ADVANCE Autumn07

The official magazine of Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists and Motorcyclists

BORDER TOYOTA DUMFRIES, Edinburgh Road, Heathhall, Dumfries. Tel: 01387 266064

Dumfries NEW PARTS: 01387 269546 USED PARTS: 01387 264813 SALVAGE Cars: 01387 262888Stranraer NEW PARTS: 01776 700444 USED PARTS: 01776 700888

www.daautoparts.co.ukSt Marys Ind Estate, DUMFRIES, DG1 1NA

Blackparks Ind Est, STRANRAER, DG9 7DD

© Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists1

What’s on? - check out the Events section at www.iamdumfries.org.uk

10 September: CHALLENGE NIGHT and presentation of certificates7:30pm Dalston House Hotel, DumfriesOctober/November 10 PIN BOWLING v CARLISLE GROUP date to be setThe programme for the coming year is currently being finalised - to find out what ishappening you’ll need to visit the group web site events section.

Group Committee Members for 2007/08Group President: Tommy Jardine

To e-mail any member of the committee, please inthe first instance, use the group contact e-mail

address: [email protected]

This magazine was publishedby the Dumfries & Galloway

Group ofAdvanced Motorists &

Motorcyclists.

For more details of our activi-ties see our web site at:

www.iam.org.uk/groups/dumfries

Contact theGroup Secretary:

[email protected]

Magazine comments and con-tributions to:

[email protected]

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in thismagazine are those of the con-tributors and not necessarilythose of the Editor, Group orthe Institute of Advanced Mo-torists, to which the Group isaffiliated. Registered CharityNo. SC 023511

This magazineThis magazine is published three times a year and is distributedfree to members of the Dumfries & Galloway Group of Ad-vanced Motorists & Motorcyclists. It is also available on-line anddistributed free to many places where the public have access.

The purpose of the publication is to inform readers about the activities of the Groupand to stimulate thought about safe driving and riding issues especially to thosereaders who are undergoing or have completed a ‘Skill for Life’ driving or ridingcourse. Back issues may be viewed on line, just go to our web site (see above).

Chair, GroupChief Obs

Alan Jones 01387 820527

Vice chair,Chief m/c Obs

Graeme McColm 01387 720425

Secretary Helen Cameron 07707 035518Treasurer Russell Wears 01387 263893Minute Sec Anne Lind 07727 913 742Assoc Coordntr Peter Dodds 01387 261523M/c Coordntr Andrew Bird 01387 259500News Dist. Christine Donaldson 01576 202805Committee Charlie Allman

Alan DalrympleJamie WoodStuart MurrayNoel KellyKevin CopelandAndy Campbell

01387 26375001387 33732201683 30034707742 40863807771 81229007771 86010607717 798109


Dear Members and ReadersIt seems odd that I should be writing this report for the Autumn Magazinewhen we have yet to enjoy the Summer. Having said that, I was remindedrecently that we had some nice weather during April and that the Winter wasmild. Maybe we just have to get used to this weather pattern in the future as itseems to be the shape of things to come. Anyway, regardless of the weather,I hope you have all had a pleasant, relaxing time over the summer months.

Of course there is no relaxation for our Observers. Since the last Magazine I’mpleased to say that we have had 25 car and bike Test passes. This means ourMembership has received another significant boost taking us well on the wayto reaching our next major target of 200 Members. This will be an outstandingachievement given that just 4 years ago we only had some 50 Members. Whilewe mustn’t get carried away with numbers, importantly what it means inpractice is that each person who passes their Advanced Test demonstratesthey are safer than the average motorist or motorcyclist. Our goal remains tohelp make the roads of Dumfries & Galloway safer for everyone; so the moreAssociates we can get through the Test then the safer our roads will become.

Our work with young drivers continues to be an important cornerstone of ourroad safety goal. I’m pleased to say that we have around 100 young peoplewho have registered their wish to join the IAM’s Skill for Life programme. A fairpercentage of these have already been enrolled as Associates and areundergoing coaching. I ask the others to please be patient - we will contactyou once Observers become available - we have not forgotten about you!

I don’t often single people out for special mention but I feel I have to make anexception on this occasion. Stuart Murray, who himself was an Associate thistime last year, is becoming an outstanding role model for young people. Hebecame a Group Observer in February 2007 and since then he has energisedyoung drivers throughout the west of our region to take an interest in joiningthe IAM. We now have around 40 young people from Castle Douglas toNewton Stewart and beyond who have registered their desire to join ourcoaching scheme. This is exactly the type of organic growth both we and theIAM are trying to achieve; so well done Stuart and I for one will be pleased tosee you graduate to Senior Observer in the near future.

Another main area of focus for our Group is motorcycling. Scotland’s NationalTransport Strategy, which was published in December 2006, makes clear thatoverall whilst the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) due toaccidents is improving, statistics for motorcyclists are on the increase. TheScottish Executive has pledged to address this problem. However, solving thisproblem is not going to be an easy task, as Greg Dyke of the IAM MotoringTrust, admitted to me recently.

© Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

There are many reports on the topic of motorcycle safety. The Scottish Execu-tive commissioned TRL to investigate the subject and one conclusion was thatincreases in motorcycle casualties are closely associated with the increasingnumber of licenced motorcycles. The same report found for the period 1996-2002 the yearly increase in motorcycle KSI casualties was around 9%. A morerecent report examining Risk and Motorcycling in Scotland, produced for theScottish Executive by TRL and Napier University, showed there to have been986 motorcyclist casualties in 2004, on Scottish roads, of which 389 fell into theKSI category. Per mile travelled, they concluded that motorcyclists are 25 timesmore at risk of being killed in a road traffic accident than car users.

Here in Dumfries & Galloway, the figures compiled by the Police in the STATS19 report database show a similar trend in so far as the number of road trafficaccidents is increasing with the period June 2006 –June 2007 being up almost50% on the average of the two previous years. In addition, the past year hasalso sadly seen 3 fatal accidents involving motorcyclists.

