Dates For Your Diary
Planning for Monday club nights is underway with the emphasis being on a particular RoadCraft topic. This is being developed so watch this space!
SkillShare
6 July 2024 meeting at the Dandy Highwayman Cafe Cherhill. 9.30 am for 10 am start
Bike Ride-Outs on the 3rd Saturday of every even numbered month and the 3rd Sunday of every odd numbered Month. Email will be sent out to Bikers and added to the Forum.
Next ride out Sunday 21 July . Details will be forthcoming via email to all bike members.
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Do you have a topic you would like discussed, or know of an interesting speaker? Please contact speaker at speakers@wiltshireroadar.co.uk |
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following members who have passed their Advanced Tests recently:
Please welcome the following to the Group:
Ray Lackey – Bike
Simon Peskett - bike
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Don’t forget that we have a range of clothing available to purchase. We also offer a range of books, such as Roadcraft, Motorcycle Roadcraft and the Highway Code, and these are available at discounted prices.
For more information visit the Merchandise page of our web site |
We are always looking for more articles, ideas and news for the newsletter. Have you been somewhere interesting recently that would make a good story? If you attend any group events then take a camera and send us your pictures!
Please forward all contributions to newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk |
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Thank you for all who contributed to a successful AGM. We have decided to revert to monthly Group meetings so we can all keep in touch and help maintain our standards. I am grateful to Steve Tucker and Peter Genet who are looking to develop a programme of interesting and vehicle type agnostic talks. When we are ready we will let you know and please come and support the Group at the meetings when they resume. We also approved our first increase in membership fees for at least 7 years to £20. Nothing to do until we ask for your fees in October this year.
I often think about the “emotion” and “attitude” of the IAMSAFE mnemonic and I was asked about these when on a ride with an associate the other day. I do think they are important and I was reminded recently of the importance of attitude in safe riding and driving. I was on my way home from Scotland having spent a very wet 3 days marshalling at the BSB round at Knockhill. As I was on the motorbike I like to avoid motorways where possible and the B7076 is a nice wide sweeping road which follows the M74 and provides an entertaining route to Carlisle from Glasgow. I had 400 miles ahead of me and wanted to make progress (my attitude was to get a move on!). It is easy to maintain the national speed limit on this road but I was held up by a lorry and some oncoming traffic for a couple of miles. The road opened up and I swept passed the lorry only then to see the junction just ahead – which was thankfully clear. I had been so focussed on my making progress attitude I had omitted to properly see all the hazards. Lesson learnt and a sobering lesson it was too.
Our skills and approach can change over time and Wiltshire RoADAR tutors are ready to help you maintain your standards between tests if you want a refresher. We all need some pointers sometimes, or confirmation we are driving or riding to the appropriate standard. Do get in touch with Nick Carrington for cars and Mark Sealey for bikes if you would like a session with a tutor as a refresher.
We have a stand at the Calne Bike Meet on 27th July (the last Saturday of July). The event runs from 9.00 am to about 4.30 pm. We need your help to man the stand and promote the Group to both bikers and car drivers (many attendees do not ride motorbikes). If you can spare a couple of hours (you do not need to be there all day) to talk to people about what we do and encourage them to join then please let Phill Colbourne know - he is coordinating attendance for this year’s event. We need support from all of the Group for this huge event so if you can spare the time please come and help out.
Stay safe everyone.
Bob |
Car Tutor Needed
Car drivers, are you ready for the next step? We have a vacancy for a tutor. If you have a current Gold or Silver certificate, would like to further your skills and spread the word about advanced driving, we’d love to hear from you.
You need to be a good communicator, and willing to spend the time to get your skills and knowledge over to others. Training and support will be provided.
If you are in interested please get in touch with Nick Carrington
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Calne Bike Meet 27 July
We have a stand at the Calne Bike Meet on 27th July (the last Saturday of July). The event runs from 9.00 am to about 4.30 pm.
We need your help to man the stand and promote the Group to both biker and car drivers (many attendees do not ride motorbikes). If you can spare a couple of hours (you do not need to be there all day) to talk to people about what we do and encourage them to join then please let Phill Colbourne know - he is coordinating attendance for this year’s event.
We need support from all of the Group for this huge event so if you can spare the time please come and help out. We will be setting up from about 7.30 am and then stripping down the stand at about 4.30 pm. Come and have a look round this amazing event (entry is free) and spend a bit of time promoting the Group. It is a good day out!
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Tucker's Corner - something to ponder!
