Grimsby & Louth
Advanced Motorists
Next course
starts
Sept 17th
September 2012
http://www.grimsbyadvancedmotorists.org.uk
Registered Charity 1060608
Who’s who!
Officers
Title
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer
Chief Observer
Louth Co-ordinator
Newsletter/Membership
Web Master
Name
Telephone
Ray Elliott
Roger Cox
Karen Dade
Mike Islip
01652
01469
01472
01472
632710
532090
597712
698569
John Askwith
Roger
Newborough
Mike Islip
01472 812490
01507 363660
01472 698569
e-mail
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Committee (additional to above officers)
Andy Burrell
Allan Smith
Tony Mason
Arthur (Mike) Mason
Mark George
Roy Murray
Bill Mabbutt
Peter Neal
01472
01472
01472
07720
07963
07891
01469
07702
230530
812045
398132
263507
860954
219954
540707
118534
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Active Observers
John Askwith
Arthur (Mike) Mason
Bill Mabbutt
Roger Newborough
Allan Smith
Mark George
Mike Islip
Alan Hardman
Roy Murray
Ray Elliott
01472 812490
07720 263507
01469 540707
01507 363660
01472 812045
07963 860954
01472 698569
01472 244789
07891 219954
01652 632710
Tony Mason
Peter Neal
Andrew Manley
Alan Henrickson
Roger Cox
01472 398132
07702 118534
07800 543456
01472 882788
01469 532090
Regional Co-ordinator
Terry Towler
0115 846 5870
Mobile 0771 388 2854
[email protected]
The Group Newsletter
The purpose of the Newsletter is to circulate news, views and information to all Group
members. All items contributed by members are welcome, and will, space permitting, be
published subject to the contributor being clearly identified. However, the contributor’s
details may be withheld upon request and pseudonyms may be used.
The Group committee and the Editor reserve the right to edit or withhold any article at
their discretion. Views expressed in contributed articles are those of the contributor and
not necessarily those of the Group, Editor, or the Institute of Advanced Motorists.
Please send all contributions to:
Roger Newborough, Kingfisher Lodge, Northway, Fulstow, LOUTH, LN11 0XH, or by e-mail
to [email protected]
For more information about GLAM visit our website:
www.grimsbyadvancedmotorists.org.uk
or e-mail Ray Elliott with any queries on: [email protected]
2
Data Protection Act 1998
Details which members and associates have supplied to GLAM are held on a database, for
the internal use of GLAM and the IAM. No information will be divulged to a third party
without the written consent on the person concerned. Any member or associate
objecting to such data being retained is requested to inform the Secretary, in writing, of
their objection.
The next course starts September 17th 2012. The theory part of the course will be
split into 2 sessions and not the usual 4. This is because of the availability of (or lack of)
a venue for the course. The sessions will take place on our usual Committee meeting
nights, the 17th September and the 15th October and will be held at the Honest Lawyer
Public House, Ladysmith Road, Grimsby. I understand that Jacobs LES will be sending
some of their employees on the course, but we still need to get more people on board, if
possible. Details on Page 5.
Older, Longer, Safer
In conjunction with Humberside Police, Safer Roads Humber and the Road Safety
Partnership in general, we are participating in Older, Longer, Safer, which is a road
safety event targeting the over 50’s with the aim of encouraging them to continue to
drive, long after reaching retirement age, as long as they are medically able to do so.
The event takes place on September 5th at the Memorial Hall, Cleethorpes and there will
be representatives not only from the Police, Safer Roads Humber and the Road Safety
Partnership, but also Specsavers to give eyesight tests, a medical team to discuss health
problems in older age, public transport, the Taxi service, Motorbility, Age UK, disability
conversions available for cars, the caravan industry, Police motorcyclists, the AA,
a pharmacist, Eden mobility, and of course Grimsby and Louth Advanced Motorists. The
Police have clearly stated that they do not wish to take away anyone’s driving licence
because of age, but on the contrary want to encourage older people to continue driving
for as long as possible.
We will be requiring volunteers to help out on the day, as we expect to be busy as there
is to be quite a lot of publicity leading up to the event, by means of posters, leaflets and
the local press.
Barry Heath Memorial Quiz
It’s that time of year again! This year’s Barry Heath Memorial Quiz will be hosted by
Lincoln group and will be held at the Lincoln fire Station Recreation Room, South
Common, Lincoln on the 9th October, at 7.30 p.m. As always we are appealing for a team
of 4 and also as many supporters as we can muster. There will be a buffet supper
provided and the whole evening promises to be a great fun, social event. Would anyone
wishing to come, either as a team member or supporter, please let the Editor (Roger
Newborough) know, as the caterers will need to know how many sandwiches to make!
Thinking of food…….
A date for your Diary – the Christmas lunch this year will take place on December 2nd
at 12.00 midday for 12.30. The venue remains the same as last year, the New Inn, Station
Road, North Thoresby. A Newsletter and Menu will be sent out in due course.
Cost of Postage
In view of the recent high rise in the cost of postage, the committee have looked into
possible ways of saving money. One way would be to send out the Newsletter by e-mail
to those members who have an e-mail address. So we would be obliged if all members
who are able to receive the Newsletter by this means would submit their e-mail address
with a quick message stating that they are agreeable to receive the newsletter by e-mail.