It is against this background that your committee are determined to channeleven more effort and resource into trying to reverse this trend. To this end I’mpleased to report that we have agreed to reduce the cost of the Skill for Lifeprogramme for inexperienced or “born again” motorcyclists. The recent public-ity, which I hope you heard on the radio or saw on the TV, will have helpedraise the public awareness to the hazards faced by motorcyclists. In addition,SouthWest Sound Radio will be launching another road safety campaign inSeptember and we plan to feature in this, making motorcycling our theme.

Our motorcycling Observers, in coordination with local Police, have run aseries of evening events to attract motorcyclists where they can hear at firsthand about the hazards they face. The aim of all these activities has been toengage with greater numbers of motorcyclists and to encourage them to takepart in the Police Bike Safe initiative as well as to join the IAM, enrol as anAssociate and become safer on the road.

Both I and your committee will do everything we can to support these initia-tives. As car drivers we sometimes forget just how at risk motorcyclists are,and this was brought home to me just a few months ago, when sat in myparked car, in a marked bay, a motorcyclist hit the back of my vehicle. Themotorcyclist had not been at fault but he nevertheless sustained a seriousdisabling injury which he will have to deal with for the rest of his life.

Let me conclude my report by encouraging any reader of this magazine whoknows or has a loved one who rides a motorcycle for work or pleasure tocontact us so that we can help make them safer. The relatively small cost ofthe IAM’s coaching programme is the best purchase they will ever make andit could help to change their life forever. ...... Alan Jones (Chairman)

3


IAM Group Support Achievement Award (cars) 2007Tulliallan, 14 April 2007 saw our Group’s work recognised by award of theGroup Achievement Award 2007 (cars). Thanks to all who have helped make

this happen.

Pictured here is Stuart Murray receiving the presentationplate and cheque on behalf of the Group from PeterRodger, IAM Chief Examiner. Peter Rodger compliment-ed the Group on its record of increasing membership,fund raising and its initiative to put young drivers andriders through the Skill for Life programme. He alsosingled out the Group’s Motorcycle Section for praisenoting the strong numbers going through its SfL courses.

Another member joins our ranksDavid Pennycook from Dumfries was one of threebikers who passed his advanced motorcycle teston a very wet Saturday, June 16.

He said about the 'Skill for Life' course: "I havebeen riding a wide variety of machines since I was16. I got involved with the IAM through speakingto local members, and enrolled in this course.

I found the course very enlightening, ironing out afew bad habits and giving me new techniques to use to make my riding saferand much more enjoyable. The observers were very friendly and each sessionwas always fun. Within 8 weeks I had passed my Advance Motorcycle Test."

Graeme McColm congratu-lates David on passing his test

Jamie Wood funds new radiosThanks to Jamie Wood of St Michael's Service Ltdwho has provided the motorcycle section with newObserver and Associate radio kits.

Pictured here is Jamie Wood presenting the equip-ment to Christine Donaldson.About the Group and the IAMThe Dumfries and Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists and Motorcyclists,isaffiliated to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was founded in1979. The IAM was formed as an independent, non profit-making organisationwith the aim of improving driving standards, promoting road safety and estab-lishing an advanced driving test. During its 50 years, it has become a recog-nised authority on road safety.


Noel Kelly - from Associate to ObserverI initially became interested in Advanced Driving as I thought it would be agood achievement to have “under your belt”. I then heard that a friend hadrecently become an Observer and it all spiralled from there. The first drive wasslightly daunting and I had a lot to take in. It also highlighted a few habits I hadpicked up that would have to be remedied.

After the initial drive it just got better and better alongwith the enjoyment and safety of my driving. I couldsee my driving style changing after each sessionand found it quite exciting to be driving to the samesystem adopted by the Police. People need to un-derstand that it’s not about driving slowly and goingout for nice Sunday drives, it really can bring enjoy-ment to your driving and totally opens your eyes.

On the day of my test I was understandably nervous, but the Examiner, who Imay add, was a pleasant down to earth chap put me at ease from the verybeginning. I just applied all my newly found driving skills and incorporated theminto my drive as per my usual sessions with my Observer. I was elated when Ihad found out I had passed, a real achievement.

Since passing the test I have gone on to become an Observer myself and nowhave my own Associates. I have also enjoyed trips to Tulliallan Police Collegewhich has been a grand experience. I would advise any driver, who enjoystheir driving, to take up the Skill for Life course as it will certainly increase theirenjoyment and make for an altogether safer driver.

Noel at Tulliallan

Procurator Fiscal passes the Advanced Driving TestDuring my work as Procurator Fiscal for Dumfries and Kirkcudbright, I amafraid that I saw the results of bad driving on the local roads. We have a highproportion of road traffic deaths and each case marks the waste of a life andthe tragic consequences which that has for families and friends. Anythingwhich can be done to raise the standard of driving among drivers of all agescan only help. I am convinced that the IAM approach can improve driving andhelp reduce the damage caused by bad driving in Dumfries and Galloway.

From a personal point of view, I realised that I had picked up a number of badhabits in 25 years of driving. The Skill for Life programme has helped me toreview the way I drive and take steps to get rid of my bad habits. It has notbeen easy, but it has been very worthwhile.

John Service, former District Procurator Fiscal, Dumfries and Kirkcudbright


Motorcycle Chief Observer’s diaryI would love to say to you what a great summer we’ve hadfor motorcycling, so enough said about the weather then.It certainly hasn’t stopped the motorcycle section fromgoing about its business but it certainly hasn’t helped. Themain activity, as always, is the coaching of associates and my thanks go to myobserver colleagues for their continuing dedication to the cause. By the timeyou read this we’ll have another four fully qualified observers, one of whom,Donna McCloskey is our first female observer. That will take us to three seniorobservers, six observers and another in training. I know many of you who haverecently passed your test have expressed an interest in becoming observers,regrettably at the moment we do not envisage training any more in theforeseeable future, the exception to this would be if anyone from the West ofthe region comes forward or if existing observers hang up their radios.

The pass rate amongst our associates remains very high and is a reflection ofthe hard work they and the observers put in. It is a particular pleasure whenassociates, who have passed, tell us how much they have enjoyed “Skill forLife” and how much it has improved their riding. We have had our first ‘bigscooter’ rider pass their test recently, congratulations Robin. We continue tohave our usual vast range of people and bikes, including our first Goldwingowner and we have, very recently, had enquiries from trike owners!

