Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists and Motorcyclists
JOHN F. BLACK MOTOR ENGINEERS
~Air Con ~Diesel Tuning ~Servicing ~Repairs ~Diagnostics ~Exhausts ~Tyres ~Motorhomes ~MOT testing for classes 3,4,5 & 7
Tel: 01387 267473
6B Catherinefield Ind Estate, Heathhall, Dumfries DG1 3PQ
An IAM survey of 2500 people who recently passed the advanced test reported having seen these benefits: 1) improved their driving (99%) 2) gave them greater awareness of other road users (90%) 3) helped them avoid a crash (66%)
Ask yourself if your skills up to the more challenging conditions that winter may bring? see page 8 to find out how we may be able to help
Group Committee Members for 2015/16 Chair, Chief Obs
Graeme McColm
01387 720425
Vice Chair
Jamie Wood
07759 260621
Secretary
Helen Cameron
07707 035518
Treasurer
Russell Wears
01387 263893
M/c Coordntr Andrew Bird
07919 128305
Car Coordntr Stewart Cameron 01387 264005 Committee
Andy Campbell Cris Bardsley Neil Martyniuk Clint Smith Chris Wilson Derek Hunter
07717 798109 01387 850234 07725 941780 07952 751433 07935 381722 07455 084784
To e-mail any member of the committee, please in the first instance, use the group contact e-mail address: dumfries@groups.iam.org.uk
This magazine was published by: Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists. For more details of our activities see our web site at: www.iamdumfries.org.uk Contact the Group Secretary: stewcam@9gbrae.freeserve.co.uk
Facebook: Dumfries & Galloway IAM (Motorcycles) Group Magazine contributions to: editor@iamdumfries.f9.co.uk
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this magazine are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Editor, Group or the Institute of Advanced Motorists, to which the Group is affiliated. Reg Charity No. SC 023511
Copy date: Latest article submission date for the Spring 2016 issue: 11 March 2016
What’s on?: check out events at www.iamdumfries.org.uk Monday 14 December - Green Energy with Derek Hunter Monday 11 January - yet to be confirmed - check web site Monday 8 February - Abbey Motorcycles Open Night with Cris Bardsley and Michelin’s Duncan Livingstone. See P8 for address - meet 7pm for 7:30pm Friday 26 February RACE NIGHT see P10 Monday 14 March - yet to be confirmed - check web site April - Crossflags garage visit - timing to be confirmed Venue for meetings: Aberdour Hotel, 16 Newall Terrace, Dumfries, DG11LW starting 7:30 pm except where otherwise stated.
For membership and all other enquiries call: 07707 035518 or e-mail: dumfries@groups.iam.org.uk Photography notice: Occasionally we may take photos during meetings, guidance sessions or at other events in order to promote the Group and its activities. Photos may be reproduced in our web sites, our magazine or through other promotions. If you wish to withhold your permission for your image to be used please contact the Group Secretary. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
1
The Chairman’s comments - Graeme McColm Welcome to the winter edition of our Advance Magazine. First off can I just say the weather has been a bit hit or miss over the last few months, thankfully when the rain has stayed away we have all made the most of getting out and about. Well done to all of you who have completed a skill for life course. Now the clocks have changed and winter is here, please remember, whether a car driver, or a bike rider, stay alert! If you haven’t checked your tyres recently now would be a good time, car drivers may decide to change to winter tyres as they certainly help in bad weather. A huge thanks to Jamie Woods for giving up his time to talk to us about fuel, who would have guessed it would be such an interesting subject. His talk covered, fuel supply, how the cost of fuel is made up and even the storage of it, thanks again Jamie. As events are subject to change at a moments notice, please remember to check the group web site for up to date information. If you need further information please phone Helen on 07707 035 518. If you know anybody who would benefit from one of our driving or biking courses please bring them along to any of our events. More details can be found in this magazine inside the front cover and on page 8. As a charitable organisation, our 'Skill for Life' package normally costs £149, however if you order a gift certificate, before 18 December, for either a car or bike advanced course then you get a £14 discount. With Christmas just around the corner how about treating your loved one to an advanced course, it may be the best and safest present they ever got. To take advantage of this offer call the IAM on 0300 303 1134 or visit: http://iam.org.uk/Christmas. There are other benefits too, once you have passed the advanced test you will gain access to the IAMs ‘member only' insurance provider IAM Surety who have been voted the UK's BEST INSURANCE COMPANY in the Auto Express 2015 Driver Power Awards. If you are already a member it might be worth giving them a try. There are many other member benefits giving discounts on a wide range of things. I hope everyone has an enjoyable Christmas and a Happy New Year. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
2
Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2014 -Transport Scotland The final casualty figures for 2014 confirm a 16% year-on-year increase in road deaths. The final statistics confirm the provisional data published in June 2015 which revealed that 200 people were killed on Scotland’s roads in 2014, while the number of people seriously injured rose by 2% to 1,699. Many statistics are available, set out in an easily understood way, such as the examples below. Find out more at: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/statistics/j397988-003.htm
Š Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