Do you or don't you....ride over manhole covers. If not why not? If you do ride over them are you selective or are you ok in riding over them. Many bikers will try to avoid them all the time because they can be slippery. Watch what your mates do, watch other bikers to see how they react to them. What do you do?
I'll let you know what I do. Motorbike tyres, suspension and traction control are much better now. I get more grip in all weather and on road surfaces. When I plan my line on a road I’m scanning and will see manhole covers. If I choose to pass them I will glide my bike left or right on approach taking into account any hazards on my new line. I don’t swerve out and back in or vice versa.
I may also choose to ride over them or may have to and if I do, this is what I think about. Is the manhole level with the road surface...will my bike be upright when I go over it, not banked over...I will not brake or steer for that fraction of a second I go over it...I will keep my gas even, not accelerating so I don't lose grip.
Now what's the next hazard...
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Paperless MOT Certificates
As from 29th April 2024 MOT Test Certifcates will, by default, be issued for the most part digitally. This will reduce the huge amount of paper used by the MoT Station. Provision will still exist for a paper copy if you really need one for example, if you have any difficulties accessing the internet.
Failure certificates will still be printed for the time being but consideration is being given as to whether to take the same approach with failures in the future.
A Blog on the issue on Gov.uk called Matters of Testing is here
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Manifesto for Road Safety 2024
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) has coordinated a ground-breaking manifesto calling for immediate and strategic action to address the persistent issue of road fatalities and serious injuries in the UK. ‘Manifesto for Road Safety’ was developed through exhaustive consultations and support from more than 33 leading organisations. It outlines four strategic priorities for the government aimed at revolutionizing road safety and significantly reducing fatalities and serious injuries on UK roads. It is hoped it will inform the next Government – whoever it is!
The 4 strategic priorities are:
- Developing a National Road Safety
Strategy
- Establishing a Road Safety
Investigation Branch
- Introducing Graduated Driver
Licensing
- Adopting Advanced Vehicle Safety
Regulations
A presentation is here and more details are here
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Self-Driving Vehicles on British Roads in 2026?
From the Government announcement;
Self-driving vehicles could be on British roads by 2026, after the government’s world-leading Automated Vehicles (AV) Act became law on 20 May 2024.
The AV Act enables advanced technology to safely drive vehicles on British roads. The new law puts Great Britain firmly at the forefront of self-driving technology regulation.
Road safety is at the heart of the legislation, with automated vehicles expected to improve road safety by reducing human error, which contributes to 88% of road collisions.
The law will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as careful and competent human drivers, as well as meeting rigorous safety checks before being allowed onto roads. Therefore, in the future deaths and injuries from drink driving, speeding, tiredness and inattention could be drastically reduced.
More details can be found here – I am sure this will raise considerable debate not least over the definition of “careful and Competent” drivers and the ability of computers to apply the system of car control!
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Have you been up to anything to do with Riding or Driving lately? If so, then please let us know as we would love to include it here; photos would be great too!
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Driven Ohm Racing - 2024
After a busy month of May on the road in Europe, it was back to normal in June for the race team. Once again the cars were prepared by Darren from 119 Racing.
The third meeting for Hot Hatch was on June 16th. Max was away on holiday in Japan, so there were only three cars out. Dan in car 265, Ben in 887 and Gary in the 119 Racing car.
We had the usual format of qualifying and two races. All three of the cars managed to get near to their personal best times in qualifying. Dan getting P4 in class C. Ben also in P4, Gary in P3 for class E.
The weather was pretty warm, with a fully dry track. Race 1 was quite clean for the Hot Hatches, with all three of the cars finishing in the positions they started. Ben had a few issues with a slipping drive belt, which gave him some intermittent power drops, as the supercharger would lose boost. He scored a best place of P4. Gary was up ahead in 3rd place in class, with Daniel finishing 4th in class C.
Race two started well, with Gary jumping past one of the other Minis after a fast start and was on the rear of the leader when the race was stopped due to an accident. Sadly, Daniel picked up a puncture on the broken glass from the accident and could not take the restart. Gary wasn't quite as lucky on the restart and slotted into third right behind the other two class E Minis ahead of him. As the race unfolded the engine temperature started to climb alarmingly, so he backed off the pace to preserve the engine, managing the gap to the 4th placed car of Ben to score a 6th podium for the year's 6 races so far. Ben's two 4th place finishes give him a step up in the championship for the year.