What is a new phenomenon to us this yearis trying to get associates to come out regu-larly, if you are an associate remember youonly have a year from the point of joining tositting your test as membership lapsesthereafter and you would need to pay again,so please get in touch.

As always the best form of attracting newassociates to the group is by word of mouth.If you know anyone who rides a bike that

hasn’t done “Skill for Life” then please talk to them about your experiences andget them to come along, even better bring them yourself.

RIDESAFE THIS SUMMER has been an initiative we have been running withthe Police Motorcycle Unit. It had us deliver four one hour taster presentationsto anyone who chose to turn-up to see it and many thanks to those of you whodid and for the positive feedback you gave us. We have tapped into a ‘newarea’ in the West of region and I am confident that we'll see a number of bikerswho attended presentations joining our group. I also learned how to speak intoradio station microphones, a bit daunting at first but from then on the nerves

Donna McCloskey


disappeared. The initiative was also promoted in local papers, TV and teletext;this is all good publicity for our group.

We couldn’t have done what we have without the help of Les Kirkpatrick andJim Cowie from the Police, Stuart Murray (group press officer), Jamie Wood ofSt Michaels Street Service Station, Dumfries who bankrolled the initiative andTommy Jardine and colleagues at SouthWestSound who have been hugely supportive inpromoting RIDESAFE. One of the spin-off’swas that the Police BIKESAFE presentationon 19th August approached over subscription.The event was a rich source of informationand new associates. Graham Abrines and Iare going to meet with the Motorcycle Unit andtheir manager to discuss future joint work atsome point soon. We are happy to come andgive the presentation to any organised group,please get in touch if you are interested.

Bruce McKenzie is a name many of you may recognise. He is a SouthWestSound radio DJ and keen motorcyclist. He is being coached by yours truly andat the time of writing I’ve had him out three times. Like most of you mayremember, the first run when we explain the corner at Glencaple was asurprise to him, he couldn’t believe just how much you can learn at one corner.Bruce has been out twice more and we’ve covered observation and cornering.Again like most of you the phrases “If you don’t see it you can’t do anythingabout it” and “try being in a responsive gear for the next corner” were used onmore than one occasion. Bruce has got a lot out of what we’ve done and islooking forward to completing the course and passing his test and will no doubthelp us with publicity via his ‘Drivetime’ show during the week.

The Scottish Bikeshow at Ingliston in March was snow free this year. It wasour Group’s turn to host the IAM stand. It was a huge success with us signingup 87 people from across Scotland over the two days. At one point we hadpeople queuing up to sign up. The feedback we’ve received from other groupshas been very positive about not only the numbers but the way we went aboutit. Thanks to Andrew, Graham, Phil and Donna for all their hard work.

The IAM web forum is now up and running. Many of you won’t know that theScottish IAM motorcycle fraternity has twice yearly meetings chaired by ourown Andrew Bird with the secretarial support coming from Graham Abrines.The web forum is a direct result of the work done by Andrew and anothersenior observer, Brian Watson from the Glasgow North group. Have a look at:www.iamforum.org/index

From the left: Graeme McColm,Les Kirkpatrick and Jamie Wood


Scott Anderson has been leading the development of our own dedicated bikesection web site. The work still needs finalised but we hope to have it up andrunning shortly. This will be another way to spread the work we do in promot-ing motorcycle safety. We will let you know when the site is up and running, ifyou have any ideas don’t hesitate to pass them on to Scott.

Funding the motorcycle section continues to be an issue for us and I mustthank Jamie Wood from St Michaels Street Service Station for his continuingsupport and other local firms, Arla and Chaplecross for their donations thisyear. We are always grateful for regular or one off donations and if you thinkyou can help please get in touch.

I want to keep our full members involved asmuch as they want to be. Remember agroup of full members always go out for arun every Sunday morning from StMichaels and observers are happy to takeyou out for a polish up session. The firstSunday of the month continues to be thesection’s ride out, please come along for10am. We will be having another curry nightin the autumn and you are always welcomeat evening events run by the group. I am in the process of organising a biker’sonly night at the Dalston Hotel later in September, 25th/26th or 27th, we’llcontact you via email or text and we’ll put the details on the group website:www.iamdumfries.org.uk (though if anyone turns up from the tin box sectionyou’ll be made more than welcome). The night will consist of a variety ofactivities that will be both informative, participative and enjoyable, in sayingthat if you have any ideas for the evening please get in touch with me.

I want our section to be more pro-active within the group as a whole. Many ofyou have voiced opinions that the group is overly car focused and there is littlefor bike members. I want us to work hard within the group to change this andI’d like to hear from you about any ideas you might have about how to achievethis. The potential consequence of not being able to achieve this is the veryreal possibility that we would not continue within the larger group beyond theAGM 2008. It is everyone’s wish that we want to continue to co-exist with thecar section and to achieve this we need more help from you to be pro-activein the group.

Finally I’m told the long range weather forecast is good. I hope we can all getout on our bikes and enjoy the great roads that we have in our area andbeyond. As the Sergeant in Hill Street Blues used to say however, “let’s becareful out there!” ..... Cheers Graeme McColm

Members bikes at St Michaels StreetService Station for the Sunday Run


Rural roads are number one for deaths and serious injuriesAround two thirds of all accidents occur on rural roads; quite simply road usersare more at risk on this type of road than when using motorways or urban roads.

Not only that but one in four male drivers killed or seriously injured on ruralroads is under the age of 25 with road collisions in general being the numberone killer of people aged between 15 and 24.

Our region has a high proportion of rural roads so road users in general andyoung drivers in particular are at greater risk than many other areas of thecountry. Rural roads does not just mean narrow country lanes but includes‘main roads’ between built up areas. Overall 70% of deaths on Scotland’sroads occur on rural roads.