If we already have your e-mail address you will be receiving this Newsletter both by
3
e-mail and by post this time, but, in future it will only be sent by e-mail.
If you don’t receive the Newsletter by e-mail this time, but would like to in future, then
please submit your e-mail address to [email protected]. Having said that, we are
currently seeking someone to take over the publishing of the Newsletter and bring in
some new ideas. Unfortunately, as yet, no-one has volunteered and as a result, this may
be the last Newsletter published. Information regarding officers, upcoming events and
course dates will always be available on the website, together with a whole host of other
useful information.
For those members who do not have an e-mail facility, we will continue to send out
the Newsletter to you by regular mail, for the time being.
New Website. Thanks to some terrific work and a great deal of time spent by Mike Islip
over the past couple of months, we now have a brand new, up-to-date website
www.grimsbyadvancedmotorists.org.uk. It is a great looking site with lots of news and
information about the group, its members and the IAM in general, with a variety of links
to other interesting sites. Please take a few minutes to browse the site, and read through
the information it provides. Our thanks go to Mike for all his efforts, which I am sure you
will agree, resulted in a job well done, and is greatly appreciated, as the previous
website is now well out of date. The site has received many compliments and favourable
comments since it was launched.
Presentation of the John Pinnock Memorial Cup
The John Pinnock Memorial Cup was presented to Mike at the recent AGM, in recognition
of his outstanding work in creating and maintaining the website. Congratulations Mike on
receiving the Cup and on the creation of the website, which is greatly appreciated.
GLAM at the Grimsby Motor Show
On the 19th August the re-scheduled
Grimsby Motor Show took place at the
Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby. We were
pleased to have a stand there where we
took the details of prospective candidates
and gave out general safer driving advice
and details of our next course. Our thanks
go to those Observers who gave up their
Sunday to help setup and man the stand
during the day.
Chairman’s Chat
Our next SfL course starts on Monday 17th September. Detail in this News Letter. At the
time of writing this we have two people who have paid already and up to 4/6 more who
have said they wish to attend but have not paid anything so far.
This will be the last News Letter that Roger will be producing. It takes a lot of time to
produce, print and collate and Roger has been doing it for about five years so he wishes
to take a back seat and let some one else take over. This is so he can have more time to
enjoy retirement!! and his other hobbies.
The group owe Roger a big thank you for all the work he has put into making the News
Letter such a excellent and informative way of circulating the groups information.
At this time we have no replacement for Roger!! So let me know if you are eager to be
our News Letter Editor.
Cheers Ray.
4
Grimsby & Louth Advanced Motorists
Skill for life (SfL) driving Course No: 51
September 2012
SfL is a 6 week training course, at the end of which participants will be
entered for the IAM Advanced Driving Challenge.
There will be two theory sessions based in the class room and at least six
1 hour practice sessions on the road in participants own vehicle.
All training is based on the IAM publication “How to be a better driver”
“The Highway Code” and the Police training video “Road craft”
Both the theory sessions are to be held at the Honest Lawyer Pub,
Ladysmith Road, Grimsby DN32 9SQ. (In the back room with entrance
from the rear car park.)
Monday 17th September 6.50pm to 9.00pm
6.50pm Enrolment
All Observers
7.00pm Humberside Police Traffic Officer’s viewpoint on driving
7.30pm The System of car control.
8.00pm Coffee break
8.10pm The Limit point and cornering safely.
8.35pm Commentary driving.
During the evening Associates will be paired up with an Observer so
that check drives can be carried out at mutually convenient times.
Observed check drive/Assessment drive by Associate.
Arrange at least three additional check drives before the next meeting.
Monday
7.00pm
7.30pm
8.00pm
8.10pm
8.40pm
8.50pm
15th October 7.00pm to 9.00pm
Meet the IAM examiner.
Making progress when it is safe and legal to do so.
Coffee break.
Review of The System, Limit point & commentary.
Questions
Questionnaire
During the evening Associates will be paired up with a different
Observer.
Observed check drive by Associate. Arrange additional check drives as
required.
5
Don’t drive a mobility scooter if you are blind…..
Following up on the article in May’s Newsletter stating that there are now more than one
million drivers over the age of 80 and bearing in mind the Older, Longer, Safer event to
be held at the Memorial Hall, Cleethorpes on September 5th, older drivers appear to be in
focus currently.
As we all get older and may at some time consider investing in a Mobility Scooter, the
government has issued official advice to owners of such vehicles.
They are hardly the most dangerous vehicles on the road and generally speaking their
owners are not boy racer types, however there have been a number of incidents,
including a death, involving Mobility Scooters, therefore it was deemed prudent to issue
some guidelines.
First and foremost, do not drive a Mobility Scooter if you are blind, or (blind) drunk! This
advice is because it would put yourself and others at risk
If you use one on a dual carriageway (and who wouldn’t!) you are urged to take a flashing
amber light. However, the best advice is to avoid them altogether.
Avoid rush hour and busy roundabouts and take care how you load a scooter as it may be