3
Automatic Number Plate Recognition - Transport Scotland Information collected by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras is used by Traffic Scotland to deliver reliable journey time information to drivers on the trunk road network. They use the data to make journeys more reliable, improve strategic transport connections, encourage a shift from private cars and improving safety. The information is particularly useful to drivers when there are incidents or delays on the trunk road network. How it works ANPR cameras record the Vehicle Registration Numbers (VRN) of passing traffic. These are then encrypted at a computer outstation and stored alongside the related time stamp and camera location. By matching the encrypted VRN between camera locations, a journey time can be derived between those two ANPR locations. This information is then collated by the Traffic Scotland Control Centre, and will be used in the future to inform drivers using variable message signs (VMS). The data collected is retained for a limited time before being overwritten. The retention time is typically no greater than one hour as this allows adequate time for journey times to be calculated between sites. The process is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act. The camera system transmits: ● Encrypted VRN ● Time / date stamp ● Location ID The camera system does not transmit: ● Images of the driver ● Images of the vehicle ● Images of the licence plate ● The ‘original’ number plate characters Transport Scotland operates an ANPR camera system on parts of the trunk road network. This system currently comprises 26 cameras at 15 locations, including the M77, A726 and M8. In the future, they hope to provide a journey time service, which may utilise ANPR and other technologies to provide accurate journey time information. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
4
Understanding and using Limit Points to your benefit It is likely many drivers, especially less experienced ones, may look at an approaching bend and base their speed of approach on how fast they believe they can physically get around the bend, as opposed to asking themselves the question “can I stop in the distance I can see to be clear, safely and comfortably on my side of the road?” “or in other words “what is the fastest speed I can get round the bend in safety and leave nothing to chance?”. If the answer were to be “yes I can stop safely and comfortably on my side of the road” then the driver should be safe to proceed at the current speed, given that no other hazards have been spotted. However if the answer were to be “no” then the driver would need to slow down in order to safely proceed and leave nothing to chance. Of course on a single track road drivers need to ensure they can stop in half the distance they can see to be clear so any oncomer has room to stop too. More on the pitfalls of the wrong approach to tackling bends on the next page. Remembering that the limit point is the point where the two opposing sides of the road apparently meet. As a driver gets closer to the bend then the same question should be repeated and if the answer becomes “no” then the vehicle should be slowed down in order still to be able to stop safely (and comfortably on their side of the road). In reality it is safest, for a left hand bend, to assess the limit point as the apparent point where the left hand side of the road appears to meet the centre of the road. As the vehicle drives around the bend at some point its speed will match the speed of the movement of the limit point. Towards the end of the bend the limit point will move away faster than the speed of the vehicle. By continuing to ask the same question, as the vehicle rounds the bend, at some point it may be possible to increase speed as the bend is exited (all other things being equal). Skilful use of the limit point can help you make progress but at the same time maximise your safety and deal with the unexpected. It should go hand in hand with observation of traffic, weather, surface conditions, road layout etc, all of which can usually help the driver to anticipate what may reasonably be expected to be encountered around the corner.
My new life on the road - Yvonne Stirling I recently took my IAM test and managed to pass, after 6 drives from my amazing observer, Graham Watson, (obviously dedicated to his role with his driving CDs for homework!). The drives were conducted in a professional, informative, courteous and always encouraging manner and Graham strove to help me achieve my goal. I have not done so much homework for a long time. I wanted to take the IAM test to increase my confidence, having written off my car a few months earlier. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
5
The course updated my driving skills, made me aware of how driving has changed, improved my general awareness of other road users and helped me spot potential hazards. Certainly my knowledge of The Highway Code has increased and doing online ‘Highway Code tests’ became almost addictive. The Test itself was the culmination of all the drives and my learning. It was my chance to demonstrate knowledge of the System and talk through it in the commentary. When the charming professional Examiner said “congratulations” it was almost an anti-climax since the course was now at an end. I even asked myself if the Test could be taken at a later date to improve one's score? (Just ask us for a check drive and we’ll keep you on track - Ed). However it really is just the start of always driving to the System and never taking one's eye off the road. My thanks especially to you Graham, James Loy (Examiner), Stewart Cameron (progress drive check) and all the people involved who make this course possible.
