New Highway Code

(Continued from page 22) Filtering (Page 226) Addition: Anti-lock braking systems - added paragraph and revised wording (Page 171) Rewrite: Traction control systems (Page 172) Chapter 9: Positioning Addition: Avoid defects on the carriageway (Page 191) Addition: Warning of child pedestrians (Page 191) Addition: Diagrams using rear observation (Page 192) Addition: Position on bends (Page 195) Addition: Position for approaching the brow of a hill (Page 200) Chapter 10: Overtaking (Rewrite) Developing your competence at overtaking safely (Page 204) Addition: Bullet points (Page 204) Addition: Passing a stationary vehicle (Page 205) Rewrite: Acceleration, Gear, Speed, Position, sequence (Page 206) Addition: Information - Questions (Page 207) Addition: Overtaking moving vehicles - Questions (Page 207) Location: The vehicle in-front (Page 208) Location: The vehicles behind (Page 209 Addition: Other hazards to consider before overtaking (Page 209) New illustrations showing common overtaking collisions (Page 210 & Page 211) Addition: A single-stage overtake - Questions (Page 211) Information - Identify (Page 212) Acceleration, Gear, Speed, Position, sequence (Page 213) Addition: A three-stage overtake (Page 214) Stage one: following position - Questions (Page 214 & (Page 215) Stage two: overtaking position (Page 216) Stage three: overtaking (Page218) Addition: Overtaking vehicles in a line of traffic (Page 219) Diagram text enhanced (Page 221) Addition & Rewrite: Other overtaking situations (Page221) Overtaking on a single carriageway (Page 221) Overtaking on bends (Page 222) Overtaking on single carriageway roads marked with three lanes (Page 224)New diagram (Page 224) Overtaking on multi-lane carriageways (Page 225)

Rewrite: Bullet points (Page 225) Filtering (Page 226) Rewrite: Bullet points Addition: Hazard lights and Main beam (Page 227) Rewrite & Location: The range of hazards (Page 228) Cyclists and Horses (Page 228) Road layout and conditions (Page 229) The road surface, new diagram (Page 230) Addition: Human factors in overtaking (Page 231) Addition: Overtaking: key safety points (Page 232) Chapter 11: Riding on motorways and multi-lane carriageways (Rewrite) Rewrite: Riding on multi-lane carriageways (Page 236) Addition: Bullet points (Page 236) Location: Layout of the carriageway (Page 237) Addition: New motorway layouts (smart motorways) (Page 238) Location: Joining the motorway (Page 238) Addition: Riding on the motorway (Page 240) Location: Adapting to higher speeds (Page 241) Rewrite: Taking information (Page 243) Rewrite: Using the hard shoulder (Page 246) Rewrite: Bad weather conditions on fast-moving roads (Page 248) Location: Human factors in motorway riding (Page 253) Chapter 12: Emergency response Rewrite: What is an emergency response? (Page 258) Appendix 2: Testing the brakes Addition: The moving brake test - Check brakes at 30 mph using a non-retarding gear (Page 285) Appendix 3: Fuel-efficient riding Addition: New Appendix (Page 286) Misc changes: ‘Riding’ rather than ‘Driving’ (in most cases) Cornering rather than steering Banking rather than cornering First gear rather than Bottom gear At each gear change rather than at each stage

Highway Code 2020 Consultation Summary.

Introduction This summary document allows for readers to easily and quickly identify the changes we are proposing following our review of The Highway Code to improve road safety for vulnerable road users. It sets out the amendments we are proposing and some of the new text that we are considering through this consultation process. It is not intended that this summary document be read instead of the main consultation document, which allows for clear comparison of current and proposed new text in The Highway Code, and provides a detailed background to the review. The consultation document is seeking views on proposed changes to The Highway Code to improve safety for pedestrians, particularly children, older adults and disabled people, cyclists and horse riders. It is important that these groups feel safe in their interactions with other road users. We have not undertaken a full-scale revision of The Highway Code at this time given current work under way relating to the future of transport, and how the advent of new technologies is revolutionising the way people think about how they travel. This interim review of The Highway Code, announced in October 2018, therefore focusses on the vulnerable groups mentioned above with specific consideration on overtaking, passing distances, cyclist and pedestrian priority at junctions, opening vehicle doors and responsibility of road users. There are 3 main changes that are being proposed through this consultation: • introducing a hierarchy of road users which ensures that those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others • clarifying existing rules on pedestrian priority on pavements and that drivers and riders should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road • establishing guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists or horse riders, and ensuring that they have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead Within the chapters of this document, we have explained what the main changes are alongside the proposed new text. These changes will be

