5. The Evolution of Motorcycle Safe

   Posted on 4:36pm Thursday 26th Jul 2012

   It's no secret that motorbikes are officially the coolest mode of transport, however, did you know that many of the safety measures we now take for granted were not introduced for many years after motorcycling became so popular?

   With motorcycle fatalities are at their lowest level ever, this infographic has been created by UK's bike insurer Bennetts to show how motorcycle safety has evolved over the years and what a huge impact the work of bikers, campaigners and legislators has had to make motorcycling safer for everyone.