Watch your speed on country roads - Scottish Government A campaign which urges drivers to watch their speed on country roads and help reduce the number of fatalities was launched this autumn. Country roads account for the largest number of fatal accidents on Scotland’s roads - over half (55%). Last year alone 755 people were killed or seriously injured whilst driving on country roads and three out of four of those were men. Loss of control is the biggest cause of deaths on country roads, frequently associated with driving too fast for the conditions and leaving too little time to react to unpredictable road conditions and hazards. A new ad follows a driver losing control of his car on a country road with devastating consequences. The emotional campaign is particularly targeted at young male drivers aged 22-40 who have a higher risk of being involved in a crash, and focuses on what they would miss if they weren’t around, with the strapline: “Don’t miss what’s round the corner. Watch your speed on country roads.” Minister for Transport and Islands Derek Mackay said: “We are committed to achieving safer road travel in Scotland for everyone and clearly we are heading in the right direction. However we still have a long way to go, particularly with younger male drivers. This campaign encourages motorists in Scotland to drive at an appropriate speed for the conditions, particularly on country roads as there is a higher proportion of fatalities in rural areas”. “We know the risks are associated with inappropriate and excessive speeds, which is why Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 has speed as one of its priorities and includes a variety of measures to tackle the problem”. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
6
Superintendent Candlish of Police Scotland said: “We are urging drivers to take extra care on country roads, as you never know what hazards are waiting round the corner or when something unexpected might happen”. “It’s important to drive according to the road conditions as driving even slightly too fast can turn avoidable incidents into serious and ultimately fatal crashes”. Watch the advert here: https://youtu.be/yJtTgTWUtQY
Read the road, anticipate what might come around the corner (or be around it), plan your actions and get your position and speed right on approach - it avoids dramas
The unexpected = the unavoidable? They say that maintaining a good standard of observation allows you to spot clues and avoid hazards - mostly this is true but very occasionally it may not be the case. Take here for instance, when this trailer broke free from its tow vehicle and rolled back downhill (albeit slowly) making contact with a following car, which had stopped, before pushing it backwards. Although the trailer was moving slowly it was laden with a dumper and excavator so its momentum meant that the brakes of the following car had little or no effect and would not have been able to stop the trailer. The car in turn was pushed back into a second car. There was no room to go around the trailer since it was heading downhill, in a straight line through a bend in the road which was not very wide. Both cars were pushed off the road backwards to the nearside whilst the trailer continued for a few more metres before coming off the road to the offside. Leaving the road itself free of any obstruction! From the perspective of the car drivers this was probably a truly unavoidable accident. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
7
Abbey Motorcycles Website www.abbeymotorcycles.co.uk
Unit 5, Newton Ind Est, Irongray Rd, Dumfries, DG2 0JE Telephone 01387 721272. Email abbeymotorcycles@btconnect.com Abbey Motorcycles is a friendly professional motorcycle workshop highly experienced in motorcycle repairs, servicing and MOT preparation. Abbey Motorcycles supply tyres, spare parts & service items for almost any make of Motorcycles; we are a Michelin tyre stockist and supply fit and balance all makes of tyres at competitive prices. Abbey Motorcycles is just off the A76, on the outskirts of Dumfries ½ mile from the Dumfries by-pass. Business hours: 8am to 6pm Mon to Fri, Sat 9am to 4pm.