Road users are often lulled into afalse sense of security on ruralroads; with less traffic it is easy tothink you have a reduced risk whenusing this type of road. The verynature of rural roads is what bringsthe added risk however, as most ofthem have evolved over the yearsrather than having been designedto suit modern traffic conditions.

Variable surfaces, poor cambersand alignments, restricted views,sharp bends, brows and dips etc.are all commonly found. Add to thisthings like quarrying or farming ac-tivities which may lead to machinery emerging from barely visible entrances,and mud on the road. The problems of other traffic approaching on narrowroads or badly positioned on bends and you have special circumstanceswhere the smallest lack of judgement can, and does, lead to death and injury.

Like all things to do with driving or riding, observation and planning is key tominimising your risks on this type of road. It is not all bad however as ruralroads usually have numerous clues available allowing you to get advancedwarning of the road layout and other potential hazards. The key is acting onand prioritising the information and planning how to approach and deal withthem - even if the results of your observation is just that your view ahead isobscured. With the risks of oncoming vehicles poorly positioned or driving toofast it is always worth monitoring the actions of other traffic closely.

Rural roads have multiple hazards with littlemargin for error if someone makes a mistake


New Group web siteThe new group web site is now up and running, whynot visit?

Several video clips are embedded into the site includ-ing Tommy Jardine’s interview with Alan McNish, a miniversion of ‘What happens on an IAM Skill for Life DrivingCourse’ and a short presentation informing the viewer a littleabout Advanced Driving and Riding.

Find it at: www.iamdumfries.org.uk or via www.iam.org.uk/groups/dumfriesGreater risks are on the wayWith the onset of winter driving becomes more hazardouswith factors like high winds, rain, ice, snow, fog, wet leavesand dark nights becoming more likely to affect your journey.

Figures from the Department For Transport showed thatthe worst three months of 2005 for road casualties (nearly72,000 casualties including over 890 deaths) were Janu-ary, November and December.

So how can you help yourself to be safe in poor conditions?Well, below is a list of just some of the things you can do:

~Keep your vehicle maintained, including checking your tyres, don’t let themget down to the legal minimum before replacing them. Check the pressures.~Check your lights are working and are clean.~Keep your vehicle’s glass clean inside and out.~Keep your washers topped up and use a screen-wash with antifreeze.~Watch the weather and road surface conditions, recognise when your vehicleperformance and stability could be affected.~Watch out for other drivers - they may be less accomplished than you in poorconditions.~Increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front.~Observe, plan and drive smoothly - understand that coarse braking, steering,acceleration and gear changes can all promote skids.~Keep your speed down.~Allow extra journey time “it is better to arrive late than not at all”


JOHN F. BLACK

6B Catherinefield Industrial EstateHeathhall Dumfries DG1 3PQ

Servicing - Repairs - Welding - Recovery - MOT TestingWe cater for cars, motor-homes and light commercials

Tel: 01387 267473

Rising motorcycle deathsThe DfT latest statistics show a five per cent rise in motorcyclists killed on ourroads making a total of 599 motorcycle user fatalities in 2006.

The IAM said that much greater focus is needed to find engineering solutionsto stop roadside features killing and maiming riders. Recent research commis-sioned by the IAM Trust found that:~12–16 per cent of biker deaths involve crash barriers~crash barriers designed to protect car occupants can kill motorcyclists~riders hitting a barrier are 15 times more likely to be killed than car occupants~injuries can be five times more severe when hitting roadside barriers thanwhen hitting protected roadside objects."It is intolerable that motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to die than caroccupants on roads," said Mr Rodger, IAM Chief Examiner. "Training andenforcement are both vital. However, it is irrational and unacceptable thatroadside barriers, which prevent deaths and injuries to thousands of caroccupants, kill riders. The IAM Trust is committing £50K over two years to apan-European study to look at how roads can be made much more forgivingto riders when a crash happens".


Check your tyresEarlier this year, in response to a Parliamentary question, it was revealed thataround 3,000 injury-related crashes take place each year due to vehicledefects. Of these, around 1,100 happen because of defective or underinflated tyres. It is wise to inspect the physical condition of your tyres regularlyand check tyre pressures weekly to minimise these risks.

A Europe wide minimum tyre tread depth for cars of 1.6mm has been in forcefor some years now but with changing vehicle designs and increased tyrewidths some studies suggest that stopping distances in the wet, can besignificantly increased once the tread depth drops below 3mm. The Depart-ment of Transport have planned research into this matter for 2007.

Insurer Norwich Union has found that on rainy days there are up to 40% moreroad crashes. It has been shown that it can take around eight metres extra tostop from 50mph when tyres have been allowed to wear down to 1.6mmcompared with a 3mm tread depth. The smart advice might be to considerchanging your tyres well before they get down to the legal minimum.The Secretary Reports - Helen Cameron

Here we are again at the end of a not so hot summer. Our new season’s meetingsbegin in September and it would be great to see lots of new faces. I’ll be inviting ourrecent passes, both motorcycle and car, to attend the first meeting to receive theircertificates and tee shirts.

Our observers have been busy over the summer with lots of test passes. Congratula-tions to the following successful candidates: Fraser Sneddon, Keith Baynton, DerekBrown, David Pennycook, William Wilson, Kenny Degnan, Grant Templeman andBob Sloan (motorcycle). David Broatch, Thelma Bouisson, Kevin Copeland, MatthewGay, Ben Hallam, Noel Kelly, Craig Lavan, Kenneth Lockhead, Matthew McKernan,Carene McKnight, Gina Roussell, John Service and Neil Whitelaw (car). It’s great toreport that a few of our recent passes have decided to train as observers.

The £10 group fee is due now, the committee would be grateful if you please pay it assoon as possible. We do not intend to send out reminders or make telephone calls, soif you are a current member or joined the group before April 2007 renewal fees aredue now. This will be the last magazine you receive if you do not re join. Each year thetreasurer spends hours chasing up members and we feel this should not be necessary.

We have had a big publicity event for new motorcycle members over July and Augustso hopefully we will have more bike passes before the winter sets in.

If any present member feels they could help to guide associates by training to becomean observer then please mark the renewal form as such and I will get in touch withyou. I look forward to seeing you at our group meetings.