reflected in the following areas of The Highway Code, the: • introduction • rules for pedestrians (Rules 1 to 19) • rules about animals (Rule 52) • rules for cyclists (Rules 59 to 82) • rules for drivers and motorcyclists (Rule 97)

• general rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders (Rules 123 to 151) • using the road (Rules 160 to 199) • road users requiring extra care (Rules 204 to 215) • waiting and parking (Rule 239) • annex 1: you and your bicycle • annex 6: vehicle maintenance, safety and security

Old Events Report

Chris Johnson

First published in TUG in August 2008. Not one of the greatest but typical

Over the years John Kidman has organised a number of rides to the Shuttleworth Museum flying evening; each of which has been dogged by misfortune. This year’s attempt on 17th May was no exception. The weather was appalling. I had vowed that I would attend come what may, and so duly arrived at the Spread Eagle, shook myself like a dog, and looked around for company. I finally spotted a lone figure sheltering in a doorway opposite the pub. It was John, with a facial expression indicating patient resignation in the face of customary adversity. We dutifully hung around until 14:30 to see if anyone else turned up and then, predictably, agreed that no interesting planes would be out in these conditions and gratefully scurried back home for warm towels and a mug of Horlicks.

By contrast the next day was fine and the re-scheduled Super Sausage Run was a great success, with Chris, Rob and Geoff leading three groups out to Potterspury. I think the last time I counted at the A414/M11 Macdonalds there were 46 bikes. For once Chris’ slow group did not arrive first. We had a long stop at the café because they seemed to be short-staffed. I was hungry and, waiting with ticket 62 whilst number 91 was being called, was beginning to get seriously worried. Those with other commitments returned straight home, whilst the traditionalists rode the Silverstone loop and then stopped at Grafton Honda in Wavendon to get fuel. Entertainment here was provided by a carefree individual with an original D1 BSA Bantam, who still had not worked out that travelling on an ancient two-stroke without a plug spanner in-

variably meant pushing the thing for miles to get it back home when the plug whiskered. Various EAMG members of a certain age enjoyed themselves re-living their youth by trying to get the plug out by other means. In the good old days forgetting the plug spanner didn’t matter so much, since you always had brown paper and scissors with you to fashion impromptu gaskets, and you could just whip the head off. We continued through the Woburn Deer Park and, shock, surprise, in the distance there were actually some deer there for once; curiously immobile with a stag in a frozen ‘Monarch of the Glen’ pose. Probably at nightfall someone would come to return them to their glass cases at the taxidermist’s. The run ended at Buntingford with everyone in high spirits. There was a Ladies Weekend at the Biker’s Retreat in mid-May about which I know little; not being a Lady (or even female, although it appears that half of those who attended were previously male, so I guess some EAMG guys are prepared to face the knife to get a good ride).

Richard Parker’s ride to Swaffham on 25th May was blessed by torrential rain, and only five bikes were rash enough to venture out on it. One was lost at the inevitable café near Acton with waterlogged electrics, another had an attack of common sense shortly thereafter, and even Richard gave up after Bury St Edmunds when the flooding at each side of the road joined in the middle. The run was thus ninety miles, or about three million gallons of water. The weather for the post-AGT run to Needham Lake on the 8th June was, by contrast, absolutely stun-

ning. 21 bikes enjoyed the 75 mile outward run to the Big Burger / Little Chef just beyond Needham, and around half of them came back to Braintree, where Hein Gericke had an open day. Many thanks to Stephen for acting as back marker; the livery on his ‘new’ Pan undoubtedly making us look as if we had a police escort.