Gary had a tribute in his helmet for a fellow instructor from Thruxton, who sadly passed away in May.
The next rounds are August 3rd and again August 29th with all 4 of the team cars due to compete.
Gary Franks
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Promotional activities
Successfully supported by Wiltshire RoADAR motorcycle tutors and WABAM Observers. Final confirmed date for the year is:
If you have any ideas for events, then please get in touch with the committee using the committee email address :
Look forward to hearing and discussing your ideas.
Presentation material
A generic set of slides has been created for use if you are asked about Wiltshire RoADAR and have the opportunity to present. This could be at a local club, workplace etc. Please send a mail to committee@wiltshireroadar.co.uk and the slides will be sent over to you.
We also have flyers and business cards so ask for these via the same means.
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Booking a Retest
Please be aware you need to book your 3 yearly retest directly with RoSPA via their website. Sadly we cannot book it for you as it is all done electronically. You may also need to check when your re-test is due if you have not been paying your subscriptions to RoADAR as they will not remind you.
Tutors will be happy to conduct a refresh should you wish one prior to a re test.
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Highway Code App
The Stationery Office has launched a new Highway Code app.
The app is for all road users and makes it even easier - and more fun - to keep up to date with the rules of the road.
What's new?
- Instant access to the very latest version of the Official Highway Code while on the move, on tablets and mobile devices
- Quizzes and timed challenge features, that help users check their knowledge of the Highway Code and track their progress.
- A voice over option enabling users to listen as well as read.
The app costs £3.99 and is available to download on both Android and iOS platforms. |
Membership and GDPR
Due to GDPR we are required to remove an individual's details from our Group database when they are no longer required by us. We remove a lapsed member's details if they have not paid a subscription by the 31 Dec following the AGM (3 months after the subscriptions are due). If a member has forgotten to pay their subs and pays after 31 Dec we will require a joining form to be completed so we can replace them on the database.
It all seems a bit strange, but we do not want to get on the wrong side of the Government's Information Commissioner. We understand if members forget or are late with their subscriptions, but please help us to keep our database accurate and compliant.
This is, of course, separate to those of you who maintain a membership with RoADAR HQ.
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Call for Bikers from Severn Freewheelers
Many of you will be aware of Severn Freewheelers, the blood bike charity
that provides its free service to the NHS and specifically the Great
Western Trust (GWH) at Swindon. Partly as a result of the Trust’s
response to COVID and the service being better understood by the Trust,
the workload now means we have two bikes serving the area. Last year we
undertook over 2000 jobs for the Swindon Trust. Overall Severn
Freewheelers did over 7000 tasks.
This is a request primarily seeking riders to help support our
operation going forward. Naturally over time people fall away as their
circumstances change, they move away or indeed decide this is no longer
for them.
The service runs 1900hrs to 0700hrs weekdays and 24 hrs at weekends
and public holidays. A typical duty is Wednesday evening till Saturday
evening or Saturday until the Wednesday. You would keep the bike at home
until you handover to the next rider. The bikes are the latest BMW RTs.
A new rider needs to have undertaken his or her advanced test in
the last three years and is required to be retested every three years.
In addition, there would be a check ride undertaken on joining and
further periodic check rides with a nominated assessor. Managing the
risks within the operation is a core value of the charity. There are of
course other roles as coordinators and fund raisers and riders are
expected to contribute beyond simply riding which is vital to maintain
the service. From a response basis, riders need to live within 25 miles
of the Great Western Hospital. Training is provided for all
new members.
If this is of interest, please feel free to get in touch.
Geoff
Geoff Brown
Severn Freewheelers
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Media coordinator - Help us to broaden our reach
To help promote the group we have a variety of online media platforms, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. To help make the most out of the opportunities that these outlets provide, we could use some help from someone who has experience of using such tools. Drop me a line at secretary@wiltshireroadar.co.uk if you would be interested in helping promote our group.
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Committee minutes
These are available from the Group Secretary if any member wishes to see them. If you are interested in reading the minutes, then please send a mail to the Group Secretary whom will promptly forward them onto you.
Test results
Reminder to let the Membership Secretary and your tutor know when you have taken your Advanced Driving/Riding Test and result. This is so our database is kept up to date; there is no need or pressure at all to have the result published on the website or in this newsletter if you wish to keep your result confidential.
If you have read this far, thanks! If you have any feedback or suggestions about content for your newsletter, then drop us a line at newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk If you can't leave constructive feedback though, then we don't want to hear from you!
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