CrossflagsAt Crossflags we strive to create the best customer experience in the area.Please come and see us when you are considering your next vehiclepurchase.

York House, Annan Road, Dumfries DG1 3AW01387 253473 Fax: 01387 253472www.crossflags.co.uk


We advocate using the ‘Planned System of Driving or Riding’. Just because you don’t useour System doesn’t necessarily make you an unsafe driver or rider.What our method gives you is a means of driving or riding in a consistently safe, systematicway which leaves nothing to chance. Our method will not help you drive or ride through ahazard, say a bend, at the fastest possible physical speed but when perfected itshould help you progress through it at the fastest speed while at the same timemaintaining stability and maximising safety.

We exist to promote road safety and improved driving andriding standards to motorists and motorcyclists through-out Dumfries and Galloway, by providing Advanced Driv-ing and Riding courses.

Whether you are an experienced driver or rider, or newlyqualified, why not find out how we can help you to get in,and stay in control on the road?

If you are interested in improving your skills, even if youhave completed an Advanced course in the past, thenwhy not find out how we can help you.

To find out how we can help you to help yourself e-mailor call the Secretary (07707 035518), or visit our website - it’s a ‘Skill for Life’

G e t i n C O N T R O L

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY GROUP OF ADVANCED MOTORISTS & MOTORCYCLISTSRegistered Charity in Scotland No. SC 023511

Our invitation to you:

& s t a y i n C O N T R O L

What’s different about our method of driving or riding?


‘Sustained rev’ aka ‘rev matched’ gear changes‘Sustained rev’ gear changes are used to effect a smooth downward change.It is often a difficult concept to understand and even harder to carry out. Theterm would probably be better called ‘sustained throttle’ but in practice it hasoften to be modified slightly from the true theoretical meaning of the phrase.

In ideal conditions if a vehicle’s throttle is set to maintain a constant speed andthe throttle ‘is sustained’, i.e. kept at the same opening, whilst the clutch isdepressed the engine revs will increase as the load comes off the engine. Ifyou move the gear lever across the gate through neutral and take the nextlower gear with practised timing you can engage that gear when the enginerevs become matched for the road speed in that new gear.

The method can be used to block change down (say 4th to 2nd) but here youwould have to move the gear stick more slowly to allow the revs to rise furtherand probably you would have to increase the revs slightly, with a little in-creased throttle pressure, to get the match between the road speed and thenew gear. You can see straight away that in this case neither ‘sustained rev’nor ‘sustained throttle’ is an accurate description but rather ‘rev matched’ maybetter correctly describe the method, although for our advanced guidancepurposes all tend to come under the banner of ‘sustained rev’ gear changes.


For the technically minded amongst you yes of course every car is different,engine characteristics and closeness of the gear ratios etc will all affect timingsand any need for additional throttle pressure. Only practice will help youeffectively carry out the ‘sustained’ gear change in any particular vehicle.

So why do we advocate this type of gear change? Like every thing we do inadvanced driving we are trying to be safe, systematic and minimise risks.Some of the major reasons skids start are coarse - braking, acceleration,steering and gear changing. Every time you carry out a manual gear changepower to the driven wheels is removed - then re-engaged, so potentiallyincreasing the risk of starting a skid if you are less than smooth when travellingover a poor surface for instance. Added to this are the increased risks if thegear change is carried out whilst actively steering and/or braking.

That is why the System specifies that Position (steering) is dealt with beforeSpeed (braking), in turn and before Gear (gear changing). We only have twofeet but three pedals so it is essential that the braking phase has beencompleted before changing gear; in that way the right foot is off the brake andavailable to operate the throttle for a ‘sustained (aka matched rev)’ gear change.

What exactly do you have to do to perfect this desired type of gear change?Well simply you have to ensure the engine revs are matched to the correctengine revs for any particular road speed before you re-engage the clutch. Ifyou have a look at the table below you’ll see for a hypothetical diesel car(yours will be different) the engine revs are shown at particular road speeds.

Lets say the vehicle is traveling at60mph in 5th gear towards a bend.The driver decides 5th gear is nolonger appropriate so in order toachieve more control over his vehiclehe decides to change from 5th to 4that the advanced warning sign beforethe bend but he does not need to slow down. After carrying out his observa-tions, considering his position and confirming his speed is still OK he dips theclutch, moves the gear stick through the gate into 4th gear position whilst‘sustaining’ (at the same throttle opening) the accelerator. He times the actionto re-engage the clutch once the engine revs have reached the required revsfor the new gear/road speed, in this case an increased from 1950 to 2550 rpm.

In reality you may need to ‘feather’ the accelerator especially if you are blockchanging say at a roundabout (once you see it is clear to go). You do not needto look at the rev counter as you change gear although a quick glance may beuseful when first practicing - but only do so on a clear road with few hazards.

Gear ↓ 30mph 40mph 50mph 60mph

3 1800 2400 3000 36004 1275 1700 2125 25505 1300 1625 1950Table of engine revs (rpm) at various road

speed/gear combinations


INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT for the period ended 30 April 2007INCOME £ 2007 2006Membership Subscriptions 1540.00 1119.50Course Fees 1123.00 629.50Bank Account Interest 76.06 35.60Sale of R’craft, H’way Code & PYADT 88.00 42.00Refund of SGA Travel Expenses 37.00 37.00Newsletter Sponsorship 1070.00 650.00Gift Aid 135.38 95.90Sale of DVDs etc 460.30 367.00Payment for Post & Packing of DVDs etc 13.20 11.20Income from Raffle 50.00 17.00Donations 55.00 NILCSP/LAF Award 3250.00 NILD&GC Sponsorship of M/C sign - St Michael SS 300.00 NILSkill for Life Payment 85.00 NIL50th Anniversary funding from IAM HQ 500.00 NILRefund of M/C Conference Exp 153.40 NILYoung Drivers sponsorship - DA Autos 650.00 NILYoung Drivers sponsorship - Amey 650.00 NILYoung Drivers sponsorship - Hal McGhie 650.00 NILPolice funding for Mini Hibernian 60.00 NILRefund of Scottish M/C Forum expenses 50.00 NILSFL Funding from Procurator Fiscal 170.00 NILSFL Funding from D&GC K’bt 690.00 NILSale of “Cool” T Shirts 20.00 NILWestsound Advert funding from IAM HQ 300.00 NILDonation from Arla Foods 250.00 NILIAM Group Award NIL 150.00Manoeuvrability Competition Entry Fees NIL 19.00Refund of Conference Delegate Fee NIL 38.50DGCP Web Page Link NIL 150.00Newsletter of Year Award NIL 150.00Treasure Hunt income NIL 20.00Unpresented cheque NIL 7.98