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY GROUP OF ADVANCED MOTORISTS & MOTORCYCLISTS Invite you to get a ‘Skill for Life’ and become an ADVANCED DRIVER /IAMDumfriesandGalloway-
ADVANCED RIDER /groups/dgiam
We have helped hundreds of people hone their abilities to make their driving or riding more skillful, more enjoyable and safer. Our passion is to help you improve your driving and riding standards leaving you with the ability to make good progress whilst maintaining the highest standards of skill, safety and responsibility... it really is a ‘skill for life’. Interested in improving your skills? Get in touch, find out more. Visit our web site, e-mail or call us on 07707 035518 - see page 1 for our contact details. Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC 023511
B R A I D W O O D S SOLICITORS
Property and Estate Agency Wills and Estates Commercial Practice Family Law
www.braidwoods.com 1 Charlotte Street, Dumfries DG1 2AG Telephone: (01387) 257272 E-mail: info@braidwoods.com
2016 SOCIAL NIGHT AND FUND RAISER OPEN TO ALL GROUP MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS. Venue: ABERDOUR HOTEL NEWALL TERRACE, DUMFRIES, DG1 1LW
SIX RACES PLUS AUCTION RACE Ticket price £10.00, includes buffet. Can’t make it? You can still help out, purchase a horse at any race for £2 or sponsor a race for £20
Why not come along, bring some friends with you, have a flutter and support your group at the same time. The event is restricted to a maximum of 100 people. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT GROUP FUNDS
Please contact Stewart Cameron to reserve your tickets, purchase a horse or sponsor a race. Tel: 01387 264005
Mobile: 07707 035518
Or email: stewcam@9gbrae.freeserve.co.uk (use ‘RACE NIGHT’ as the message header - thanks) Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists and Motorcyclists
STEERING A COURSE FOR SAFER DRIVING AND RIDING
Motorcycle Chief Observer’s Diary
- Graeme McColm
Well it has been one of the busiest Autumn’s for many years, with riders signing up for ‘skill for life’ courses. Well done to everyone who has passed their advanced test, especially those who achieved a FIRST and also well done to all our observers for their hard work getting them up to the IAM standard. Many riders who passed their IAM test have gone on to become Blood Bike volunteers, congratulations to them and well done for giving up your leisure time for such a worthy cause. This year the All Year Biker was once again in the area, on the Saturday he was at my house (arranged by Steven) and on Sunday he was at Graeme Abrines. Thank you to all who attended. A good turnout. Andrew Bird and myself attended the IAM Scottish Motorcycle Forum in Tulliealan Golf Club, topics on discussion were recent events and new standards which will be announced later in the new year. Last Saturday was our annual toy run, this was once again well attended with over 90 bikes, although the forecast wasn’t great, as it turned out it was a lot better than expected. Remember the social events have started for this season so please check page 1 for details. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for all their efforts over the last year and wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Watch out in the winter - IAM Research from the Department for Transport in 2013 showed winter is a dangerous time of year for motorists, with a reported 57,260 cars across England and Wales involved in accidents as a result of wet, flooded and icy roads. At the same time 5,000 reported motorcycle accidents took place. We can probably assume that the figures for Scotland won’t be any better. Skidding alone, caused by rain, sleet and snow resulted in an 11,614 major road accidents occurring in England and Wales – putting both riders and drivers safety at risk. Suffice to say that being out on the road in winter will benefit from greater levels of prior planning and more care when especially in the dark and in poor weather conditions. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
11
For the avoidance of doubt If you spot something where you might be unsure of the road layout/markings or even question the action of others what do you do? Ignore it, get angry, sad, seek retribution, question yourself to ensure you understood the situation correctly or even consider what you could have done to improve the safety arising from the situation? The section of the A75 East of Dumfries shown in the photos is what is known as a wide single 2+1 carriageway. For the avoidance of doubt even though the white lines are separated by differential red coloured surfacing they are still double white lines. The driver of the truck here had obviously misunderstood, or maybe chose to ignore, their meaning. We have had at least one driver undergoing a progress drive who believed that these markings constituted a dual carriageway and hence the speed limit was 70 mph! The camera car, in this instance was was travelling at 60mph, hence the truck driver was inadvisable to carry out the manoeuvre especially given that the speed limit applicable for his vehicle was, in all probability, lower at 50mph, since it is not a dual carriageway. In further clarification the regulations are written to effectively say that ‘every vehicle proceeding on any length of road along which the marking has been so placed that, as viewed in the direction of travel of the vehicle, a continuous line is on the left of a broken line or of another continuous line, shall be so driven as to keep the first-mentioned continuous line on the right hand or off side of the vehicle’. Finally the second photo shows why the road is marked as it is - to separate the opposing flows of traffic so negating the need for others to take action to avoid the oncoming vehicle, in the circumstances here where the closing speed is likely to have been in excess of 120mph. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists 12
