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AU T U M N / W I N T E R 2 0 2 1

THE SCIENCE OF SIGHT How vision works when you’re on the road

SELF DRIVING DEBATE Autonomous cars: are we moving too fast?

MOVIE ROAD TRIPS Ride or drive the UK’s most cinematic routes

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W ELCOME A U T U M N / W IN T E R 2 0 2 1 HOW TO GET IN TOUCH IAM RoadSmart 1 Albany Place, Hyde Way, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 3BT Phone: 0300 303 1134 Email: roadsmart@iam.org.uk Web: www.iamroadsmart.com Patron HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent President Nigel Mansell Vice Presidents Sir Peter Bottomley, Steven Norris, Nick Ross Chief Executive Officer Tony Greenidge Head of DRA Strategic Analysis & Membership Engagement Jags Ladwa Council of Trustees Stuart Donald QPM (Chair), Jeff Willcocks (Vice Chair), Tony Cearns, Elizabeth Coyle-Camp, John Jenkins, Samantha Kane, Nick Lomas, Dr Brad Poulson, Nick Stein Registration England & Wales 562530 Registered Charity Number 249002 (England & Wales), SCO41201 (Scotland) PUBLISHED BY Immediate Media Co. www.imcontent.co.uk Editor Dan Read Account Manager Katy Hewett Design Director Will Slater Editorial Director Dan Linstead Art Editor Robin Coomber Production Editor Charlotte Martyn Cover photography Joby Sessions TO ADVERTISE Head of Commercial & Partnerships Jamie Bolton (0117 300 8518; jamie.bolton@immediate.co.uk) Sales Manager Steve Grigg (0117 300 8831; steve.grigg@immediate.co.uk)

As the nights grow longer and we head further into the dark half of the year, many of us will spend more time driving and riding by moonlight than daylight. But how well equipped are we to deal with it, and what can we do to improve our skills on the road once the sun goes down? To find out, we asked five night-time specialists for their top tips on driving in the dark – from rapid-response medical teams and police bikers, to nocturnal roadworkers, an RAF night ops driver and a 24 Hours of Le Mans racer. If you can expertly drive a 34-tonne crane in a pitch-black war zone, or calmly deal with 200mph traffic on the Mulsanne Straight at 2am, you can probably master the M25 on a winter’s evening. Turn to p36 to see what they say. Then flick back to p11 for an insight into the very latest headlight technology, which could revolutionise the way our cars illuminate the road ahead. Even by day there are things we can do to improve our vision, or at least understand it better. On p17, journalist Jheni Osman investigates the science of sight – asking how our eyes work when we’re on the road, how our brains process visual information and what happens to our eyesight as we grow older. For sights of a different kind, turn to p22 for a tour of Britain’s best movie drives, taking in some of the UK’s most famous film locations and the wonderful roads that link them together. From the south coast to Scotland, from James Bond to Harry Potter, there’s plenty of cinematic scenery to inspire your next road trip. Elsewhere in the issue we debate the next level of semi-autonomous driving, report from the recent IAM RoadSmart Skills Days at Thruxton, and answer your questions with help from our team of experts. That, plus four pages of great new offers and deals to help you make the most of your membership. Thanks for reading and please let us know what you think of the issue – we always listen to your feedback.

“IF YOU CAN EXPERTLY DRIVE A 34 TONNE CRANE IN A PITCH BLACK WAR ZONE, YOU CAN PROBABLY MASTER THE M25 ON A WINTER EVENING”

Tony Greenidge Chief Executive, IAM RoadSmart

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CON T EN T S IN TA K E

ON T HE R O A D

07 NEWS A cautious celebration over a drop in UK road deaths, as IAM RoadSmart calls for more training. Plus new pothole repair technologies and the ban on petrol motorbike sales is confirmed

22 MOVIE DRIVES Famous film locations in Scotland, Wales and England’s south-west

11 INNOVATIONS Developments in headlight technology could light the way to a safer future

F E AT UR E S 36 NIGHT STARS Driving or riding in the dark is often unavoidable in winter months, but it can be challenging for many of us. There are ways to make night-time trips easier and even enjoyable, though. We get some top tips from the best in the business when it comes to driving and riding at night, from paramedics and police trainers to a Le Mans endurance racer. Their experiences will help your everyday motoring.

30 ASK THE EXPERTS Our team answer your motoring queries 32 IN THE KNOW Safety-related facts

12 THE GREAT DEBATE The Highway Code could be changing to accommodate semiautonomous vehicles. But are we ready? 17 THE SCIENCE OF SIGHT Sharp eyesight is essential for safe riding and driving, but what are the rules around having your vision checked? And what steps can you take to ensure your eyes stay healthy? We speak to the experts to find out the answers.

29 SKILLS REFRESHER: THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT Calm, prompt actions can save lives

33 RICHARD GLADMAN Try new skills, says our Head of Driving and Riding Standards

35 GEAR GUIDE: FIND YOUR WAY The best satnavs and route-planning apps

IN S IDE R

49 GALLERY On track with an IAM RoadSmart Skills Day 53 TONY GREENIDGE IAM RoadSmart can lead the green revolution 55 IAM ROADSMART NEWS The latest updates from within the organisation 56 MEMBER REWARDS Exclusive offers and discounts for you 60 LETTERS Members have their say 64 MEMBER PROFILE Chris Goffey on taking the Mature Driver Review 66 MY OTHER CAR IS… An Allis-Chalmers ED40 tractor

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News and views from the world of road safety

The Great Debate: too soon for autonomous cars? Plus: why maintaining your eyesight is essential for your safety on the road, whatever your age. Find out more on p17. / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 7

IN TA K E

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

Drones declare war on potholes FOLLOWING LAST issue’s report on JCB’s rapid road-repair machine, the battle against potholes has taken yet another hi-tech turn, with the use of drones and 3D printers now under consideration in England. The research is being funded by a new £15m initiative announced by the Department of Transport, which also aims to improve traffic-light systems and boost safety while cutting congestion, journey times and emissions. Advanced technology, such as drones and 3D printers, could be used to locate, report and repair potholes, with such automated operations helping cut the risk to road maintenance crews. Graphite nanoparticles could reduce surface cracks in asphalt, while bio-bitumen materials offer the potential for more environmentally friendly road surfaces.

