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In the news
31/10/09 -
Birmingham kids set to get behind the wheel at 11
Kids in Birmingham are being encouraged to get behind the wheel aged just
ELEVEN. The controversial programme called Young Driver will involve 11 to
16-year-olds driving a sporty SEAT Ibiza in the NEC car park for the
hour-long lessons. They will take place after school and during holidays
and were launched yesterday. Warwick University’s Professor Kevin Morley,
who previously worked for Ford and Rover, thought of the idea after
research showed that one in five young people are involved in a crash
during their first year of driving. He said: “Young Driver has two
objectives – to reduce the worryingly high accident rate among new drivers
and to give kids a fun and exciting learning experience. “We are delighted
that our sponsors, SEAT and Admiral MultiCar, are committed to these
objectives too and we all look forward to tens of thousands of young
people benefiting from this initiative over the coming years.” But
Birmingham-based ROSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents,
urged the people behind Young Driver to focus on attitudes towards the
road, rather than just the practical skills.
30/10/09 -
Former police inspector was drunk in crash that killed four
A FORMER Avon and Somerset Police inspector was almost twice the legal
drink-drive limit and speeding along a French country lane when his car
crashed and killed four of his eight passengers, an inquest heard. Andrew
Dyer, 41, his 10-year-old daughter Gabriella, from Bridgwater, Somerset,
Julie Bridges, 42, and her daughter Bethany Lowe, aged 10, who had moved
to France from the same town, all died in the crash in June 2006. The car
was being driven by Inspector Keith Bridges, 50, who survived the crash
with a broken leg. The group had been drinking heavily at the home of
Anthony Fuller, another former police officer who lived in France near to
the Bridges in the Berbiguieres area of the Dordogne region. The
inspector, who had received advanced driving tuition, is due to appear
before the French courts charged with manslaughter.
29/10/09 -
Gauteng police wants 3 000 advanced drivers by March
The Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS) wants to see 3 000 of its
members graduate in advanced driving courses by March, in time for the
2010 FIFA World Cup. Around 940 operational members have already received
training, with a pass rate of 65%. Members who fail may attend the course
a second time. Yokohama Driving Dynamics is responsible for the training,
which is conducted at the Gerotek facility, near Pretoria, using vehicles
supplied by General Motors South Africa (GMSA). SAPS provincial supply
chain management senior superintendent Tinus Swart says the training aims
to improve police members' reaction time in reaching incidents, while also
reducing the cost of civil claims filed against the police, as well as
general accident bills. The goal is for another 6 000 police members to
receive training following the global sports event.
29/10/09 -
Listening to each other, young and old learn to understand
Police in Ashbourne facilitate reconciliation between young drivers and
older residents. They have plans to do more to encourage young people to
drive safely. They are holding advanced driving classes at an event in
Ashbourne on November 14. And they are organising a session in which
firefighters will cut young volunteers out of a wrecked car to educate
them about the consequences of a road smash.
23/10/09 -
Kevin’s first steps on a new beat
A former Northumbria police officer has joined accountancy firm Tait
Walker’s growing team of highly trained forensic investigators.
Kevin Taylor from Boldon, South Tyneside is an experienced forensic
accident investigation and vehicle examination expert. His
experience means that he is qualified to carry out independent forensic
investigations on behalf of clients, producing reports upon all types of
vehicle related incidents. He is also able to offer expert opinion
providing grounds to challenge other reports within a clients defence
investigation. Mr Taylor, who has a plethora of qualifications, is
also an experienced advanced driving examiner. This capability will come
to the fore as the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007 (the Act)
impacts more and more on companies with vehicle fleets, for example taxi
firm operators.