inclined to tip over.
The government is also investigating the possibility of introducing compulsory eye tests
for users of these vehicles, as well as a regular review of driving skills.
Surprisingly, if you are over the normal drink-drive limit you can continue to use a
scooter without fear of being banned from using one, as you do not need a licence to
drive one, although you could be banned from driving a car or riding a motorcycle if
caught driving a mobility scooter whilst over the drink/drive limit.
It is estimated that there are around 300,000 users of scooters or powered wheelchairs
and they have a maximum speed limit of 4 m.p.h. on pavements and 8 m.p.h. on the
road, but the government do not feel the need for stricter registration or licensing
regulations at this time.
Whilst on the subject of Mobility Scooters…..
You can now buy a caravan to tow behind a Mobility scooter
The caravan which measures 6 feet
by 2 foot 6 inches and can be towed
at 6 m.p.h., boasts a full size bed
(provided you are less than 6 feet
tall!) and a television, and costs
around £5,500. The Environmental
Transport Agency, its creators,
described it as “wonderfully
eccentric” and said it would be handy
for the 220,000 users of Mobility
Scooters without breakdown cover who
might end up being stranded with a
flat battery.
6
Statistics and yet more statistics!
Fifty councils in England saw more than a ten per cent increase in killed and seriously
injured (KSI) crash rates* between 2010 and 2011, according to IAM analysis of the new
road accident figures*2.
The biggest increases in KSI numbers were in St Helens – 62 per cent, Portsmouth – 57 per
cent, Stoke on Trent – 57 per cent, and Coventry – 51 per cent. A further 76 councils saw
increases in the KSI rate above the national average of two per cent* 3.
Local councils in England slashed their road safety budgets by 15 per cent * 4 (£23 million)
last year compared to average spending cuts of just six per cent for other council
services.
In London the biggest increase in the number of KSIs was in Croydon where they rose
from 87 in 2010 to 109 in 2011, 25 per cent, while the biggest decrease was in Bexley
where KSIs decreased from 68 in 2010 to 49 in 2011, down 28 per cent.
Islington overtook Camden to have the highest rate of KSIs per vehicle mile of all the
London boroughs, after KSIs rose from 81 to 100.
Overall, the annual number of people killed in road accidents has increased by three per
cent, from 1,850 in 2010 to 1,901 in 2011. This is the first increase since 2003. The
number of people reported killed or seriously injured has also increased by two per cent
to 25,023 from 24,510 in 2010 – the first annual increase since 1994.
Despite the increase in KSIs last year there has been a 23 per cent reduction in deaths
and serious injuries on England’s roads over the last five years* 5. The majority of councils
have seen significant decreases in the numbers of KSIs over this period. However,
fourteen councils have seen increases in the number of KSIs, the biggest being in
Southampton, Portsmouth, Reading.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “It is concerning that road deaths and serious
injuries rose last year. Road accidents usually drop during an economic recession, so this
rise after continuous reductions over the last ten years, is particularly concerning.
“Ministers should take this as a serious warning. Cutting road safety education and
reductions in local authority spending all suggest that road safety isn’t a major priority
for this government. We need targets on reducing casualties for local councils so that
performance can be checked. This would help make sure that councils look at new and
innovative ways to save lives on our roads.”
Department of Transport KSI statistics
For reported road accidents in the year ending March 2012; 1,870 people were killed, a 1
per cent drop from the year ending March 2011 (1,881).
However the number of people killed or seriously injured rose to 25,210, a 1 per cent
increase compared to the year ending March 2011 (24,849).
Overall for year ending March 2012; there were 202,980 reported road casualties (slight,
serious injuries and fatalities), which is 3 per cent less than the year ending March 2011.
Total reported child casualties (ages 0-15) fell by 3 per cent, from 19,784 to 19,130 with
those killed or seriously injured down 2 per cent (2,460), compared with the previous 12
month period.
Road injury accidents reported to the police fell by 2 per cent (to 150,810) while fatal
accidents fell by less than 0.5 per cent (to 1,770) compared with the year ending March
2011 (at 1,774).
7
In comparison, motor vehicle traffic levels have risen by 0.6 per cent compared to the 12
month period ending March 2011.
The IAM response to the Department of Transport statistics
This is the IAM's response to the quarter 1 road casualty statistics released today by the
Department for Transport.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “It is unacceptable that road deaths and serious
injuries have risen for children, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.
“Cutting road safety education, scrapping casualty targets and cuts in council spending
all suggest this isn’t a major priority. The government needs to show much greater
leadership on road safety.
“Last year’s increase in people killed was a serious warning, but this could be the start of
a trend.
“More must be done to get drivers to look out for vulnerable road users. We must have
changes to the driving test, greater enforcement and incentives for driver training.”
The latest Department for Transport road casualty statistics give the first set of figures
for this year, covering January – March 2012. They show some worrying trends for
vulnerable road users.