CALL FOR HIGHWAY CODE CLARITY

ALAMY

THE NUMBER of road deaths in the UK has fallen for the first time in eight years. Preliminary data released reveals 1,472 reported road deaths in 2020, compared with 1,748 in 2019. While IAM RoadSmart has welcomed the 16% decline in fatalities, it cautions against complacency. The charity has also raised concerns over lapsed driving skills and speeding and urges the government to “build back safer” after the pandemic, which reduced traffic levels by 25% during lockdown. “The reductions in deaths and serious injuries on roads are obviously related to the global pandemic and resulting lockdowns,” explains Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart’s Director of Policy & Research. “The reduction in deaths comes after eight years of flatlining with no improvement in Britain’s road safety performance. We are bottom of the international league for rate of improvement. We need the UK government to show real leadership and push road safety up the political agenda to see sustainable, year-on-year improvements. This is an opportunity to get a new road safety strategy in place and ‘build back safer’ for all road users.” Department of Transport data reveals that half of drivers on motorways and 30mph roads exceeded the speed limit in 2020 and that 87% of drivers exceeded the 20mph limit on roads with no trafficcalming measures in place. During the late May 2021 bank holiday, accidents increased by 22%. Drivers are still suffering the effects of the pandemic, with 61% admitting to being out-of-practice ‘Covid drivers’, while 44% are nervous about undertaking long-distance drives after lockdown. “Don’t become a statistic – break those bad driving habits now,” urges IAM RoadSmart’s Head of Driving & Riding Standards, Richard Gladman. “Book a course on the IAM RoadSmart website to refresh your skills.”

AL AMY

UK road deaths down in 2020

IAM ROADSMART has warned of confusion over changes to the Highway Code aimed at creating a “hierarchy of road users”. New rules will prioritise pedestrians at junctions, and cyclists should also be given priority in some situations. “The new rules need to be explained properly to increase the safety of the most vulnerable road users,” says Rebecca Ashton, Head of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart. “Without a wellfunded education programme, we’re concerned the changes could instead increase conflict and potentially reduce the safety of the vulnerable road users the changes are intended to protect.”

3,550 °C is the temperature at which graphite nanoparticles melt, making them a highly resilient potholerepair material.

New Highway Code rules will give priority to cyclists.

IN TA K E Electric motorbikes, such as the Zero range, will replace petrol models.

FUEL FACT CHECKER Standard 95 octane petrol, previously known as E5, has a new name and chemical makeup. The new E10 petrol contains up to 10% renewable ethanol – compared with 5% for E5 – and is intended to cut transport CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes a year – the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road says the Department of Transport (DfT). COMPATIBILITY CHECK The DfT claims that 95% of petrol-powered vehicles can use E10 petrol and that all cars built since 2011 are compatible. However, older vehicles may also be able to use E10 fuel. You can check your car’s suitability by using the E10 compatibility checker on the DfT website. SUPER SOLUTION Fortunately, the introduction of E10 doesn’t mean the end of the road for cherished older and classic cars. Such vehicles will still be able to run on ‘super’ grade, 97+ octane petrol, which is, however, more expensive.

New petrol bikes banned from 2035 ANY DOUBT that petrol-powered motorcycles would be exempt from a new sales ban has been removed. The publication of the government’s Transportation Decarbonisation Plan, which you can read more about in Tony Greenidge’s column on page 53, lays out plans for the sale of all new, non-zero-emission powered motorcycles, scooters, three-wheelers and other L-category vehicles, such as microcars, to be prohibited from 2035. The report states that “Zero-emission motorcycles and other powered two-wheelers are an efficient and clean form of mobility that can reduce congestion, improve urban air quality and reduce noise – we will take forward

measures to remove these emissions, including consulting on a date to end the sale of new non-zero-emission motorbikes.” While the plan recognises that there are far fewer motorcycles in the UK than cars and vans, it says that they must be included in new emissions plans: “Motorcycles are an important and sizeable vehicle population, with 1.4 million licensed in 2020, and we do not want to see them remaining fossil-fuelled as the rest of the vehicle fleet cleans up.” To encourage riders and drivers to switch to electric power, the government has earmarked an additional £582m for ‘plug-in’ car, van, taxi and motorcycle financial incentives to reduce the cost of zero-emission vehicles.

Cable-power lorries for the UK? HEAVY GOODS lorries powered by overhead electric cables could appear on a 12.4-mile stretch of the M180 near Scunthorpe by 2024 if a government-funded pilot scheme proves successful. Roof-mounted frameworks or ‘pantographs’, similar to those found on trams and trains, would enable lorries to draw current from the cables to power their electric motors. The vehicles would also be equipped with batteries to provide power when not travelling on cable-equipped motorways. The establishment of an electric road system, or e-highway, is one potential solution

Read more road-safety news at www.iamroadsmart.com or follow us on our social channels:

to help meet the challenge of decarbonising goods transport ahead of the ban on the sale of diesel- and petrol-powered lorries in the UK from 2035. Hydrogen power may offer another viable alternative, with vehicles such as Hyundai’s Xcient Fuel Cell truck claiming a range of around 250 miles.

@IAMRoadSmart

IAMRoadSmart / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 9

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IN TA K E

INNOVATIONS

Lighting the way forward A new generation of headlights could benefit everyone on the road, finds Paul Horrell daptive headlights have been available for some years. Their basic function is to shine high-beam light almost everywhere in front of the car, with the exception of areas where it would dazzle other road users. A camera and image-processing system identify traffic – in either direction – and the headlights blank their beams in these locations. The sophistication of the blanking methods has grown. Around a decade ago it was done by small mechanical blinds. More recently, headlights use multiple LEDs that can be individually aimed or switched to produce a precise beam pattern. Audi’s new Digital Matrix Light, available on its E-Tron electric SUV, is the highest definition, and Audi likens it to a digital cinema projector. At the heart of each unit are powerful LEDs whose light is reflected off a digital micromirror device. This has more than a million mirrors, each less than 0.1mm across, each moved by electrostatic fields. Light is aimed where it’s wanted; if a particular area needs to be dark, the light is sent to a black ‘absorber’. These headlamps mask other vehicles with great precision, but also add extra functions.

ILLUSTRATION JAMES CAREY

OUR VIEW “IAM RoadSmart is supportive of advances in lighting technology that are designed not only to improve driver view but mitigate dazzle and distraction for oncoming motorists. A regular complaint from many of our members is that lights have become too bright. The blanking technology now available will help to counteract this.” Richard Gladman, IAM RoadSmart Head of Driving & Riding Standards

On motorways and main roads, they project a ‘carpet’ of light onto the road at the width of the lane the car is in, giving a better sense of the road surface and any obstructions. Within the carpet, ‘orientation lines’ align with the width of the car so the driver is aware of their position in the lane. The carpet widens to two lanes when the driver indicates. If the car’s sensors detect a pedestrian, a more intense spotlight aims at their lower body to help the driver spot them early. Dipped lights also aim their beam around corners on twisting roads, and they widen the beam when the car drops to urban speeds. These two features aren’t uncommon these days, but matrix lights can perform them with extra precision. Audi says when future legislation allows, Digital Matrix Lights would also project warning signs – for ice or an accident, for example – on the road for all road users to see. The driver could also communicate his or her intent if the headlamps projected a turn arrow on the road. But these would have to be standardised to be understood by all road users. In the meantime, when you unlock or lock the car, you can select pretty animated patterns to be projected on your garage wall. / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 11

IN TA K E THE GREAT DEBATE

Self-driving cars: are we moving too fast? As vehicles become more autonomous, the Highway Code could change to allow drivers to hand some control to their vehicles. Is this a step in the right direction? Paul Horrell finds out more.

Many models of semi-autonomous cars are yet to go on sale in the UK, subject to government approval.