22/10/09 -
Encourage your kids to drive without a licence this Christmas
You’ve been their personal taxi service for years – now this Christmas you
can give your kids the perfect start towards getting their own driving
licence. The SEAT Young Driver sponsored by Admiral MultiCar gets children
as young as 11 behind the wheel, with the aim of making them safer drivers
when they are old enough to hit the roads for real. Research shows that
new drivers are safer the earlier they start to learn and the new Young
Driver scheme provides lessons from advanced driving tutors in a safe
environment. Lessons, available at weekends and during school holidays,
are provided in either 30 or 60-minute sessions, and are available to
children between 11 and 16 who are at least 1.5 metres tall. The first of
a network of Young Driver centres opened in October 2009 at the NEC in
Birmingham. More are due to open in 2010, at Manchester, London and
Edinburgh. Vouchers are available from the website, priced at £29 for 30
minutes and £55 for an hour. All of the instructors have been checked by
the Criminal Records Bureau. To book sessions for Young Driver, visit
www.youngdriver.eu. Once the payment has been accepted a confirmation will
be emailed and the lesson booked. Payment can be made by credit or debit
card.
22/10/09 -
"Driving course could have saved my son"
THE dad of a teenager killed in a crash is backing a new road safety
campaign which he says could have saved his son. Lee Palmer, 19, of Ffordd
Dwyfor, Greenfield, suffered multiple injuries when his car left the B5121
Greenfield Road, Holywell, and hit a wall and telegraph post near his home
on December 10 last year. Lee, who wanted to be a police officer, had
previously had crashes in two other cars.
Yesterday his father Alan said a new police initiative offering extra
training to young drivers who have been involved in crashes could be the
difference between life and death. He said: “If our son had been able to
have this opportunity following his first collision he might never have
been killed. Anything which can be done to make young drivers more aware
of dangers on the road has to be a good thing and I sincerely hope that
any young driver offered this chance takes it.”
Working with the six local authorities, North Wales Police are offering
young drivers who have been in a crash the chance to take part in a free
Institute for Advanced Motorists (IAM) Skills for Life Package.
20/10/09 -
Used car drivers 'should reassess skills'
Drivers of used cars are being urged to ensure their road skills are
up-to-date as a study reveals many drivers would not pass the test if they
had to take it again. Snapshot research by Which? Car showed that three
out of five motorists aged from 21 to 64 failed the practical exam, with
one driver clocking up 12 standard and two serious faults. Even the best
performer had nine faults, more than half the maximum amount learners can
pass with. The most common errors were not checking blind spots when
moving off and not using mirrors enough. Which Car? urges motorists to
take a refresher or advanced driving course to top-up their skills. The
practical element of the standard driving test assess road skills as well
as the person's knowledge of car maintenance and safety and the Highway
Code.
15/10/09 -
Gold award for safety technique
A DRIVER whose close friend died in a motorcycle accident has received the
highest accolade his local police force can award for his driving skills.
Clive Sweeting decided to improve his own driving skills after his friend
Darren Farrant was killed while riding his motorbike in 2006, aged just
33. Mr Sweeting, 39, has been awarded his gold advanced driving
accreditation, from Suffolk Police, in a car, and also hopes to achieve
gold status with Essex Police for his motorcycle driving. Mr Sweeting, of
Risbridge Drive, Kedington, works as a warehouse man, but has two
motorbikes, which he enjoys riding in his spare time. He also works with
Essex Police to pass on motorcycle safety tips to other riders. Mr
Sweeting said: "I got into it initially after my friend Darren died on the
Halstead Road, then I just got completely obsessed with it. I have got two
motorbikes, one I ride just for pleasure in the summer and the other I
ride every day come rain or shine. Advanced drivers give their time as
volunteers to teach others how to stay safe on their bikes. "I have only
been doing it since 2007 and I am really pleased to get gold status so
quickly. I would like to get my gold for bikes as well and I hope to go on
improving my driving skills in the future."
11/10/09 -
Honda Safety Institute opens its doors
Honda’s Safety
Institute is an international model centre unique in Europe. With this,
Honda dispose of 36 similar facilities around the world, concentrated
especially in Asia and South America. However, for its expansion to the
old continent Honda has chosen Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, in Barcelona, for
the implantation of its first European centre for the training of riders.