12426.34 3540.18EXPENDITURE £Chairman’s Expenses NIL NILSecretary’s Expenses 88.50 23.50Course/Observer Co-ordinator Expenses 18.80 8.50Treasurer’s Expenses 2.10 2.50Group Meeting Expenses 215.00 180.00Course Expenses - Room Rent 45.00 60.00Insurance 52.50 50.00SGA Affiliation Fees 44.78 27.54Gifts/Prizes 135.00 70.88Stamps 403.17 173.86Newsletter Photocopying 1293.38 721.50SGA Travel Expenses 37.00 37.00Senior Observer Test Fee 30.00 120.00Catering for Quiz /Awards Night 45.00 60.00DVD etc production costs 266.49 56.87Motorcycle Safety Vests 233.83 101.05Conference Expenses 153.40 16.97SNIGA Delegate Fee 36.00 38.50Catering for AGM 20.00 12.50Motorcycle Communication Equipment 103.45 32.43Stationery 57.85 19.56Video Camera Kit 48.99 204.46Polo Shirts 526.46 NILM/C Forum Delegate Expenses 29.16 NILCSP/LAF SFL Payments 3250.00 NILSFL Payment 795.00 NILStand Fees at Shows 92.50 NILIAM 50 Badges 42.00 NILIAM 50 Presentation / Catering 605.25 NILContinued on next page

© Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists

What’s the point?Here is an example of a less commontype of limit point. The limit of forwardvision on this road is controlled by anoverhanging tree.

The safe way of approaching this hazardis to treat it as any other limit point, thatis: ensure you can stop, safely and com-fortably on your side of the road, in thedistance you can see to be clear.

18

Display stand return costs 81.70 NILPrinting of Hi Vis Vests 130.43 NILPlastic Display Dispensers 23.00 NILMinibus Hire 64.46 NILGroup Stamper 17.50 NILPoster Printing costs 35.88 NILCatering for DCM Visit 30.65 NILScottish M/C Forum Expenses 50.00 NILPrinter Cartridge 14.99 NIL“Cool” Logo’d T Shirts 362.50 NILDVD Duplicator 321.36 NILWestsound Advert 352.50 NILSoftware for Website & Newsletter 74.90 NILEntry in Yellow Pages NIL 59.93Marker Boards for M/C Observers NIL 19.95Group Sign @ St Michaels SS NIL 340.75Motorcycle Radios NIL 773.87Group Mobile Phone NIL 59.99Purchase of Trophy (2) NIL 90.00Highway Code NIL 32.30PYADT NIL 89.89Business Card Templates NIL 6.00Daily Mail Advert NIL 26.50

10230.48 3516.80Bank Balance at 30 April 2005 1968.71Bank Balance at 30 April 2006 1992.09 1992.09Bank Balance at 30 April 2007 4187.95Funds Surplus at 30 April 2006 23.38Funds Surplus at 30 April 2007 2195.86Membership of the Dumfries Group of Advanced Motorists was 154 for the year ended 30 April 2007.

These accounts were approved on 13 April 2007 as a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs.

Membership renewalIt’s time to renew your membership for the forthcoming year. Included withthis magazine is the renewal form, if applicable to you. If you’ve not alreadycompleted a Gift Aid Declaration please do - it provides significant help to us.If you have completed the Declaration in the past it is still valid so there’s noneed to complete that section again. The Inland Revenue remind those whohave completed a Gift Aid Declaration that they must continue to pay incometax or CGT each year in excess of the value of the Gift Aid benefit for it toremain valid - otherwise let our Treasurer know.


O B S E R V E R’ S C O R N E R

This section is intended to help when considering the best course ofaction. It is up to every driver to actively assess each scenario.

BGOL, BHOL and GHOLHopefully most readers are familiar with the term BGOL (brake/gear overlap)but we tend not to frequently use the terms BHOL (brake/hazard overlap) orGHOL (gear/hazard overlap). Instead we generally just suggest that brakingand gear changing needs to be completed before reaching the hazard.

Consider the approach to the hazard inthis photograph. In this case it is a right-hand bend. There is also approachingtraffic we need to keep our eye on.

Following other traffic towards such ahazard will frequently, if not invariablyreveal a method of dealing with the haz-ard which is not as safe as it could be.

Just study such a situation next time youfollow traffic at a bend and you won’t have to wait long before witnessingBHOL i.e. overlapping the braking with the hazard - watch their brake lights.The car in the photo is just such an example of braking on a bend This willlikely be followed by GHOL (changing gear on the bend), proceeding aroundthe bend in too high a gear or maybe a lower gear was taken before braking.

All these are ‘non system’ faults, the Examiner will be on the look out for these,as all of them can compromise the balance and safety of your vehicle.

It is much safer to have completed your braking and taken a new appropriategear (if needed) before reaching the hazard. In this way you can have bothhands on the wheel whilst braking then only needing to take a hand off thewheel for a gear change before you need to turn. As you actively turn into thehazard you have both hands available for steering and your right foot is readyto apply a little throttle to maximise the balance through the bend.

Sometimes you will have to brake on a curve but if so then plan to brake earlierand more gently. See also the following article about stability and balance.


Are you stable and well balanced?Most drivers will recognise that accelerating hard or braking hard whilststeering makes a vehicle harder to control and increases the risk of losingsteering control.

A vehicle is at its most stable when moving on a level, smooth surface, in astraight line and at a constant speed. Any act of braking, accelerating orsteering will affect the dynamic stability of the vehicle. Changes in the roadsurface such as camber, distressed surfacing, pot holes etc also will have anaffect on vehicle stability.