YOUR VIEW Where do you stand on the subject? Send a tweet to @IAMRoadSmart or visit facebook.com/iamroadsmart 12 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

ALAN A I’m all for driver aids in a vehicle that ‘aid’ the driver to be safer. But self-driving cars can only respond to events that have already happened. They don’t have the instinctive observation of a gut instinct that a child is about to run out in front of traffic. Which, given recently suggested changes to the Highway Code, seems to mean the driver will be in the wrong if they collide with someone.

MIKE S Given the reliability of computers, camera recognition, software, sensors and vehicle comms systems, these vehicles will be lethal, no matter how much testing is done.

IN TA K E his is the crossing of a Rubicon. The government is proposing to change the Highway Code to allow drivers, albeit in very limited circumstances, to hand over control of their cars to an automated system. They would be allowed to remove their hands from the wheel and eyes from the road for an extended time. That’s a step-change from today’s systems that ‘assist’ the driver or make brief interventions to avoid or mitigate accidents. The first such new apparatus is the automated lane keeping system (ALKS). Its initial operational design domain (ODD) is very limited: activated only on motorways, and only at speeds up to 37mph. Motorway traffic is by definition one-way, and also excludes vulnerable road users. Dual

THE IAM ROADSMART POSITION The government suggests it will define a car with an automated lane-keeping system (ALKS) as ‘automated’ but will look at training and awareness-raising. IAM RoadSmart will be active in training. One major concern is drivers not taking back control due to distraction. If ALKS can be cheated we need sanctions on the manufacturers to change the cars. Also a car might

“THE NEW HIGHWAY CODE WORDING WOULD BE NON SPECIFIC ABOUT WHEN DRIVERS COULD USE THESE SYSTEMS” carriageways don’t qualify, and so the car’s built-in navigation system, which will know the type of road you’re travelling on, should prevent activation there. A critical part of ALKS is the handover. When circumstances are taking the system out of its ODD – the end of the motorway, say, or surrounding traffic going above 37mph – the driver gets a 10-second warning to take back control. The system limits how far ‘out of the loop’ the driver can put themselves. Eye sensors would detect sleeping; others whether they have left the driver’s seat. “People will try stupid things,” says IAM

BALAZS G Self-driving vehicles all the way! I love riding, but would give it up in a second if all the fools disappeared from the road and robot cars carried us around at maximum efficiency.

RoadSmart’s Director of Policy and Research, Neil Greig. “So it has to be foolproof – with the emphasis on fool.” Car manufacturers want to sell ALKS as enabling you to do something else that demands concentration, such as work on emails. This is controversial. Evidence shows that 10 seconds might not be enough to re-focus from emails to driving. ALKS isn’t just an extension of existing advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS). It has a more advanced sensor suite,

WES T It’s obvious a lot of people can’t be trusted to invest in their own training. Unfortunately, it seems the way forward is driver aids, as the basic standard of skill is getting lower.

stop in a live lane or fail to detect a ‘light’ collision. IAM RoadSmart is in favour of pilot studies but they should be limited to 37mph and to motorways. Government should say who is coordinating the feedback and learning. If manufacturers sell this as autonomous driving, that is bad. We’re a long way off autonomous driving. Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research

including detecting traffic to the sides of the vehicle. It must be far more robust too. The UK government proposes to adopt the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) ALKS regulation that was passed in June 2020. But it will demand extra hardware beyond that regulation: a rear-facing camera with sound sensor, so the car can react to blue-light vehicles approaching from behind. Most manufacturers’ proposed ALKS include stereo cameras, perhaps two sets of radars (long-range and wideangle). They also use Lidar, a 3D imager that measures the time for a scanning laser beam to bounce and return. However, the regulation mandates the competence of the system, not the exact hardware. Tesla has repeatedly said that it can achieve all of this with cameras only. Cars with ALKS will have to be ‘listed’ by the government after tests and certification. So far none have been submitted. Mercedes-Benz has engineered a system it calls ‘Drive Pilot’ on the new S-Class, which will meet ALKS criteria. A spokesperson told us Mercedes will likely apply for UK approval once the law changes, then make it optionally

TIM C I think it’s possible to programme a vehicle’s autonomous systems to anticipate more eventualities than the average driver. The challenge will be to collect sufficient data to make those programming decisions as comprehensive as needed. The technology already exists for it to be achieved, it’s the application of the technology that I fear has limitations. / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 13

IN TA K E ALKS systems are currently only designed to work on motorways and at lower speeds, in congested traffic, for instance.

available here, but current plans are for that it should be considered only as ADAS. German approval only. Tesla already sells If it’s automated, the driver’s inattention a £6,800 option called ‘Full Self-Driving could mean they’re unable to take over in Capability’ but it’s currently disabled and a sub-10-second emergency, such as falling will be activated via over-the-air software debris from another vehicle. updates. Its spokesperson was unable to Driver training also excites debate. say whether it will apply for approval for Is it the manufacturer’s responsibility, an ALKS element separately. or the dealer’s? Should interfaces be In spring this year the government standardised? The consultation found consulted on whether ALKS should be widespread support for public information allowed on Britain’s motorways. campaigns, and IAM RoadSmart would It exposed wide disagreement. provide training. Among the most striking During the 10-second The new Mercedes controversies were handover, the ALKS S-Class will feature simply whether a still has control of ALKS technology. car that meets the the car and sets off ALKS regulations an escalating series should even qualify of warnings. But as an automated since stopping vehicle under the unjustifiably in Automated and a motorway lane Electric Vehicles Act breaks the road rule, 2018. Many, including the driver becomes IAM RoadSmart, say responsible. A static car

RICHARD H Autonomous vehicles are the future but we should concentrate on motorways where the infrastructure is easier to implement. The idea of sorting it in built-up areas is ridiculous. 14 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

in a live lane is a severe danger when traffic has accelerated beyond 37mph. ‘Light’ collisions are among many aspects so far not clarified, the government admits. It’s unknown whether it will be up to the driver or an in-car detection system to sense when one has happened, and stop. The government consultation showed that many car makers believe the speed cap of 37mph will limit the attractiveness of an expensive option, as it would be useable only on highly congested motorways. They want it extended to 70mph. But that would increase the stress on the system, and in a 10-second handover the car would cover more than 300 metres. In any case, the new Highway Code wording would be future-proofed, and non-specific about when drivers could actually use such systems. The rule would be that drivers use automated systems within their ODDs. Quite how the police and insurers could tell which cars have which capabilities is another unknown.

RUSSELL J If anyone thinks this is likely to happen in the archaic UK any time soon they’re going to be disappointed. Insurance companies will go out of business because there won’t be any accidents. Revenue generated by speeding offences will disappear, leaving a hole in someone’s budget. Driving lessons will go out the window because you won’t need any skills – another revenue loss!

ROSS B In the hopefully unlikely event of a collision with an autonomous vehicle, who does the liability fall with – the driver or the manufacturer?