The number of cyclist casualties rose by 10 per cent from 3,775 to 4,160.
Cyclists killed or seriously injured increased by 13 per cent compared to the
same period last year. 700 cyclists were killed or seriously injured compared to
621.
Motorcyclists killed or seriously injured increased by 8 per cent from 1,024 to
1,110. The number of overall motorcyclist casualties rose by 7 per cent from
3,946 to 4,240 (Jan-March 2011, compared with Jan-March 2012).
The number of children killed or seriously injured in road accidents rose by 9 per
cent from 522 to 570.

The number of children killed or seriously injured as pedestrians increased from
360 to 410, a rise of 14 per cent.
Over the same period (Jan-March 2011, compared with Jan-March 2012):


Car users killed or seriously injured dropped by 4 per cent, from 2,227 to 2,140.
The number of overall casualties among car users also dropped by 4 per cent,
from 29,627 down to 28,420.
The total number of road casualties decreased by 2 per cent from 47,235 to
46,270.

However, the number of road users killed or seriously injured rose by 4 per cent
from 47,235 to 46,270 – suggesting that increases in KSIs for vulnerable road
users is having an impact on the overall KSI figure.
Fewer bad drivers sent to court
The total number of magistrates’ court proceedings for motoring offences fell from one
million in 2010 to 888,000 in 2011, down 12.6 per cent 1.
The findings, based on Ministry of Justice figures released in June, also show that the
number of people facing prosecution in magistrates’ courts fell from 630,900 in 2010 to
566,800 in 2011, down 10 per cent, according to research by the IAM.
8
Other findings include:

The number of people facing prosecution for driving offences that resulted in
death dropped by 11.5 per cent, from 694 in 2010 to 614 in 2011. 2
 The number of people facing prosecution for causing death by dangerous driving
fell from 282 in 2010 to 201 in 2011, down 28.7 per cent.
 In 2011, 3,200 people were sentenced to immediate custody for summary
motoring offences, a fall of 18.8 per cent since 2010.
 Unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle prosecutions were down 10 per cent
from 8,049 in 2011 to 7,234 in 2010.
In magistrates’ courts:

7,617 faced prosecution in 2011 for failing to stop at an accident, down from
8,531 in 2010 - a fall of 10.5 per cent.
 The number of speeding offences detected by cameras fell by 10 per cent from
70,681 in 2010 to 63,230 in 2011.
 There was an 11.5 per cent fall in the number of people facing prosecution for
using a hand held phone. This fell from 40,000 in 2010 to 35,400 in 2011.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “The recession and the expansion of awareness
courses for offences like speeding could well be having an impact on these figures - more
people are opting for courses rather than points and this improves driving.
“While we fully support increasing and improving courses for some driving offences, we
need to know why fewer drivers are being prosecuted for the more serious offences. The
government needs to explain the reasons for such a dramatic fall.”
Drink drive casualties up
The number of fatal accidents involving drink drivers last year rose by 18 per cent, from
220 in 2010 to 260 in 2011* according to figures published by the Department for
Transport.
In the same period, the number of people killed in drink drive accidents increased by 12
per cent, from 250 to 280. This means that 15 per cent of all fatalities in road accidents
involved drink driving*.
Other findings include:

The total number of drink drive accidents increased by 1.5 per cent, from 6,630
to 6,730.