Ultimately there is only a finite amount of grip available from the tyres and thisvaries with the situation. Tyre grip has to be shared between steering, brakingand acceleration. If a situation demands more grip be used for braking thenless will be available for steering. When all the available grip is used yourvehicle may run wide, take longer to stop or skid. Exactly what happens to avehicle depends on the situation and what safety features are fitted e.g ABS,electronic stability control, electronic differential lock etc. Even if you have allthe available technology fitted it won’t stop you crashing, at best it can onlyassist you to recover from a ‘sticky’ situation - but only if there is room to doso. It would be much better not to get in that ‘sticky’ situation in the first place.

Given that we can’t travel everywhere in optimum conditions it is important, ifwe want to maximise safety, to look out for the various factors which mightaffect the drive and plan for them before we get there.

When accelerating (or braking) the weight distribution moves to the rear (orforwards) hence the vehicle becomes less stable as it is no longer in the moststable condition. In the case of steering and at the same time braking oraccelerating the forces on the vehicle are no longer symmetrical, the weighttransferring to one corner - thus the vehicle becomes even more unbalanced.

Once this is understood we can see that ideally we do not want to beaccelerating or braking at the same time as steering.

A vehicle only has a finite amount of tyre grip. The weight distribution changes asthe vehicle accelerates, brakes or steers. This affects the handling and dynamicbalance of the vehicle. The exact effect depends on the vehicle attributes andoutside influences. (Not shown above is the combination of acceleration andsteering where the weight is moved towards the outside rear)

WEIGHTWEIGHT

WEIGHTWEIGHT

Accelerating Braking Steering Braking & steering


This premise needs a little refinement however as we should consider whathappens as a vehicle travelling at a constant speed turns into a corner. As thevehicle turns the tyres scrub their way across the road surface and thesefrictional forces will cause the vehicle to slow down. Using acceleration senseto slow down in terms of the change of weight distribution has the same effectas active braking i.e. the weight moves towards the front, but as the vehicle isalso steering the weight will move toward the front outside of the corner.

We have already established that this leads to a more unbalanced state. Inorder to maximise the vehicle stability we should apply a little acceleration tocounterbalance the effect of the cornering forc-es. The accelerator needs to be used with carejust to maintain our speed as we do not want toaccelerate and so cause the weight distributionto move to the rear, we just want to maintainbalance through the bend. Obviously to use theaccelerator we need to be in an appropriategear before we start steering.

All this fits in with the ‘Planned System of Driving’ by ensuring any slowing orbraking (speed phase) is completed before selecting the gear (gear phase)and both completed before steering and using the accelerator (accelerationphase). This will maximise the stability of the vehicle as it corners.

So to maintain balance and maximise stability we need to:~Consider and adopt the best position on approach.~Start slowing with ‘acceleration sense’ (foot off gas) then braking if necessary.~Complete speed reduction with both hands on the wheel wherever possible.~Feather off the brakes.~Then take the new gear if appropriate using a sustained rev method.All before you reach the bend or other hazard - then:~ Steer progressively and precisely using both hands (pull/pull on open road).~Apply a little pressure to the accelerator to maintain speed and balance.~Apply progressive accelerator pressure at or near the end of the bend torecover lost speed.

Maintaining balance also exerts maximum vehicle sympathy and comfort topassengers. All it takes is practice, quite a lot of practice!

It might help you to remember when cornering to ‘ease then squeeze’ theaccelerator.


Finding a safe place to stopDrivers are not allowed to stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except inan emergency and if you do have to stop you are advised to exit the vehicleon the nearside and move away from the vehicle because of the risk that itmay be struck from behind. But have you thought about the risk of being struckfrom behind when stopping on other types of road?

The AA Motoring Trust investigated the dangers associated with stopping onhigh speed dual carriageways i.e. non-motorways such as the A74 south ofGretna, now being upgraded. The results of their investigations highlight thedangers of stopping on such roads and indeed also probably carry a messageabout using lay-bys on other types of road too. Some of their findings were:

~A vehicle stopped on a dual carriageway (non motorway) is 100 times moreat risk of being struck from behind than one stopped in a lay-by.

~A vehicle stopped alongside a high-speed dual carriageway is 15 times morelikely to be rammed than one stopped on the hard shoulder of the M1 motorway.

~1 in 8 fatal accidents on such dual carriageways involved stationary vehicles.

~A survey of fatal accidents involving stopped vehicles on a dual carriagewayshowed that 60 per cent happen in a lay-by.

There are two types of lay-bys ondual carriageways, new type‘protected’ ones and older style‘unprotected’ ones. Protected lay-bysare wider and parked vehicles areprotected from the running lanes bya kerbed island.

Drivers typically drift into unprotectedlay-bys through fatigue, drink, dis-traction, inattention and misreadingthe lay-by as the main carriageway.

So how can you decide the safestplace to stop?

Service areas are safer but if you must stop in a lay-by then avoid unprotectedlay-bys if possible and park close to the left-hand edge of the lay-by.

Don’t stay in the lay-by longer than necessary, use parking lights at night forroads where the speed limit is greater than 30mph (Highway Code Rule 223).

Typical protected lay-by - note the debris onthe road surface in the braking area!


Be patient and very cautious whenrejoining the main carriageway – thedistance provided for acceleration isshort and you could be joining fastmoving traffic.

When you do stop, by using yourplanning skills you may be able toposition your vehicle to allow a littleextra distance for acceleration onceyou set off again.

Don’t chose a lay-by on a right handbend or on the approach to a junc-

tion as there is a greater potential for an approaching driver to becomeconfused by the road layout and drive into the lay-by at speed!

Unprotected lay-by on right hand bend, justbefore a junction, in rain, at dusk. Could you

find somewhere better to stop?

Bikers warned of leg circulation risk (source: IAM.org.uk)

As many as half of the UK’s estimated 1.2 million motorcycle riders could berisking leg problems because of blood flow restrictions caused by the ridingposition, the IAM’s annual biker conference heard on 16 June 2007.