IN TA K E THE GREAT DEBATE

YES: Matthew Avery

NO: Mike Hawes

Director of Research, Thatcham, the insurance industry research centre

Chief Executive, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

The automotive industry welcomes the use of automated vehicles on UK roads, which will put Britain in the vanguard of road safety and automotive technology. Safety is the number one priority. Automated driving systems could prevent 47,000 serious accidents and save 3,900 lives over the next decade through their ability to reduce the single largest cause of road accidents – human error. Technologies such as ALKS will pave the way for higher levels of automation in future, and these advances will help the UK realise its significant potential to be a world leader in the development and use of these technologies, creating essential jobs while ensuring our roads remain among the safest on the planet. ALKS is exclusively for use in a limited environment. It is a significant step up from driver assistance systems already in use, but is not fully automated driving, as it requires the driver to retake control when prompted. However, ALKS will deliver road safety benefits, making journeys less stressful and reducing accidents in slow-moving traffic jams on busy motorways. For example, rear-end collisions that often happen in congested traffic due to drivers’ inattention or failure to respond quickly enough to vehicles cutting in or stopping could be avoided by ALKS. Unlike conventional vehicles today, ALKS vehicles are equipped with driver-monitoring technology that warns the driver against falling asleep or being distracted. In the event that the driver has passed out or has a medical emergency, the technology’s ability to safely stop in lane and automatically turn on the hazard lights is a further safety benefit compared to a conventional vehicle, where collision with other vehicles or the central reservation may happen. Ultimately, it’s hoped that drivers will eventually benefit from lower insurance premiums, as they did when previous safety technologies, such as automated emergency braking, were introduced.

“AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEMS COULD PREVENT 47,000 SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OVER THE NEXT DECADE”

A vehicle could in theory be type-approved and sold and used this year with ALKS capability that we don’t like. The UNECE regulation says the car must stay within its lane. We say the car should be able to change lanes, so as to find safe harbour if the driver doesn’t re-engage, or to steer around obstacles, particularly pedestrians. The regulation doesn’t even insist systems can identify pedestrians unless they’re centred in front of the car, and pedestrians can be present on the motorway after an accident or breakdown. Also the regulation doesn’t demand recording of accident data in a ‘light’ collision – even with a pedestrian – but only if an airbag fires. However, special-interest groups are addressing all of these issues, discussing bi-monthly at the UN. We think there will be amendments to address most if not all of them by the end of 2022. This will allow full-speed running – 130km/h or 81mph in terms of type-approval. So at the end of next year we’ll be happy because those reservations should be addressed. Vehicle manufacturers might decide to wait. If they type-approve and sell something now, the product could be uncompetitive after 2022. One car might stay in lane, while one from a rival could overtake. This applies especially to full-speed running – customers don’t like being limited to 37mph. Traffic flows, even congested ones, often rise above that speed. Your £10,000 system will keep asking you to take over and you’ll get annoyed. So manufacturers will stand back until the regulation is amended. Which suits us as well. In reality we cannot go to 81mph immediately, because the system would need to identify and act upon an object about 160 metres ahead. For 37mph it’s only about 50 metres ahead. So the manufacturers will give us incremental speed increases as technology improves.

“CURRENT REGULATIONS DON’T EVEN INSIST SYSTEMS CAN IDENTIFY PEDESTRIANS UNLESS THEY’RE CENTRED IN FRONT OF THE CAR”

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 15

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IN TA K E

Visual impairment, age and the dark can all affect your performance on the road. With longer nights drawing in, now’s the time to check your eyesight is at its best so you can ride and drive safely this winter

WORDS JHENI OSMAN

he human eye is incredible. It can focus on 50 things every second and process 36,000 bits of information an hour. It contains 107 million cells that respond to light, distinguishes over 500 shades of grey, and the lens is faster than any camera. All these feats mean your eyes use around 65% of your brain power. Even when you’re motionless, the eye has a lot of complex information to process. But when you’re moving in a vehicle, the complexity ramps up.

“When you’re sitting reading or watching TV, your brain can dismiss a lot of visual information because, for example, the walls stay where they are,” says Mike Bowen, director of research at the College of Optometrists. “When driving, your visual system is constantly processing new information from a range of sources, so that’s a potential source of risk.” Good vision is clearly essential for safe driving and riding. Aside from being able to see a good level of detail / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 17

(‘visual acuity’), which is important for things such as reading road signs, you need to spot objects moving in your peripheral vision (‘visual field’), such as cyclists coming out of side roads, and detect objects that don’t stand out clearly (‘contrast sensitivity’). It’s a lot for your eyes and brain to process at once. Indeed, this could be a reason why there are a disproportionately high number of motorcycle-related accidents. A 2018 study analysed motorbike collisions caused by ‘inattentional blindness’ – failure to notice an unexpected object in plain sight. It found that drivers were significantly less likely to detect a motorbike (65%) than to notice a taxi (31%). One of the paper’s authors put that down to the way the human brain processes – or fails to process – information.

EFFECTS OF AGEING Alongside death and taxes, an inevitable part of ageing is the onset of presbyopia – the loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects. It usually becomes noticeable by your mid-40s and worsens until about 65 years of age, though it can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. In later life, you can also develop cataracts

“RESEARCH SHOWS THAT YELLOW TINTED ‘DRIVING LENSES’ MIGHT ACTUALLY BE UNHELPFUL” – cloudy patches over your eye lenses – which can be removed in an operation. You don’t need to tell the DVLA if you have (or have had) cataracts and you still meet their standards of vision for driving or riding. The prevalence of most of the main eye diseases also increases dramatically the older you get. If you suffer from glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve), you’ll start to lose your visual field. Initially, your brain may be able to fill in the blanks, but past a certain point your eyesight will be too severely affected. Meanwhile, diabetics can experience diabetic retinopathy, where high blood sugar levels damage the back of the eye (retina). “As you get older, you should see your optometrist every couple of years if you’re over 60 and every year over 70,” says Bowen. “Talk to them about the things that you want to do with your life. They’ll help you find the

EYESIGHT IN NUMBERS The facts and figures about vision on the roads

50 40 70 65%

The number of different things the human eye can focus on every second.

The age at which sight tests may become mandatory for motorists, as suggested in the government’s 2019 Road Safety Statement. 18 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

The age at which many people notice their eyesight begin to deteriorate.

The percentage of people who have delayed having an eye test due to the pandemic, according to the Association of Optometrists.

IN TA K E Road users are so reliant on the vast amount of visual information we receive that it’s vital to maintain good eye health.

best vision-correction option for those activities. Research shows that yellowtinted ‘driving lenses’ might actually be unhelpful, so these should be avoided.”