The Secretary reports - Helen Cameron The new social season is well under way now and we have had 3 very successful meetings. We started with a fun night with driving simulator competition and Scalextric for cars and motorcycles. October was an interesting evening about MotoGoLoco and November saw Jamie Wood talking about fuel and the many interesting facts about how it gets to our vehicles and the different elements that go to make up the price. The attendance so far this year has been good so lets hope it continues. It is always great that new members come along to our meetings. Our speakers go to a lot of preparation for our benefit and it can be a little disheartening if we only have a few people there. Observers- we have recently trained new motorcycle observers who have passed the new IMI qualification. On the car side we need to recruit new observers as well as updating existing observers in the new qualification. If you would like to train to do observing or find out more about what is involved then please let me or a committee member know as we intend to start car observer training in the new year, ready for the spring, when we hope to have many new Associates on-board. It is a great way to keep up your own skills. Congratulations to those who passed their IAM test since our last edition:. Motor Cycle: Nigel Davies, Phillip Ross, Robert Sproat, Alan Jamieson, James Craig, David Richardson, and two FIRSTs: Andrew Gaston, Gavin Thomson. Car: Alison Todd – Obs Stewart Cameron, Yvonne Stirling – Obs-G Watson We are trying hard to keep you informed of events etc but I would be grateful if you would keep me informed if you change your contact details so that you don’t miss out. We endeavour to keep the web site up to date so it’s always worth checking forthcoming events that way.
Group Membership Renewal Just in case it has slipped your mind November was the deadline for paying for your group membership by standing order. However you can still pay by cheque or even cash if you did forget. You will still need to complete a ‘Group Membership Form 2015/2016’ but this can be downloaded from the group website. Just go to http://www.iamdumfries.org.uk/ and click on ‘Group Documents’. Remember that this is the group annual membership fee, which is separate from your IAM membership, which is due annually from the anniversary of your test date and paid direct to IAM at Chiswick. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
13
Keep it smooth & silky = key to riding happiness in the wet While many choose to put their bikes away for the winter, the IAM’s director of standards Mark Lewis guides you through how to make your riding experience in wet weather a safe and enjoyable experience. Mark is a former advanced police motorcyclist with 37 years of biking knowhow. He also rode police bikes operationally in London and one year clocked up 18,000 miles on 'blue lights' and siren duty. He has also been an examiner for police motorcycle students. Always begin with pre-ride checks of tyres, lights and lubricant. Too little tread, sidewall damage and low pressure could each contribute to sudden loss of grip or tyre failure which could bring a bike down. While all bikes imported into the UK from 2003 do not have a manual light switch, if yours is older don't forget to switch your lights on if you have doubts at all that you might not be seen, especially in poor conditions or at dusk. Make all your inputs; whether steering, braking or acceleration as smooth as you can. There is only a set amount of grip available for the tyres, so make all changes in acceleration, steering and braking smooth, progressive ones. You should keep your visor clean and if you don't have a pin lock system, ensure it is treated with a fog-resistant product. Be aware that visibility will be seriously reduced when travelling on busy roads due to spray. Anticipate that you may not have been seen by other road users and plan accordingly. Reduced visibility may increase blind spot areas for other motorists - consider your positioning to be seen. It might sound obvious, but make sure you stay as dry as possible. Old leaky clothing will sap your heat, strength and concentration. Be extra careful at roundabouts, near petrol station forecourts and on new tarmac for oil on the road. Oil will sit above the water and is not always visible. Finally, take extreme care when riding over standing water. You have no idea how deep it may be or what may be below the surface. Grip the bars firmly and try to keep the machine as upright as possible. Remember to try your brakes after exiting deep water and periodically in wet conditions. Mark said: "Riders must make their actions on a bike as smooth and as predictable as possible. They must not assume that anyone driving a vehicle has seen them or can work out what they will do next. "By following these guidelines, you will have a safe and stress-free ride to your destination - whatever the weather!" Š Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
14
Official DVSA Guide to Better Driving Published at the end of October ‘The Official DVSA Guide to Better Driving’ aims to help you to improve your driving and boost your confidence. Discover how emotions, attitude and behaviour can affect your driving. Learn how to manage stress and anxiety through real-life scenarios and test-yourself questionnaires. It covers topics such as Staying safe, Boosting your confidence, Enjoying your driving, Staying legal, Technology and you. Anyone read it and prepared to review it?