"Bikers risk having blood from their legs redirected to the superficial veins, theones near the surface of the skin, causing extra pressure that can lead toproblems in later life," said speaker Ellie Lindsay, Chair of The Lindsay LegClub Foundation. She advised that motorcyclists must be aware of the signsthat venous blood flow is being impaired by the riding position and riding gear.These include: red patches of skin between the knee and ankle, or rednessand skin depression as a result of constriction from clothing.

IAM Chief Examiner Peter Rodger responded to the presentation by advisingthat the solution is to consider taking a break from riding every two hours orso, in order to flex the calves and ankles. "It’s good to take a break for all sortsof reasons. As a regular rider, I know that concentration starts to dip afterabout two hours. Even if we feel mentally alert when we are riding, that doesn’tmean the whole body is functioning at its best. So a short walk around to‘stretch the legs’ is refreshing and essential for circulation purposes.”.

"Compression socks/hosiery to aid the blood returning to the heart is a keypart of dealing with the problem", said Mr Rodger. "Wearing a leg supportunderneath the leathers can avoid long-term circulation problems such asDVT (deep vein thrombosis)".

Deep vein thrombosis is a potentially life-threatening clot occurring in a majorvein, often the lower limb, as a result of restricted venous blood flow.


Stay sharp on bends (source: IAM.org.uk)

Have you ever found yourself braking in a bend simply because it was sharperthan you originally thought? If you have then you should consider how youactually go about assessing the severity of bends, because if you get it wrong,the consequences are potentially serious.

It is not just novice drivers who get caught out on the bends though in thejargon, it is here that most "single vehicle accidents" take place.

There are a number of clues wecan take from the environment tohelp us. The most obvious arethe road signs and markings, butthere are other less obviousones: the line of the trees, hedg-es, buildings, street lights or tele-

graph poles: although remember that sometimes telegraph poles run throughfields, so don’t rely on them solely as an indication of the route ahead.

The actual width of the road can be a factor because the narrower it is, the lessspace you have to manoeuvre. Skid marks on the road are an indication ofpast mistakes. The position and speed of other traffic can also provide you withvaluable information.

Another particularly useful way ofassessing a bend is to use the limitpoint analysis. The limit point is thefurthest point which you can see,i.e. where the left and right hand sides of the road meet. To use this techniquesimply ask yourself is it getting further away? If it is and you can see furtherahead, then your speed should be fine. On the other hand if it is getting closer,then you could continue to reduce speed until the limit point begins to movewith you and your view opens up again.

This technique takes a bit of practice but it will help you to link your speed withyour range of vision and allow you to stop in the distance seen to be clear.

Video on demand (see www.iamdumfries.org.uk)

As well as hosting videos our group web site can also get you access to othershort web video productions on the subject of road use. Have a look at the‘Latest news headlines’ section of the homepage where a selection of linkscan be found - they all worked at time of publication. The editor recommendsriders and drivers to watch ‘A Day Out in Devon’.


Making sense of acceleration (IAM Driving Tip No. 27)

Fuel consumption and the environmental benefits of advanced driving tech-niques go hand in hand. Key to both is “acceleration sense”. One question youmight ask yourself is: “What is the delay time between you lifting your foot offthe accelerator and applying the brake?”

Acceleration sense is abouthow you vary your foot pres-sure on the accelerator pedalso you don’t have to brake.Surprisingly to some, one ofthe pillars of fuel efficient driv-ing is accelerating briskly to asafe cruising speed. A goodtest for fuel efficient driving is to imagine yourself somewhere that allows youto achieve an average speed between 30mph and 50mph, where you mayneed to brake regularly. Then increase that delay time: the longer you canavoid braking the more you are using the momentum you’ve built up. It meansthinking a bit further ahead of where you are. Most drivers tend to go straightfrom accelerator to brake – and that is when fuel consumption suffers.

Another example: im-agine we are in townapproaching a rounda-bout. Where do youwant the vehicle aheadof you to be when youreach the roundabout?The more skilful youbecome at timing, the

more fuel efficient you will be. It’s much better if the vehicle ahead is movinginto the roundabout when you arrive.

And lastly, think long and hard about that overtake. Not only do you have tobe entirely sure you can getpast safely (important, toput it mildly) there is alsothe possibility that you arenot gaining much in journeytime. Advanced driving isall about thinking ahead,sometimes further than you can see; and it’s not fuel efficient driving if thedriver you overtake is still right behind you when you reach the next urban area.

27

Recent IAM News Releases all available at: www.iam.org.uk

New IAM Chairman elected - David Kenworthy July 07

Parking patrols could curb road tax and insurance dodgers says IAM July 07

Rise in motorcycle deaths a worry says IAM June 07

Bikers warned of leg circulation risk (see page 24 of this magazine) June 07

Sky says "on yer bike" in IAM cycling move June 07

IAM Driving Tips and Factsheets- there are dozens of driving and riding tipsavailable to view on line, some have been reproduced in this magazine. They covera wide range of issues just go to the IAM web site: www.iam.org.uk

New Associate Handbook available on lineAn updated version of the Associate Handbook for cardrivers is now available from the Group web site.

Go to: www.iamdumfries.org.uk; look for the GuidancePages. You’ll need the password ‘ assocbookaut07 ‘which will work until mid September. Thereafter you’llneed to get the updated password from the Secretary.

You can use this address to take you directly there:www.iamdumfries.org.uk/AssocGuideAut07WebQuality.pdf

T-shirtsYoung persons who pass the advanced test through us are given a T-shirt carrying

the relevant logo shown here, this will soon be extendedto all who pass. T-shirts can be purchased by any groupmember for only £5. Just ask Helen Cameron.

Free Membership offerAny Member introducing an Associate who goes on to take the IAM Test willhave free membership of the Group the following year. The committee encour-age you to let friends and relatives know about us and what we do.

Sponsors wallWant to find out which companiesand organisations support what wedo?

Have a look at the Group web sitehomepage where you will find theSponsors Wall - and there will al-ways room for more!

ADVANCE Autumn07

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Transcript of ADVANCE Autumn07