Richard had another try at a ride to Swaffham on 22nd June with greater success. There were sixteen bikes and the weather was good this time. I managed a U-turn on the outward journey when I was late seeing a marker hiding in a bush some way up a turning off to the left (that is my story and I am sticking to it). At Swaffham Richard pretended that we were going to a café which was closed, feigned surprise and chagrin, and then cunningly led us to the fish bar next door which had upstairs dining rooms (that is his story and he is sticking to it). It was an excellent lunch location, and the stop was enlivened by a spirited discussion between Gary and myself about the ethics of touching another rider’s helmet. In retrospect I realise that the ‘public’ pile of clothing on which I dumped my stuff was actually Gary’s private one, so he had the rights of it. My apologies to him. Incidentally those who watch the TV series ‘Kingdom’ can have fun matching locations in it to the run, since it is filmed in and around Swaffham. We had a stop at Walker’s at Barton Mills on the way back.

On 24th June Bill Bovil organised the first of his experimental midweek rides. The intention had been to go to Wesson’s café near Horam, home of the ‘Big Mama’ burger, but Bill discovered in time that it was closed on Tuesdays, so a stop at the Chalet Café near Horsham was substituted. Five of us met at the Thurrock Services for a civilised 10:30 start; Jill, and four ‘senior statesmen’ with a lot more leisure than colour in their hair. Jill did not have time for the full run and broke off back home up the A22, but the rest of us had a pleasant run on a fine day at a moderate pace. The pace was not actually due to our being well past our sell-by dates, but because of the speed limits and white lines which flourish south of the Thames. The post-AGT run on 6th July was a fairly twisty route out past Epping onto the B180/1/2 family with a stop at the Bishops Stortford Tesco’s for lunch and petrol, Seventeen bikes. The weather was a

mix of sun. cloud, and light rain but we were luckier than many with our weather that day. We returned via Thaxted to finish the ride outside the Triumph dealer in Dunmow. The long-suffering Stephen volunteered as back marker again, and nobody got lost, although there was apparently one playful little excursion by the rear of the group.

Richard Parker realised to his horror that there was no ride booked for the weekend of 13th July, an abomination against nature, and leapt

into the breach at short notice with a run to Bedford. Since my son and his wife were over from Sweden I could not attend, but Stephen kindly provided some details. About twelve bikes participated in a 150 mile run predominantly on B roads, with no wrong turns. Lunch at the Bedford McDonalds and then a return through St Neots to finish at Dunmow. Fred and Ken shared the honours as back marker. On the

16th July Bill Bovil held the second of his mid-week runs, this time to Wessons. I could not attend but from the pictures there appear to have been three participants, and I recognised a stop at Rye. The weather looked good. That concludes the report for this issue.

And now for something completely different. On Sunday 11th April a group of five friends went out on a socially compliant outing; This was not an EAMG run but, since some of the participants may be known to you I include an account by a participant whose prose style is uncomfortably similar to Spider’s.

Hello Chris. Richard asked me to send you these photos what I took along with my new bike lol. It was a cold start for the 4 boys and yours truly super spider who was fashionably late. My petrol cap lock has a mind of it's own . I could see them across the road but the key wouldn't come out of the cap. When we got riding the sun made an appearance and it warmed up from 5 degrees to a mighty 7 degrees. With the exceptionally talented built-in navigation system of the one and only Mr Parker leading the way along roads that we've never used before. It was absolutely brilliant to be out with a few people in the club and making good progress while shaking off the covid rust. Ping there goes another bit of rubber. It saves me filing my tyres down to look like I can really lean it on the bends. We ended up at walkers in Thetford where of course you can get a cup of tea and have a wee. I even got a fly in my eye oh my my. Back on the bikes for a bit more flat out fun down the country lanes oh sorry I meant nice gentle ride having a goosey gander at the tulips and daffodils that was in abundance and quaint buildings that one can only dream about buying. Sorry where was I ? Oh yeah burning rubber and breaking the speed limit. What that officer I jest. So plodding on with a different route back to Chelmsford that was equally fun with the the bike falling over to www.eamg.org.uk

the left them falling over to the right and singing songs like what do you do with a drunken sailor. I get bored easy and I was making out i was on a sailing boat we arrived back in Chelmsford with a Gimmee 5 and all alive to do it again next time. We departed ride safe - Spider