IAM calls for drivers to take responsibility Figures from the Department of Transport analysed by the IAM show that in 2014 driver/rider error or reaction were cited as contributory factors in 74% of accidents, involving more than 117,000 casualties. 20,830 of these were in London. Police can cite up to six factors causing an accident they report. The second highest factor was ‘behaviour or inexperience’ which was cited as a contributory factor in 26% of accidents, accounting for more than 40,000 casualties. In London the number was 9,508. The contributory factors cited in accident reports are shown below alongside the number of casualties/Percentage of accidents where the factor was cited. * Driver/rider error or reaction: 117,524/74% * Behaviour or inexperience: 40,778/26% * Injudicious action: 39,354/25% * Impairment or distraction: 21,916/14% * Road environment contributed: 20,253/13% * Vehicle defects: 3,230/2% Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and research, said: “People often blame their car, the road, or the other driver for the accidents and near misses that they have. These figures show that in the vast majority of cases, it’s the driver or rider themselves who is to blame. “Changing attitudes is the key factor when it comes to reducing the numbers of casualties on our roads. People must accept responsibility for enhancing their own skills and recognising their limitations.
Can’t make it to a planned observed run? If you can’t get to your next observed run appointment or you are running more than a few minutes late then please let your observer know as soon as possible. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists 15
Highway Code 2015 This limited anniversary edition of the Highway Code released in 2015 celebrates 80 years of the driving test. It includes the new drug driving laws, the revised drink driving laws for Scotland together with the higher speed limits for lorries on single and dual carriageway roads applicable in England and Wales. The limits for illegal drugs have been specified at low levels whereas the limits for prescription drugs are set at levels normally higher than that found in the blood of patients prescribed normal therapeutic doses. If you are found to have a higher than specified level of prescribed drug because you have been prescribed or legitimately supplied with a particularly high dose you can raise a statutory medical defence, but only if your driving has not been impaired.
Wheels in winter - IAM In 2014, 12,445 accidents took place on built up roads that were either flooded or wet in the dark – a 19% increase since 2010. As the days shorten and weather conditions worsen the IAM has launched its #wheelsinwinter campaign to support motorists in driving safely this winter. As part of the #wheelsinwinter campaign, the IAM will be introducing a new animated video featuring ‘Al the Alien’ on its social media platforms. The animation will be used as a visual aid to help novice drivers gain familiarity with a number of hazardous situations faced on winter roads. Other contributory factors to road accidents in 2014 include: Snow, sleet, rain or fog – caused 368 fatal or serious accidents Slippery roads – caused 1,279 fatal or serious accidents Sarah Sillars, chief executive officer at the IAM, said: ““Winter driving needn’t be difficult, and with a few small changes driving in bad weather conditions can be made far safer and more enjoyable. We advise motorists to avoid travelling in severe weather conditions – could you delay that visit to the shops or walk to school instead? But if you do need to travel, prepare properly and read our advice to ensure you and your loved ones are safe.” The IAM’s #wheelsinwinter campaign will share tips and advice for driving and riding in winter weather conditions. © Dumfries & Galloway Group of Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists
16
St. Michael’s Services St. Michael’s Street Dumfries, DG1 2QD Tel: 01387 254304 ~ BP ultimate fuels & BP Autogas ~ Car wash ~ Jet wash ~ MACE convenience store ~ Nectar Points ~ Special offers for Dumfries Group Members
mor e pe r f or ma nc e , le s s pollut ion
Wigtown Road Services Wigtown Road Newton Stewart, DG8 6JZ Tel: 01671 403157 ~ BP ultimate fuels & BP Autogas ~ Jet wash ~ Snack bar/ coffee machine ~ Large Mace convenience shop ~ Air/Screenwash/Vacuum/fragrance machine ~ Nectar Points ~ Special offers for Dumfries Group Members
Benmar Garage Station Road Moffat, DG10 9EL Tel: 01683 220010 ~ Esso Energy and Energy Supreme Fuels ~ Jet wash ~ Mace convenience shop ~ Air/Screenwash/Vacuum ~ Cash point ~ Special offers for Dumfries Group Members
At Crossflags we strive to create the best customer experience in the area. Please come and see us when you are considering your next vehicle purchase. York House, Annan Road, Dumfries DG1 3AW 01387 253473 Fax: 01387 253472 www.crossflags.co.uk