DRIVING ADVICE Whatever your age, ensure your glasses have your latest prescription and are suitable for driving or riding. If you wear varifocals, your optometrist can advise on the best arrangement of the zones for near, intermediate and distance vision. Make sure your glasses are clean. It might also be worth keeping a spare pair of glasses in the car or on the bike. And get a pair of prescription sunglasses for brighter days – they might just save your life. While it’s difficult to demonstrate a clear link between vision standards and accident rates, studies have found some evidence. If you find night-time driving or riding challenging, consider making the journey in daylight if that’s an option. The visual demands between photopic (daytime) and scotopic (unlit night-time) conditions are

very different. Mesopic vision – the switch between daytime and night-time vision – can often be the reason why driving at dusk and under older streetlights can be so difficult. If you need glasses or contact lenses to see clearly in the distance, this becomes significantly more noticeable at night as your pupils dilate to let in more light. Lots of factors contribute to reduced visibility but a significant one is being dazzled by oncoming headlights, which can impact your vision for up to five seconds. And research has shown that reaction times when dazzled are worse with even minor cataracts. Worryingly, the pandemic has meant that 65% of us have put off a routine sight test. So the key messages here are to get your eyes tested regularly and wear your glasses or contact lenses whenever you’re on the road. And always ‘Think bike!’. Jheni Osman is an award-winning science writer, author and broadcaster. See more of her work at www.jheniosman.co.uk, and follow her on social media @jheniosman

IS THE LAW ENOUGH? In order to pass your driving test, you simply need to be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses if necessary) a vehicle number plate from 20 metres away. The rationale for such a basic test is that a police officer can check at the roadside if your vision is impaired. “Under existing UK law, drivers must undergo this initial number plate test when taking a driving test, and from then on the onus is on the individual to self-declare if they think there’s a problem with their eyesight,” says Dr Peter Hampson, clinical and professional director at the Association of Optometrists (AOP). “This means a 17-year-old who can read a number plate from 20 metres when they take their test may continue to drive with no further checks for the rest of their life.” UK laws are among the most relaxed in Europe, and many institutions feel the government needs to update regulations relating to motorists’ eyesight. The AOP is calling for a change that requires all UK drivers to have a comprehensive vision check to prove they meet the legal standard when they first apply for their licence and then every 10 years thereafter, or more frequently after 70. There has been some progress in this area – the government’s 2019 Road Safety Statement committed to considering mandatory sight tests at 70 and then at regular intervals. There have also been several initiatives involving roadside sight tests for drivers by police.

FIND OUT MORE Driving and vision standards guide from the Association of Optometrists (AOP): https://bit.ly/AOPdriving The AOP’s video guide to driving in the dark: https://bit.ly/AOPnightdriving AOP guidance for maintaining eye health: https://bit.ly/AOPhealth Turn to page 36 to learn how a range of motorists – from paramedics to racing drivers – cope with challenging night-time drives / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 19

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ON THE ROAD Taking your journey to the next level

“SCOTLAND’S BREATHTAKING SCENERY MAKES IT THE NATURAL HOME FOR MANY EPIC FILMS”

GET T Y

Enjoy a cinematic adventure with our movielocation rides and drives around the UK

Please ensure you take note of any current Covid-19 restrictions at the time of your drive, and only make the trip if it’s safe and legal to do so.

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 21

ROAD TRIPS MOVIE DRIVES

SIGHTS ,

CAMERA CA A M ERAA , Put yourself in the picture and test your skills as you visit stunning movie locations around the UK

TAKE A TRIP AND WIN! If you’re lucky enough to get away and enjoy one of our suggested road trips, take a photo along the route, send it to us, and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a £100 voucher to spend at the IAM RoadSmart shop. To enter, email your picture to roadsmart@iam.org.uk, giving your name, membership number and details of where the photo was taken. The competition ends 13 December 2021 and the winner will be chosen by our very own CEO! The voucher is non-refundable and no cash alternative is available. One entry per person. By entering, you confirm that your photo is your own creative property and that you consent for IAM RoadSmart to use your submission and name on all of its platforms.

22 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

ON T HE R O A D

The A82 from Glencoe will take you into the heart of movie country, home to secret agents, magical schools and much more…

WORDS NIK BERG / DETOUR-ROADTRIPS.COM

ACTION!

any of us will have missed a regular trip to the pictures since the pandemic began. And if you’re apprehensive about rreturning to your local cinema then th h you can always imagine yourself in your own blockbuster yo by taking a road trip to some of the UK’s most iconic film locations. Whether you’re yo into wizards, period dramas, scisci-fi or spy flicks, there are dozens of Hollywood H hotspots to discover and amazing amazin roads to enjoy along the way. Scotland’s breathtaking scenery makes Scotland’ iitt the natural natur home for many epic films. On this tri trip, your first scenes are close to Glenco Glencoe and we suggest opening with one of th the most evocative drives taken by James Bond. The road to Bond’s family Jame home, Skyfall, is actually a single track h that leads from the A82 to a parking area at the top of Loch Etive, and unlike Daniel Craig and Dame Judi Dench you probably won’t find yourself alone here, so watch for fellow fans and use the passing places wisely. It’s a twisty, undulating drive that requires focus, but do try to look around once in a while and admire the incredible vista as you track the River Etive on its way to the loch. Once you reach the shores of the loch there’s nowhere else to go and, with no villains to fight off, you’ll turn around and retrace your steps to Glencoe on the A82. As you pass Loch Atrichochtan there’s a quick pit stop for Harry Potter fans. Turn off onto Glencoe Studio Gallery and park

Quiraing lookout

The Storr

WORDS NIK BERG / DETOUR-ROADTRIPS.COM

Glenfinnan Viaduct

Glencoe Castle Stalker

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 23

MOVIE DRIVES at the Clachaig Inn for a locally sourced snack of oak-smoked west coast salmon before stretching your legs on a short walk to seek out Hagrid’s Hut from Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban. The hut itself isn’t there but the spectacular view down the river through the valley is. Carry on through Glencoe village until you reach Loch Linmhe where you’ll join the A828 that meanders along its banks. It’s a delightful tree-lined drive, sometimes almost dipping its toes in the loch itself, at others turning inland. There are plenty of ups and downs and blind corners, but also many open stretches with excellent sight lines. Your next stop is Castle Stalker, or as it was known in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, ‘Castle Aaaaarrrgh’. It’s here, at the end of their quest, King Arthur and Lancelot are frustrated by a Frenchman who refuses to open the castle gates for them. “I wave my private parts at your aunties, you cheesy load of second-hand electric donkey-bottom biters!” he declares. The castle, which can trace its history back to 1320, sits on an island in the loch and is easily viewed from the road, but if you want a closer look you’ll need to book a space on a tour as it can only be accessed by boat. There’s a delightful café

“THE A828 IS A DELIGHTFUL TREE LINED DRIVE, SOMETIMES ALMOST DIPPING ITS TOES IN LOCH LINMHE ITSELF” where you can wait for your boatman to take you across. To carry on your own quest you’ll head back up Linmhe on the A82 and then turn left to follow the A830 along Loch Eil. The road is mostly straight as it tracks this relatively spindly loch but becomes

more twisty as you approach Glenfinnan and another unforgettable moment from the Harry Potter films. The Glenfinnan viaduct carried Harry and friends to school on the Hogwarts Express. Time your trip just right and you’ll even get to witness a train steaming across as The Jacobite service runs twice a day from Fort William to Mallaig. Your final setting is the Isle of Skye and to get there you’ll continue along the A830 to the Atlantic coast, first catching sight of the Small Isles of Egg, Rum and Canna before turning north to Mallaig to catch a ferry. If you’d rather take the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh then track back inland to the A82 and then pick up the A87. Either way, head first to the extraordinary Old Man of Storr which stands 160 feet tall atop the Storr on the Trotternish Peninsula and has starred in Prometheus, where it served as an alien planet, and The Wicker Man, where it merely added to the mystery. From here it’s just 20 minutes to the cliffs of the Quairing where Roald Dahl classic The BFG was filmed, along with Stardust, The Land That Time Forgot, Snow White And The Huntsman and Macbeth. The area even doubled for Japan in samurai adventure 47 Ronin. Skye is so photogenic it’s no wonder Hollywood heads there so often. It’s the perfect spot to let the credits roll on this Scottish cinematic adventure. Above The Old Man Of Storr’s distinctive appearance has earned it a film role as an alien planet. Left Harry Potter fans will delight at the sight of the Glenfinnan railway viaduct, reached via the A830.

