Tag Archives: IAM RoadSmart

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IAM RoadSmart’s Skills Days are back for 2022!

IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, has today (Monday 6th December) announced the dates for its 2022 programme of Skills Days, which allow drivers and motorcyclists the chance to learn valuable handling skills from qualified instructors while driving their own cars or riding their own motorcycles on a race circuit.

We have 17 events taking place across three circuits at Thruxton in Hampshire, Mallory Park in Leicestershire and Croft in Darlington during the summer and autumn. The sessions are open to both IAM RoadSmart members and the general public (non-members) and allow attendees a rare chance to learn about handling and precision driving and riding on a race circuit, and to develop new skills that will help ensure both safety and enjoyment on public roads.

Drivers and riders will either work one-to-one with an instructor, or as part of a small group, and will be given the opportunity to fully understand what their car or motorcycle is capable of.

Attendees will have the chance to develop new skills in the following areas:

Information – vision and lines, head up – eyes on main beam

Position and steering – how vehicle position/steering affects control

Speed – brake smoothly and progressively

Gear – be in a responsive gear for the circumstances

Acceleration – throttle control, plan to be on a positive throttle in bends

The 2022 schedule for Skills Days is as follows:

April

  • Tuesday 12th April – Mallory Park – Motorcycle
  • Monday 25th April – Thruxton – Car
  • Tuesday 26th April – Thruxton – Motorcycle

May

  • Monday 16th May – Thruxton – Motorcycle
  • Tuesday 31st May -Thruxton – Motorcycle

June

  • Monday 13th June – Thruxton – Car
  • Tuesday 14th June – Thruxton – Motorcycle
  • Wednesday 29th June – Croft – Car
  • Thursday 30th June – Croft – Motorcycle

July

  • Tuesday 5th July – Mallory Park – Motorcycle – Ladies Day
  • Monday 11th July – Thruxton – Car
  • Tuesday 12th July – Thruxton – Motorcycle

September

  • Monday 5th September – Thruxton – Car
  • Tuesday 6th September – Thruxton – Motorcycle
  • Tuesday 20th September – Mallory Park – Motorcycle
  • Monday 26th September – Thruxton – Motorcycle

IAM RoadSmart Motorcycle Skills Days are £165 each (full day), Car Skills Days £150 each (half day).

Shaun Cronin, Regional Service Delivery Team Manager (Southern) who is a driving force behind the days said: “These are hugely popular events because both riders and drivers really do get the chance to put their skills to the test and learn and improve key techniques.

Everybody gets to learn things. Last year, we had a rider who picked up tips that he claimed saved his life on the way home. For the drivers, we have many non-members signing up post the events as it gives them a taster of skills that will really enhance their enjoyment and performance on a day-to-day basis.

Our Skills Days really do provide drivers and motorcycle riders an opportunity to fully discover what their car or bike is capable of. These events are practical learning experiences, but they go away with everyday tips from experts within a racing circuit environment.

“Our Skills Days sell out fast as they’re the perfect chance to combine the art and fun of driving and riding as well as develop important new safety skills. It’s no surprise they’re so popular with both experienced and highly knowledgeable IAM RoadSmart members, and those have yet to start out on their advanced learning journey.”

For more information visit https://www.iamroadsmart.com/events/skills-days.  To book a place call 0300 303 1134.

IAM, Industry News, Latest News

Mental Health Motorbikes and IAM RoadSmart partner up

Building better mental health and Lego distractions

The UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has announced a new partnership with mental health charity Mental Health Motorbike (MH Motorbike), as part of a continuing mission to support and educate their members on looking after their mental health.

Both charities have committed to work together to train and educate their members, plus share expert advice and tips on protecting your mental health. IAM RoadSmart Members will also have the opportunity to take part in First Aid training to further help them support others.

With autumn weather conditions taking hold, Mental Health Motorbike have established a new mindfulness activity that is bringing their members together, that’s aimed at reducing stress and anxiety – whilst keeping them safe during winter months. This activity is building and sharing LEGO sets creating a level of friendly competition, whilst giving them a task to focus their minds on and something to achieve.

Paul Oxborough, Founder of Mental Health Motorbike, said: “More people than ever are finding themselves suffering poorer mental health during this time, factors like financial pressures and isolation, are contributing to this. Giving our members a chance to share their pre-loved LEGO sets has been very successful and we hope more people will join us over the colder months to build, share and donate. We’ve also been hugely lucky recently to receive a very generous donation from the LEGO team. The donation of multiple, brand new sets has significantly boosted our library and means we will be able to extend the service to many more members. You’d be surprised how things like this really focus the mind and provide some relief to those suffering.”

