Check out our "In the news" section, for the latest on advanced driving and riding from around the world.

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Committee

This Group was founded in 1983.  Full membership is available to riders or drivers who have taken a RoSPA Advanced Driving or Riding Assessment.

To help 'associates' prepare for these assessments we offer training, based on the Police "Roadcraft" Manuals', to full licence holders.

'Associates' pay a small annual fee and are allocated a personal voluntary tutor.  Training is free to motorists (who use their own vehicles) but motorcyclists are asked to contribute £10 per session towards their tutor's expenses.

Training is very informal and friendly.  The techniques learned greatly reduce the risk of an incident.  The group also organises visits and hosts lectures on motoring and related subjects.

Join here

If you would like to discuss membership as either a driver or rider, contact the membership secretary, Richard Dixon, by email or telephone (01452 547263).

Alternatively complete our membership application form, and return it to the address shown.

Useful Links

BikeSafe

British Motorcyclist Federation

County Air Ambulance

Driving Standards Agency

Gloucestershire BASICS

Gloucestershire Constabulary

Handle It or Lose It

Helping Learner Drivers

Highway Code

Killspills

Motor Cycle Industry Association

Motorcycle Action Group

Rider Connect

RoADAR (The RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders Association)

RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents)

Severn Freewheelers, emergency voluntary group

Thames Valley Police - safer rider

The Motorcyclist's Website

Think! Road Safety Website

Vehicle Licensing Online

VOSA MOT Computerisation Website

It is the "ability to control the position and speed of a vehicle safely, systematically and smoothly, using road and traffic conditions to progress unobtrusively with skill and responsibility.

This skill requires a positive but courteous attitude and a high standard of driving competence based on concentration, effective all round observation, anticipation and planning.

This statement is one of ‘common purpose’ agreed by RoSPA and The Institute Of Advanced Motorists.

About The Advanced Test

Whether you take it as a driver in a car or as a motorcyclist on a bike, the RoSPA Advanced test has three levels of pass – Bronze, Silver and Gold, and regular three-yearly retests are required in order to maintain and/or improve the qualification.

More information:

The ten commandments of motoring

Volunteers, who have passed the Advanced Test, receive further training as tutors and are then allocated to 'associates' to help them improve their skills and ultimately take the advanced test themselves.

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In the news

08/02/10 - Adrian joins Advanced elite

John Turner reports: "THE Island's advanced motorcyclists' group has swelled its ranks by welcoming to the fold none other than Onchan MHK Adrian Earnshaw, who has just passed his advanced motorcycle test.  Mr Earnshaw, a TT marshal and long-time enthusiast who was Tourism Minister during the centenary TT two years ago, said it had been a valuable experience."

 

07/02/10 - CNN reports [Anti]Texting Software in development in Iowa

AZUZ: Texting while driving. You've heard how dangerous this can be. A lot of you have talked about it on our blog at CNNStudentNews.com. There's a company that's working on a new technology that could stop someone from texting behind the wheel, whether you like it or not. Brady Smith of affiliate KWWL dials up the details.

BRADY SMITH, KWWL REPORTER, IOWA: It's called "attention validation" software. Developed by the engineering firm PM&L in Rochester, New York, it detects vehicle movement. Once a text message is received, the software requires the cell phone's user to press a series of random buttons. If the user fails, texting is locked until the vehicle is at rest for at least three minutes. It's part of a nationwide effort to find new solutions to distracted driving, according to Dr. Tim Brown.

TIM BROWN, RESEARCHER, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA: There's newer technology that's coming out. Voice recognition is becoming more prominent.

SMITH: He's a researcher at the University of Iowa's National Advanced Driving Simulator, which is well-equipped to test different anti-texting programs.

BROWN: When you're texting, your odds of being in a crash are 23 times when you're just driving normally. We've got a large, full-motion simulator here. We've got a static simulator, and we've also got some smaller portable simulators that we use. And so we've gotten a fair amount of interest from a number of different companies.



08/02/2010 - Volunteers seek help from north-east businesses - Community Off-road Transport Action Group needs to raise money to cover training costs

Jonny Muir reports: VOLUNTEERS who use 4x4 vehicles to respond to emergencies in harsh weather conditions are appealing for funding for north-east groups. During the last cold snap, which saw much of the region grind to a halt due to the snow, the Community Off-road Transport Action Group rescued about 40 stranded motorists from the roadside, took nurses to hospitals and delivered meals on wheels. The 19-strong team works alongside Grampian Police and has members at Fochabers, Rhynie, Huntly, Peterhead and Aberdeen, to ensure a quick response time on jobs.

 

07/02/10 - Eight Candidates Proceed To Next Round Of Red Bull Female Drivers Search

Aziz Idris reports: Bandar Seri Begawan - Twenty short listed candidates, who were picked after interview conducted at the recently concluded Consumer Fair 5, had the opportunity to attend the SmartWoman Driving Course. Red Bull's all-female Rookies Team picked their Top 20 candidates to attend the SmartWoman Driving Course organised by Asia Advanced Driving Academy (AADA). The selection process was held at Jerudong Park Parking lot near the JP Amphitheatre yesterday.
 

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!

NB It should be common sense, but just in case anyone is in any doubt, the Gloucester ROADAR Group are obviously not responsible for the content of external sites!
 

© 2009 RoADAR Gloucestershire Group