24 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

ON T HE R O A D Dartmoor’s rugged beauty shines through whatever the weather.

SPIELBERG’S SOUTH WEST

n this route there are Avengers, Half-Blood Princes, Lords, Ladi Ladies ies and war stori stories ies to explore. Bourne Wood iiss less than 50 mi miles iles from the red carpets of central London’s movie premieres, but its dense pine forest has seen an enormous amount of superhero action. Just off the A31 outside Farnham you can stroll through a scene that’s featured in Captain America: The First Avenger, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Wonder Woman. Gladiator, Robin Hood, The Golden Compass and, to kickstart the Spielberg search, War Horse were also shot here. It’s less than 13 miles up the A31, A331 and B3272 to reach Hawley Woods near Blackwater which also featured in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and had a spy spell with Die Another Day and Johnny English Reborn.

Highclere Castle

Hawley South Downs National Park

Dartmoor Forest Sheepstor

North Quay

Right Highclere Hiighclere Castle is a charming charmi ing pitstop, better known as Downton Abbery.

Above Custom House Quay in Weymouth, filmed by Christopher Nolan in Dunkirk.

A zip along the M3 and the A339 will take you to Downton Abbey, or Highclere Castle as it’s known in real life. The castle is open to the public but pre-booking is advised. There’s plenty of time to practise your Earl or Countess of Grantham impersonation as you head south on the A34 and pick up the M27, A31 and A35 to get to your next destination, Custom House Quay in Weymouth docks where the ‘Little Ship’ Moonstone cast off in Dunkirk. You could choose to break your journey here and enjoy the Jurassic Coast or press on to the final location that saw Spielberg spellbound. It’s a stunning drive along the coast, then nipping between the East Devon and Blackdown Hills Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At Honiton you’ll pick up the A30, skirt Exeter on the M5 and then follow the A38 Devon Expressway to Godwell. Turn north and pass through Cornwood, Cadover Bridge and eventually you’ll find yourself at Sheepstor where Albert and Joey spend their days before battle calls in War Horse. “I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor,” said the legendary director. We think you’ll agree. / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 25

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ON T HE R O A D

ACTION IN WALES

his trip is all about the action iin n Wales. You’ll start at picturesque Freshwater beach on the Pembrokeshire coast where house elf Dobby lived li ived in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows. Dobby’s Shell Cottage was dismantled after filming but fans have created a memorial to the little chap about halfway up the beach. It’s a lovely stroll along the sand to pay your respects. Another beach location is next and it’s a cracking drive to get there. Head inland on the A477 through Pembroke and then the A40 north, before picking up the A478 to cut the corner of the Pembroke Peninsular. As on so many Welsh roads, the changes

Above Freshwater beach, as seen in the penultimate Harry Potter film. Below Stunning Snowdonia has hosted James Bond more than once.

in topography make for a varied drive through patchwork fields and between distant hills. The A487 p will eventually lead you to Penbryn Beach and the first of a cluster of Bond spots. The secluded beach is where Pierce Brosnan’s 007 and Halle Berry’s Jinx close Die Another Day with a romantic clinch in a cliffside cottage. Keep going on the A487 and the road becomes more tortuous as you follow the valley. Turn left at the Cross Foxes Inn and join the A470, which gets more challenging as you head deeper into Snowdonia. Stop at Swallow Falls, which you might recognise from Wonder Woman 1984, then take the A498 south and you’re back in Bond country. Sean Connery was the first 007 to film in Snowdonia for From Russia With Love, while in Brosnan’s The World is Not Enough the mountains stood in for Kazakhstan. You’d be hard pressed to find a more dramatic final scene of your movie-themed trip. Cwm Dyli Maentwrog

Rhaeadr Ewynnol Swallow Falls waterfall

Shropshire Hills AONB Penbryn Beach Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Brecon Beacons National Park

Freshwater beach / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 27

A D V E R T I S ING F E AT UR E

Martin HughesGames (below) has called the Finches Friend a “brilliant innovation”.

Helping finches in a pinch With wild birds threatened by disease, a new feeder offers a safer way to welcome avian visitors into your garden atching birds flit about a feeder is one of the pleasures of having a garden. But when it comes to the species we love, are we killing them with kindness? The answer, unfortunately, could be yes. Huge numbers of wild birds have been lost in recent decades to a parasitic disease commonly transmitted on bird feeders. This disease, known as trichomonosis, typically affects finches – the British Trust for Ornithology

W 28 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

estimates that between 2006 and 2015, trichomonosis wiped out nearly three million greenfinches in the UK. “As well as greenfinches, many other birds including house sparrows, siskin, chaffinches and bullfinches are affected,” says natural history TV presenter Martin Hughes-Games. Two people who saw first-hand how quickly trichomonosis can affect a wild bird population are Dick and Tina Woods from Kent. The couple loved the 60 or so finches, particularly greenfinches, that flocked to their

feeders. Then, over a few weeks in 2016, all the greenfinches died. The Woods were shocked. Spurred into action, they found out more about trichomonosis and how it spreads, and Dick decided to do something about it. With more than 40 years’ industrial design and manufacture experience, he took on the challenge with enthusiasm. An effective way to lower trichomonosis transmission is through good hygiene at feeding stations. Damp food can encourage the spread of the parasite, and feeders should be cleaned weekly, but most are fiddly to take apart and reassemble. So Dick set about designing a bird-friendly, easyclean feeder. “The key was separating the feed store from where the birds feed,” says Dick, as where birds perch tends to be where the disease is passed on. After four years of research and development, he 3D-printed a feeder that solves the problem. Dick now works with a local injection-moulding firm to produce two commercial, recyclable versions with a low carbon footprint: a large feeder that can hold four types of feed, and a smaller version with two feed chambers. The Finches Friend Cleaner Feeder is built to last and has a feed station that’s easily removed as well as a storage section that keeps seed dry. Each feeder comes with a spare feed station so you can use a clean one while you wash the other. Dick and Tina have already seen the benefits of the Cleaner Feeder in their own garden. “The Finches Friend feeders worked,” says Dick. “The greenfinches returned.”