“We’re on a mission to share our resources that can support riders we meet whilst out on the road so whether it’s offering practical advice or meeting for a ride to have that company, we’re set to reach a wider community of riders to help them tackle any mental health issues. We have mapped out all the places’ riders can get support and we are growing our network every day. We’ll be attending events like Motorcycle Live later this year (4th-12th December) to spread our message and offering outreach services into the workplace to talk to staff and employees working within the motorbike industry.”

Amanda Smith, Head of Field Service Delivery at IAM RoadSmart, said: “After speaking to Paul about his motive behind why he started Mental Health Motorbike, his plans and ambitions for the future, and the service he offers to the motorbike community it was a pleasure for us to join forces. Providing our Members with an open forum where they can speak openly about their mental health with other likeminded people and creating an on and offline community where they share similar hobbies and interests can only be a positive for the sector. We already have Members that from across the country that are supporting Paul and his charity, and we look forward to hearing from many more. If IAM RoadSmart Members would like to donate Lego Technic sets for the lending library then they should get in contact with our team via email MemberQ@iam.org.uk.”

IAM RoadSmart and Mental Health Motorbike would like to thank LEGO who has kindly donated LEGO technics kits to the MHMotorbike community to support the initiative of building better mental health.   

IAM, Industry News, Latest News

Don’t let Jack Frost strike! Read IAM RoadSmart’s tips as you get back on the road this winter

We usually dress for the weather and when the temperatures drop this means wrapping up with a hat, gloves, scarf, a big coat and appropriate shoes.

So, it makes sense, when you’re heading back out with the lifting of travel restrictions this winter, to adapt your driving or motorcycling behaviour to suit the weather and road conditions around you.

With white frosty mornings also comes icy roads, and that’s why Richard Gladman, IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards has put together some advice on how to deal with driving and riding in icy conditions:

  • In very bad weather, where police advice is not to travel it is better to stay at home rather than risk an incident. Always check the weather and road conditions on your route before setting off, if you are using public transport links, remember they too, may also be delayed.
  • Make sure you know how the demister settings on your car work and how to adjust them properly. If you are riding a motorcycle, a clean scratch-free visor with a correctly fitted insert will help you stay mist-free.
  • If you are braving a motorcycle remember to wrap up warm, the cold will affect your concentration. Heated kit is a good investment especially for your extremities.
  • Ensure your lights and wipers are working well, you need to see and be seen. If your wipers are making a terrible squeaking noise, it’s time to get them checked, they may need replacement blades or the arms straightening.
  • Never pour boiling water on the screen as the sudden temperature change may cause cracks. Prevention is better than a cure so if possible, cover the glass overnight with an old sheet to prevent freezing, or invest in a windscreen cover.  Never use newspaper or cardboard on a wet screen as it can get stuck and leave a real mess.
  • If you haven’t done so already, get an anti-freeze check at your local garage or fast-fit centre. Keep your washer bottle topped up with an even stronger concentration of screen wash.
  • It might sound obvious, but you may need up to 10 times the distance to stop in icy conditions – increase your following distance to account for this. If the car in front must stop suddenly or worse still, a crash occurs, you will need that extra time to react and stop safely.

Richard said: “As ever, preparation and planning are the key to worry-free driving and riding when the mercury plummets.

“Plan your route carefully as major routes are likely to be treated with salt and less likely to be icy – but ice might still form in dips, on bridges and in shaded areas.

“Leave more time for your journey, respect the conditions and don’t rush. Factor in delays and – if you’re driving – give yourself plenty of time to clear the ice properly from all your windows.”

IAM RoadSmart’s Advanced Driver and Rider Courses offer the skills and techniques needed to adapt your driving or riding to keep you safe on the road. Find out about the courses by clicking here.

IAM, Industry News, Latest News

UK drivers and motorcyclists unconvinced by proposed new Highway Code

Chaotic collection of traffic signs from the United Kingdom

UK drivers and motorcyclists unconvinced by proposed new Highway Code fearing more conflict with cyclists and pedestrians.

A recent survey has discovered that the majority of road users aren’t in favour of many of the Department for Transport’s proposed changes to the Highway Code which have been designed to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders, believing that the changes will instead increase conflict and potentially reduce the safety of the vulnerable road users they are intended to protect.