The total number of casualties involving drink driving rose by 3 per cent, from
9,700 in 2010 to 9,990 in 2011.
The rise in drink drive casualties follows a drop in 2010, when drink drive fatalities were
at their lowest in thirty years.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Any rise in drink drive casualties is worrying, with
15 per cent of all road fatalities involving a drink driver there is clearly more to be done
to reduce casualties.”
“The problem is many crashes occur the morning after – there needs to be more
education on the effects of driving after drinking. A heavy night drinking could leave you
over the limit the morning after. The message to all drivers is don’t drink and drive.”
9
Get tough on drink driving say motorists
Eighty per cent of motorists say those who repeatedly drink drive should have their
vehicles seized and sold or scrapped, according to a poll by the IAM (Institute of
Advanced Motorists)1. Fifty per cent think that this should also happen to drivers several
times over the limit.
The respondents were also behind reducing the drink-drive limit. Sixty-six per cent want
to see the limit reduced, with most of these saying it should be lowered to a maximum of
50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Twenty-eight per cent think we should have a zerotolerance policy.
People convicted of drink driving generally lose their licence for a year and receive an
average fine of £240. Fifty-seven per cent think this is too weak, and that punishments
for drink drivers should be tougher – thirty-eight per cent much tougher.
Other findings include:

Fifty-five per cent of poll respondents support a proportionate, graduated
system of penalties, if the limit was reduced. For example, lower penalties
would be given to drivers caught under the current limit, but above the new
one.
 Almost half of respondents admit to having a drink while driving, within the
current limit.
 Seventy-nine per cent say a decrease in the limit wouldn’t affect their
enjoyment of an evening out. Nineteen per cent said it would.
 Eighty four per cent said a reduction in the limit wouldn’t change their plans to
go out.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “The support is there for tougher treatment of drink
drivers.
“Not only do the majority want a lower limit – they also want tougher punishment for
those that break the law, especially the worst offenders who present the greatest danger
to other road users, their passengers and themselves.
“Our poll shows a desire to see more effective drink drive levels as well as much greater
consistency of enforcement, prosecution, and sentencing, which reflects the level of
danger associated with drinking drivers.”
Travelling through France?
Half of motorists are unaware that the breathalysers they will soon need to carry in
France must be certified to the French NF standard, according to the IAM’s latest web
poll of 2300 respondents. Compulsory from 1st July, the easiest way to tell if the
breathalyser complies with the French legislation is to make sure it has the blue circular
NF logo, the French equivalent of the BSI kite mark in the UK.
Other findings show that 82 per cent of people think that the new regulations will have
no effect on reducing drink driving, as intended by the French authorities. Only 13 per
cent said that the new regulations will reduce people driving over the limit, and 70 per
cent said that drivers will only carry them to comply with the law, and will not change
their behaviour.
Despite a general scepticism about the impact these new regulations will have,
compliance is set to be high. Seventy-five per cent of respondents plan to take the
breathalyser kit with them. Only seven per cent said they didn’t plan to. Eighteen per
cent didn’t know or hadn’t thought about it.
10
The legal limit in France is 50 mg per 100 ml of blood; lower than in the UK (the UK limit
is 80mg).
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Agree with the changes or not, from July 1 st you
will face a fine if you don’t carry an NF approved breathalyser while travelling in France.
While these are a good way of being sure you are safe to drive, if you’re going to drink
don’t drive, and beware the morning after effect.
“We will be looking forward to seeing the evaluation of what impact this new legislation
is having. Support is likely to be higher if people can see that carrying a breathalyser
actually reduces drink driving.”
AlcoSense Breathalyser managing director Hunter Abbott said: “There are a lot of
products being sold as “French Breathalysers” which will not satisfy the Gendarmerie. If
the product you buy has the French NF logo on it you’ll be OK, otherwise the
Gendarmerie will not accept it and may treat you the same way as if you do not have one
at all. AlcoSense NF Breathalysers (Redline R1) are one of only two single use products on
the market which are on the Official Securite Routier approved list. If you purchase a
product not on the list or without the NF logo, it puts you at risk of breaking the new
law.”
Continuing in a lighter vein
11
Signs similar to these soon to be seen around Grimsby?
……and for the animal lovers
Do I look like a monkey?
12
…….and don’t leave it open in future!