For more information visit finchesfriend com

ON T HE R O A D SKILLS REFRESHER

Cool heads save lives

1. STAY SAFE

2. STAY CALM

3. MAKE THE CALL

Don’t just stop and jump out of your vehicle. Park safely where your vehicle doesn’t cause a risk to other motorists. Turn the hazard lights on and, above all, keep yourself safe.

A calm, confident approach reassures people, whether they’re seriously injured in a major crash or just upset from being involved in a minor bump. A cool head helps you make the right decisions.

If help is needed, call 999. Ask for the police as they can co-ordinate ambulance and fire services. Use ‘what3words’ or Google Maps on your smartphone to determine your location (see p35 for more).

4. TEAMWORK

5. PRIORITISE CASUALTIES

6. VITAL SIGNS

If other motorists stop, give them tasks. Someone can warn other road-users as you attend to casualties. Ask new arrivals if they have first aid or medical training. Make sure everyone stays safe.

If there are multiple casualties, go to the person who’s not moving or talking first. As you attend them, call over and reassure other casualties. Tell them your name and that help is coming.

What you can do will depend on your medical training. Make sure that casualties are breathing and, if not, make sure they’re not slumping forwards, which will block their airway. Try to stop any bleeding.

range of courses and provide advice online on numerous first aid techniques.

lessons are valid for all road traffic accidents. Search online to contact your local group.

Before and after PREPARE NOW It’s impossible to be prepared for every eventuality, but the most important thing you can do is complete a first aid training course or brush up on your existing skills. Organisations such as St John Ambulance offer a

BIKER DOWN IAM RoadSmart has partnered with Biker Down, a nationwide free first aid course provided by local fire and rescue services. While it’s primarily aimed at dealing with motorcycle casualties, including advice on helmet removal, most

AFTERWARDS If you saw the accident happen, you’ll be a valuable witness for the police. But don’t underestimate the emotional effect of witnessing or attending to an accident. Speak to the police on the scene who will endeavour to help you and will also be able to advise on the provision of counselling if required.

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ILLUSTRATION ROUGHCOLLIE

Being the first person at the scene of a road traffic accident may be the most stressful situation you ever face. Richard Gladman explains what to do…

ON T HE R O A D OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS If you have a question to put to our panel of IAM RoadSmart experts, then please get in touch. We’re all ears!

@IAMRoadSmart

Richard Gladman Head of Driving and Riding Standards

I’ve got a question about roundabouts that aren’t shown in the Highway Code. They’re fairly small with raised centres and there’s a lane near the centre, usually red or laid of brick, and an outside lane. The lanes are split with a solid white line. A few of our Observers were having a discussion about this, and most thought that as it was a solid line crossing it was illegal unless driving a vehicle that couldn’t negotiate the roundabout (such as a lorry). Another Observer said he had been told by an examiner that it was okay to cross the line. Could you clarify the position on this so that we can clear this up?

This is an interesting question that always causes debate. If the brick area is bounded by a solid line then the rule would be must not cross it (unless the physical size of your vehicle required you to do so) as it’s effectively part of the roundabout not the carriageway. If it’s not bounded by a solid line, then it’s designed as an overrun area as part of a traffic calming plan. This is designed to slow traffic on the approach to the roundabout to minimise conflict and confusion. In the second instance it would be legal to cross but the intention is to discourage you from doing so and encourage you to slow down. RG

Rebecca Ashton Head of Policy and Research

Tim Shallcross Head of Technical Policy

Neil Greig Director of Policy and Research

QUICK FIXES Why does the law not require new motorcycles to have a rear fog light like other new vehicles? In fog aren’t we as vulnerable as anyone else on the road? It’s likely to be that the light unit on a motorcycle wouldn’t accommodate another light without causing confusion with a brake light. The rear profile of a motorcycle would also make it hard to put a fog light far enough away from the brake light to avoid confusion. RG Looking into cars parked on a hill, I noticed the majority were parked with the gear lever in neutral. When I was taught to drive many years ago I was told to put the gear lever into first when facing uphill and reverse when facing down, in case the handbrake failed. Rule 252 of the Highway Code recommends selecting a forward gear and turning the wheels away from the kerb when parking uphill, and selecting reverse gear and turning the wheels towards the kerb when facing downhill. We’re not aware of this causing a fail in a driving test. RA

GET T Y

roadsmart@iam.org.uk

Is an extant UK-issued EU driving licence still valid until its expiry, and can I still use plates that have the EU stars and GB flags?

EU-coloured UK licences will gradually be replaced but are valid across the EU. You can find out more at www.gov.uk/drive-abroad. The Department of Transport confirms that the country identifier has now changed from GB to UK. The advice at www.gov. uk/displaying-number-plates/flags-symbolsand-identifiers is to cover up any GB stickers, so it looks like you’ll have to buy a new one or get a UK sticker to cover the GB part of your current plate. You can still display Scotland, Cymru and so on as long as there is a UK sticker on the vehicle as well. NG

Above If your number plate shows the EU stars then you must also display a UK sticker on the back of your vehicle when driving in Europe.

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 31

ON T HE R O A D FACTS & STATS

The knowledge Boost your brain with these safety-related facts

30MPH 1914

ROAD DATES

The speed at which most reported road crashes occur.

Actress Florence Lawrence invents turn indicators.

1934 1958

GM trials the first car safety crash test.

A Royal Enfield Superior Meteor with anti-lock brakes achieves 30% shorter braking distances.

2.5% £2,029,237 of customers used the seatbelts Nash fitted to 40,000 new cars in 1949.

The average cost of a fatal accident in Great Britain in 2019 (when there were 1,658 fatal accidents).

1973

The Oldsmobile Tornado becomes the first commercial car with an airbag.

1983 1997

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 32

have not had an eye test since passing their driving test. The same proportion of motorists said they would knowingly continue to drive with sub-standard vision.

2.8

road fatalities per 100,000 people makes Sweden the world’s safest country for road users.

25 TIMES

per second – the rate at which an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system checks vehicle movements.

Wearing front seatbelts becomes mandatory in the UK.

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is formed.

2008 20 ME T R E S the distance at which motorists must be able to read a number plate.

25% OF DRIVERS

Volvo introduces autonomous emergency braking on its XC60 SUV.

16 SECONDS is the amount of time some drivers take their eyes off the road when using vehicle touchscreens.

£70,000

can be the financial penalty faced by motorists convicted of drink driving.