The HIS disposes of modern facility that takes up a surface of 25,000m2,
presided by a building equipped with different classrooms. For the
practical lessons, there are three clearly differenced areas: an asphalted
track for multiple uses, a section with different coefficients of friction
for the braking practice, an off-road track and area for trial. In short,
these facilities are designed to hold up to 15,000 attendants a year and
have meant an inversion close to 4 million Euros.
11/10/09 -
Local Authority turns down plans for advanced driving training facility
A controversial
planning application to convert part of former Stretton Airfield into a
driving circuit has been unanimously rejected by councillors. Around
40 concerned residents attended the development control meeting last
Wednesday to hear the proposal for a driving academy and leisure motor
sports centre, which would have been in use seven days a week. The
centre would provide advanced driving tuition, basic skills for emergency
services, performance driving, vehicle experience drives, classic and
vintage car driving, diplomatic service driver training, use by
manufacturers for testing and assessment of new vehicles as well as
launching new vehicle ranges. But opponents to the venture feared
the noise impact in the green belt would outweigh any potential benefits.
of the driving academy.
11/10/09 -
Electronic ‘spy-in-the-car’ could save lives and money for young drivers
Drivers aged
between 17 and 21 are being invited to take part in a pilot road safety
scheme being launched to help them improve their driving skills and
increase road safety. The scheme, funded by the Cheshire Safer Roads
Partnership, involves fitting a small sensor to a vehicle’s dashboard for
12 months. The device is capable of measuring up to 120 different
hazardous driving manoeuvres and transmits the data to a secure website
where the drivers and their parents or guardians can review how they are
driving using a simple traffic light system – good driving shows in green,
bad in amber and red.
11/10/09 -
Expensive driving test to prove van drivers can drive cheaply
Business drivers
will soon be able to take a special test to prove they have the know-how
to slash spiralling motoring costs. In a new super-test to be
launched next week, car and van drivers can demonstrate how their
expertise is able to make massive savings on fleet operating costs.
Overseen by a specially-trained team of driving examiners, the test will
validate the ability of drivers to trim 15 per cent off fuel bills, cut
vehicle repair and wear and tear costs by up to 60 per cent and put their
firms in line for the lowest insurance rates. Believed to be the
toughest assessment of vehicle control for experienced drivers yet
devised, the 90-minute ECO test has been developed by a team of experts
from the Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council and the
Driver Education Research Foundation. Designed to set a fresh level
in advanced driving, it will cost £160 and target more than 20 million
business motorists and their employers.
08/10/09 -
TfL bid to halt motorcyclist accidents
TRANSPORT for London has launched a bid to cut motorcycle accidents after
it was revealed 139 were injured and two people were killed in the borough
last year. The BikeSafe campaign, which will run throughout this month,
comes after a damning report into road safety. In the borough, there were
27 serious accidents involving motorbikes, while in the whole of London,
58 people died, with a total of 4,590 incidents reported. The new
campaign, designed to cut the number of casualties, includes a TV advert
warning road users of an optical effect that can lead to collisions with
motorcyclists. It is believed more accidents take place during the
twilight period, when light begins to fade. Peter Saville, a renowned
designer, has produced a model showing the optical effect which causes the
brain to underestimate the time a vehicle takes to reach them. Chris Neal,
48, of the Middlesex Advanced Motorcyclists Club (MAMC), said: "With car
drivers, they are only ever really looking for other cars and often when
cars are turning right, they see a car coming but may not be able to judge
the speed of a motorbike. At MAMC, we train people to see and be seen. One
of the ways we do this is to position the machines so that other motorists
can see us in their mirrors. You have to make yourself as visible as
possible, including high visibility clothing and keeping headlights on
even during the day. It's dangerous out there and accidents usually occur
when the speed has been incorrectly judged or motorists haven't been
looking out for others."
For more information, visit www.bikesafe-london.co.uk or
www.scootersafe-london.co.uk
08/10/09 -
Halton drivers to get prizes in road safety programme
NEW drivers in Halton will be rewarded for taking part in a new high-tech
road safety coaching programme. In a bid to reduce the number of accidents
on the borough’s roads, residents who complete the course can gain high
street shopping vouchers and potentially cheaper car insurance. Motorists
between the ages of 17 and 25 can enlist on the pilot road safety scheme,
which will see a computer sensor fitted to their vehicle and information
transmitted back to a central computer. Parents, guardians and the drivers
themselves can then monitor results online to see how well the
participants are driving. Good driving shows green lights on the
programme’s website while bad car control results in amber and red. The
more greens a driver accumulates, the bigger the reward.
