RoADAR 200.jpeg (43819 bytes) The RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders Association
Gloucestershire Group

Last updated: Monday, 14 June 2010

   

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

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Committee

Chairman

Lorraine Williams

01242 514694

Secretary

Nigel Potter

01905 350403

Treasurer

Lawrence Moss

01666 503262

Membership

Richard Dixon

01452 547263

Newsletter

Charles Lyne

01285 713148

Cars

Vacant - contact Lorraine Williams

Motorcycles

Geoff Brown

07989 493879

Training

Vacant

Police

Simon Ross

Support committee

Andrew Parker

01242 673183

Geoff Brown

Website managed by Graham Wilson

We cater for both drivers and riders... here's the latest group of motorcycle tutors ready to help you improve your riding skills.

Sunday 28th March, saw the conclusion of the 2010 tutor training days. The training consisted of three days and was a mixture of classroom and on-the-road training led by National Diploma holder Tony Dix and assisted by Advanced Tutor Geoff Brown. The subjects covered were varied and included learning styles, personal factors, developing a training session, fault diagnosis and accident scene management. On-the-road scenarios included pre-riding and road worthiness checks and student-tutor scenarios designed to promote maximum fun and learning at the same time!! Over the course of the three days the twelve tutors rose to the challenge of a Roadcraft and highway code test and an assessed on-the-road tutoring session. Everyone performed well, enjoyed themselves and learnt new skills that will enable them to provide a consistent and high standard of tutoring on behalf of the group. The final day ended in glorious sunshine and plenty of positive feedback and ideas for next year were received from all participants. Well done everyone.

Introduction

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 Ł10 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

SHARP - Helmet Rating Scheme

Thames Valley Police - safer rider

The Motorcyclist's Website

Think! Road Safety Website

Vehicle Licensing Online

VOSA MOT Computerisation Website

 

 
More information

Newsletter - Winter 2009

Newsletter - Spring 2009

Newsletter - Winter 2008

Newsletter - Autumn 2008

 

Events (in our own and adjacent areas)

Wednesday 16th June 2010
 

Group AGM @ CACSSA, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham

'The group AGM is a vital part of how the group moves forward and is the chance for all members to come along and show support and input any thoughts or comments. Held at the usual location of , we are looking to offer some food before the AGM begins at 7:45pm, followed by a short talk starting at 9pm latest, details of which will be confirmed. The committee will be asking all members for an RSVP on their attendance at the AGM to allow us to plan food.

Sundays 4th & 11th July 2010
  Bikesafe @ Gloucester Fire Station
Click here to enrol / Tutors prepared to help on the 2nd Sunday, please contact Geoff Brown.
Sundays 5th & 12th September 2010
  Bikesafe @ Gloucester Fire Station
Click here to enrol
Sundays 3rd & 10th October 2010
  Bikesafe @ Gloucester Fire Station
Click here to enrol / Tutors prepared to help on the 2nd Sunday, please contact Geoff Brown.

Sunday 17th October 2010 - NB CHANGED DATE

 

Slow riding days - Berkeley Power Station - Please contact Tony Dix if you are interested in attending.

Sunday 5th December 2010
 

Christmas lunch. 12:00 for 12:30 @ Apple Tree, Woodmancote.  Reservations now being taking - contact Lorraine with name/numbers.

Sunday 10th April 2011
  The Prescott Bike Festival - Prescott Hill, Gotherington, Cheltenham, GL52 9RD - http://www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk/

 

What is 'advanced' driving / riding?

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 must be co-ordinated with good handling skills.

The vehicle should be at the right place on the road, at the right time, travelling at the right speed with the correct gear engaged and be able to be stopped safely on its own side of the road in the distance that can be seen to be clear."

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

Tutors

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.

Click here to access the tutors' area

Members' Shop

 

Sorry, your web browser does not support Java applets, or you have turned them off. Try Netscape 3.0 or better, or MSIE 3.0 or better.

We have a range of polo tops, fleeces and sweatshirts, with the Group name and RoADAR logo tastefully embroidered on them.  If you are interested in purchasing one, please contact: Phil Baker.

 

In the news

13/06/10 - Advanced skill is not about going fast

 

“ROAD safety is common sense, but unfortunately it is not that common,” says Roland Tan. A road safety specialist who runs an advanced driving course, he is of the view that Malaysians do not have a safety-first culture. “Malaysians tend to think of themselves first, and generally do not plan ahead. That is why they are always in a hurry, and when they are in a hurry, their persona changes,” he says.
 

11/06/10 - Road safety initiative raises money for Frenchay trauma ward
 

"The West of England Road Safety Partnership presented a cheque to Frenchay hospital this week (Thursday June 10). Over Ł430 was raised through the 'Bike Safe' initiative, which provides road safety seminars to motorcyclists who wish to improve their riding skills on the road. Sgt Martin Munday from the Roads Policing Unit said: "Motorcyclists are the most vulnerable road user, being involved in approximately a quarter of all fatal and serious traffic collisions – sadly, 14 bikers were killed on Avon and Somerset's roads in 2009."

 

10/06/10 - The Motorcycle of the future has arrived

 

"This is the MotoCzysz E1PC. It is electric. It is almost certainly the most advanced motorcycle on the planet. And it is the future. We told you moto-genius Michael Czysz — pronounced sizz — was building another contender for the TT Zero electric motorcycle race on the Isle of Man. But we caught up with him early in the build and he wasn’t providing details or pics. Now that the bike’s hit the track, Wes Siler of Hell For Leather has all the details on the MotoCzysz E1PC in a piece posted over at Popular Science."

 

09/06/10 - Advanced Motorcycling on Facebook

 

It's early days, but there's now a Facebook Community Page about Advanced Motorcycling, a collection of shared knowledge about Advanced Motorcycling.

 

05/06/10 - The devils of driving
 

"Every week I sit behind the wheel of a new car and do my best, limited as it is, to arrive at a fair verdict. And each week there is talk of safety devices, new hi-tech anti-collision technology, lights that show you around corners and so on. These are the bits and pieces of technical ingenuity and innovation that attempt to make cars safer. But this week I'd like to put those who sit behind the wheels of cars in the spotlight. The ones who can do most to make cars safer."

 

02/06/10 - Kath's drive for Advanced Motorists

 

For most of her life, Kath Hawker’s driving experience has been limited to little more than her journey of a couple of miles to and from work. But after her husband died 17 years ago, she decided to boost her independence and signed up to join the Walsall Group of Advanced Motorists and has just become chairwoman at the age of 72. The former Walsall Council admin worker said she was proud to have been granted the honour, which comes after 10 years as membership secretary and seven as a group observer. She said the training she received after signing up had prevented her being stuck at her home in Fallowfield Road, Daisy Bank, following her husband Tony’s death.

02/06/10 - As the UK Driving Test hits 75 is it time for it to retire?

 

The driving test is 75-years old this week and, like most pensioners, it’s beginning to feel its age. When the driving test was first introduced in 1935, it had an almost instant effect on road deaths, reducing them by 1000 in the first year. Since then, and with only the occasional blip in statistics, the figures have been going down ever since. This shows that driver education has a very positive effect on driving and road safety, but we have reached an impasse in the number of road deaths in the UK where the figures are now falling at a much slower rate.

 

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!
 

© 2009-2010 RoADAR Gloucestershire Group