In the survey, conducted by the UK’s largest road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, 71 per cent of drivers and motorcyclists believe the new proposal to give pedestrians priority when turning into and out of junctions, for example, will increase conflict rather than reducing it, with more than half (57 per cent) thinking this will be a significant issue.

Of the 3,600 web poll respondents, 74 per cent believe that children should be allowed to cycle on the pavement, but only 23 per cent feel that cyclists in general should have the same rights.

Almost three quarters (73 per cent) think that the new Highway Code should make it compulsory for cyclists to wear a helmet, in contrast to the proposed Code itself which, while restating the evidence that wearing a cycle helmet reduces the risk of sustaining a head injury in certain circumstances, stops short of making them compulsory.

Meanwhile, 71 per cent of people agree with the general concept that drivers and riders should give motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders, horse drawn vehicles and pedestrians walking in the road at least as much room as they would when overtaking a car.

On the new Code’s most controversial suggestions – to establish a hierarchy of road users, where those in charge of the vehicles that can cause the greatest harm should bear the greatest responsibility to take care – the majority (56 per cent) agree that this is the right way forward, but 26 per cent are against and almost one in five (19 per cent) are still to be convinced either way.

The new Code doesn’t suggest any obligation on cyclists to use cycle lanes or tracks when they are present, and a resounding 80 per cent of IAM RoadSmart’s poll respondents believe this is a mistake.

However, some of the proposed changes were met with widespread support, with 63 per cent of those surveyed agreeing with the new advice that when riding a bike on busy roads, when vehicles are moving faster than them, cyclists should move over and allow traffic to overtake them. There is also strong support for every proposal that contains clear guidelines on passing distances, with 78 per cent in favour of the one and a half-metre gap between cyclist and vehicle travelling below 30mph, with a two-metre gap when above 30mph.

And 90 per cent agree with the new Code’s advice that drivers and motorcyclists should give horse riders at least two metres’ space and pass at speeds under 15 mph.

Finally, just over half (57 per cent) agree with the new proposal to include the ‘Dutch Reach’ in the Highway Code. This is a technique which advises motorists leaving their vehicles to do so by using their left hand to operate the door handle, allowing the driver to naturally twist their body, making it easier to look over their shoulder and check for cyclists or other road users approaching.

Neil Greig, Policy and Research Director at IAM RoadSmart, said: “Regardless of what changes are introduced, it is clear there will be a need for a huge education campaign to ensure any amendments to the Highway Code are understood and fully adopted by the millions of existing UK drivers, motorcyclists and road users. At IAM RoadSmart we believe an online resource to help with this re-education in an engaging way would be helpful.

“The simple truth is that most of us don’t read the Highway Code unless we drive or ride professionally, or are about to take a test. The Department for Transport needs to be realistic about the impact simply changing a seldom read document will have on the behavior and safety of road users.”

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BEM in Queen’s Birthday Honours for IAM RoadSmart member

A long-serving member of the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his dedication to his police and charity work.

PC John Williams, a serving officer with the Greater Manchester Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to policing and charity.

A member of IAM RoadSmart and an F1RST Advanced Driver since 2001, John is now an examiner, maintaining the standards of Advanced Driving and supporting the work of local groups from Bolton to Altrincham and Stockport, among others.

His commitment to road safety began when in his 20s he took the Advanced Driver test with his father. He went on to become an observer with the West Pennine group before becoming an examiner.

Passionate about cars and trucks, he believes improving driving standards is a vital part of making the roads safer.

John said: “I’ve seen first-hand the devastation that comes to families when you have to knock on the door and tell them their loved one isn’t coming home because of a fatal crash.

“I believe improving driver standards makes an important contribution to road safety. Everything I’ve done is to help other people, whether that’s family, friends, colleagues or the public. By volunteering for IAM RoadSmart as an observer and now as an examiner, I hope my commitment is actively making the roads safer for everyone.

Tony Greenidge, IAM RoadSmart’s interim CEO, said: “The work of members like John is vital to helping us achieve our charitable mission to improve road safety. His award is recognition of his dedication and on behalf of IAM RoadSmart, I am delighted to congratulate him on his honour.”

John is one of the 267 examiners IAM RoadSmart’s who all volunteer their time and expertise to help others become better drivers and riders.

IAM RoadSmart is just one of a number of charities John works tirelessly to support in his free time.

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