07/10/09 -
Institute of Occupational Health and Safety recommend advanced driving
training for working priests
Further support
for the hazardous nature of missionary work can be found elsewhere in the
statistics, since there is an increased incidence of death from skin
cancer in clergy. This may be as a result of over-exposure to ultra-violet
radiation from (tropical) sunlight. The higher than expected death toll
from motor-vehicle accidents may be attributable both to driving while
undertaking missionary work and a high mileage clocked up while visiting
housebound or hospital patients. Tuition in advanced driving may well have
a beneficial effect; Boorman described the outcomes of driving courses
that resulted in a group of drivers whose accident performance changed
from being in the worst to the best 20 per cent in their organisation.
07/10/09 -
Road Rage driver ordered to take Advanced Driving Test
A DRIVER who chased a motorist during a road-rage attack on a busy stretch
of the A78 has been banned.
Greenock Sheriff Court heard Scott McGhee, 22, repeatedly overtook the
man's car before slamming on his brakes and slowing down to speeds of just
15mph between Inverkip and Greenock.
McGhee was yesterday disqualified from driving for two years and fined
£200 after admitting the offence when he appeared before Sheriff John
Herald...
...Banning McGhee and ordering him to sit the advanced driving test,
Sheriff Herald said: "I have to restrict the fine because you are
unemployed, but the most important thing here is removing you from the
roads."
07/10/09 -
Tragic mums want the advanced driving test promoted more widely
TWO Dumfries mums who lost teenage sons in a triple death crash want tough
restrictions on novice drivers. And they have started their campaign in
Westminster – with the Scottish Parliament next on their list. Elaine
Johnston and Ruth Shearman want roads awareness and safer driving taught
in schools from the age of 14 and new legislation to curb speedsters....
...With the help of Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown, who is
supporting their campaign, they met last week with Government Transport
Minister Paul Clark at Westminister to give their backing to proposals to
introduce an NVQ in schools south of the border which would teach
youngsters from 14-years-old about safer driving. The mums also want this
introduced in Scotland. But they want to go the extra mile and also
encourage novice drivers on passing their test to sit an advanced driving
test too.
07/10/09 -
'Irresponsible' Southwater teens shown how to drive
...The group was
taken to Goodwood for a West Sussex County Council Young Drivers Skills
Course. The participants were taken out individually for on road practical
driving assessments and feedback on their driving technique from advanced
driving instructors...
...Another aspect of the course was for the young people to be taken out
to the skid pan at Goodwood Motor Circuit and shown how difficult it is to
control a car when it's going too fast and how to manage skid control.
This proved to be quite a challenge for some.
07/10/09 -
'Intelligent Car' Able To Learn From Owner’s Driving And Warn In Case Of
Accident Hazard
Scientists from six European countries have developed a new computer
system, called DRIVSCO, that allows vehicles to learn from the behaviour
of their drivers at the wheel, in such a way that they can detect if a
driver presents an “unusual behaviour” in a curve or an obstacle on the
road and generates signals of alarm which warn him on time to react.
07/10/09 -
Honda Safety Institute Opens its Doors
Honda’s Safety Institute is an international model centre unique in
Europe. With this, Honda dispose of 36 similar facilities around the
world, concentrated especially in Asia and South America. However, for its
expansion to the old continent Honda has chosen Santa Perpètua de Mogoda,
in Barcelona, for the implantation of its first European centre for the
training of riders.
[ed: The article goes on to describe their several progressive advanced
riding courses.]
01/02/08 -
BBC Inside Out (UK)
The work of the West Midlands Ambulance
Service Paramedic Motorcycle Unit (25min video)
News Archive - all the bits from before!
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sense, but just in case anyone is in any doubt, the Gloucester ROADAR
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