ON T HE R O A D VIEWPOINT

Richard Gladman “Gain experience in many disciplines,” says our Head of Driving and Riding Standards

A ILLUSTRATION DAVID MAHONEY PHOTO ALEX TAPLEY

couple of issues ago we featured an article on the SR/F, an all-electric motorcycle from American manufacturer Zero. I rode the bike while motoring journalist Paul Horrell tagged along in a VW ID.3, another all-electric machine. And safe to say, our battery-powered story sparked some lively debate. The main feedback related to a comment from Paul who, when following me, said he rarely saw my brake light come on. Of course, part of the reason for this was the regenerative braking effect of the electric motor. An electric bike slows noticeably more than a regular bike when you ease off the throttle, without having to apply the traditional friction brakes. But any significant regenerative slowing effect would also illuminate the brake light, so it probably had more to do with the fact I was braking less often than Paul expected. For this we can thank some of the basic techniques of advanced riding and driving: anticipation, managing speed and making microplans at every step of the journey. It could also be that I was concentrating more than usual. As the opening chapter of the ARC logbook explains, human factors play a role in every journey. And there will inevitably be a variation in our style depending on the purpose of our trip, be it a social run, an observed session or, indeed, a photoshoot. The shoot wasn’t intended to be a display of advanced riding to test level. But given the extra elements we had to think about – placing the vehicles where the photographer wanted them, while staying safe in the awful weather conditions – I was probably forced to ride to the very best of my ability.

TESTING TIMES Although they’re powerful, highperformance bikes, you can’t take your full motorcycle test on an electric bike, as they don’t appear on the unrestricted licence suitability list. I’m sure Zero and other EV motorcycle manufacturers will be monitoring the list with interest…

“OFF ROAD RIDING WILL IMPROVE YOUR HANDLING SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE, WHILE A TRACK DAY ALLOWS YOU TO EXPLORE YOUR CAR OR BIKE’S PERFORMANCE IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT”

But whatever the purpose of our journey, we should still prioritise the four S’s. Safety must never be compromised, a System should be in place, Smoothness should be practised, and the Speed should be suitable for the matter in hand. All of which must be accompanied by the correct balance of progress versus restraint. With these elements in place, even a photoshoot is a version of an advanced ride. But there are easier ways to continue your development. I always suggest gaining experience in as many disciplines as you can. For example, off-road riding will improve your handling skills and confidence, while a track day allows you to explore your car or bike’s performance in a controlled environment. Then there are IAM RoadSmart’s own Skills Day events – a fantastic way to develop your road skills and understanding of IPSGA, all in the safe environment of a circuit. Whether you come to a motorcycle day or a driving day, you’ll have a personal tutor to work with you to develop your skills. And fear not: these aren’t like performancebased track days I mentioned above. The circuit simply provides a safe space in which to operate. The focus of the day is on accuracy (and, of course, enjoyment). You’ll explore how to maintain a smooth arc in bends, get a feel for the optimum acceleration for the available grip, and understand what happens if you brake firmly. (All important as we head into winter when road surfaces are less forgiving.) Put simply, you’ll gain a better understanding of how your car or bike is able to perform, gain practical insight into how IPSGA informs your decisions and a more detailed knowledge of overtaking. Both motorcycle and car Skills Days are back under way after a long pause during the pandemic. Turn to page 49 to read about our recent Thruxton events. We hope to see you at one in future. / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 33

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ON T HE R O A D GET THE GEAR

Expert Navigators

WORDS LEON POULTNEY

Find your way with these top satnav gadgets and apps for two wheels and four Devices

BEELINE MOTO

TOMTOM GO DISCOVER

QUADLOCK MOTO MOUNT

Designed with motorcyclists in mind, Beeline Moto takes an innovative approach to navigation. This tiny device attaches to the handlebars and syncs to a smartphone app (Android and iOS) for route planning. It uses Google Maps as its base, but once a destination has been set the display shows minimal information, such as the direction to ride and the next turn direction. It’s easy to use and means your phone stays in your pocket. £199, beeline.co

The largest high-definition touchscreen TomTom has ever produced (seven inches, in case you were curious) houses the most up-to-date maps and a new powerful speaker for crystal clear turn-by-turn instructions. Built-in Bluetooth and wi-fi functionality means owners can get the latest maps and traffic information when tethering a smartphone, while allnew processors mean route calculations and touch inputs are lightning fast. £229.99, tomtom.com

One of the most powerful navigation tools is your smartphone, so why not put it to good use when out on the road by investing in a relatively low-cost mount? Quad Lock makes rugged mounts for both car dashboards and motorcycle handlebars. The system consists of a secure phone case (most brands and models are covered) that locks into your choice of mirror, handlebar or fork stem mounts. There’s even an optional slip-on cover for extra protection. From £52.90, quadlockcase.co.uk

WAZE

GOOGLE MAPS

WHAT3WORDS

Arguably one of the best smartphone navigation tools available, Waze harnesses crowd-sourced data from the app’s 130 million users to flag up live incidents, traffic jams and snags along the route, so you can avoid trouble spots and reach your destination more efficiently. What’s more, it’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can use a modern vehicle’s existing infotainment system to run the software. iOS and Android, £Free

It might seem an obvious recommendation, but the Google Maps app for Android and iOS is a fantastic navigational tool that is backed by Google’s almost infinite level of local knowledge. One of the best things about using it to calculate routes is the fact you can search for almost anything and navigate there quickly, from coffee shops to cat hotels. Like Waze, it too can run through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. iOS and Android, £Free

What3Words gives every three-metre square in the world a unique three-word address, adding unrivalled accuracy to navigation. It caught on like wildfire and you can now plot a route to these amazingly accurate squares by simply inputting those magic three words into the website or smartphone app. Best of all, emergency services recognise a W3W location – particularly useful in remote areas or vague postcodes where people are hard to locate. iOS and Android, £Free

Apps

Stay on track, stay legal UK law states that it is “illegal to hold a phone or sat nav while driving or riding a motorcycle” and that “you must have hands-free access”, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use your smartphone to navigate. So long as the phone is secured in a cradle or mount that doesn’t block your view of the road ahead, you can make the most of its built-in apps and maps. Bear in mind the police can issue six

penalty points and a £200 fine if they spot a driver using a handheld phone, and can also prosecute if the phone is being used when the vehicle is stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic. If a hands-free smartphone distracts you then you can also be hit with a careless driving penalty. So set your destination and plan a route when safely parked to avoid having to touch it while you’re moving.

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 35

Specialist paramedics Matt Robinson and Dee Dale rely on sharp senses when responding to calls at night.

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 37

Night Stars

DEE DALE As a specialist paramedic in critical care, Dee Dale, pictured here with colleague Matt Robinson, relies on her pin-sharp eyesight to help keep her and her colleagues safe – particularly when darkness falls…

s a specialist paramedic in critical care with the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, I attend serious road traffic accidents, patients in cardiac arrest, and very sick children and adults. We travel by road as well as by helicopter. When we fly, my job is to plot the route on a paper map as back-up to the digital navigation system. Along with the doctor I assist the pilot by observing, checking for hazards like birds, drones and other aircraft. It feels like your eyes are out on stalks sometimes. Currently the air ambulance is able to fly in daylight hours only, from 7am to 7pm. After that, or if conditions are too

38 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

bad for the helicopter, we switch to our rapid response cars. The Skoda Kodiaq 4x4 vehicles give us off-road access and help keep us safe, especially in winter when the road surface is treacherous. We’re all trained to blue-light standards and of course have the advantage of the lights and siren. But even so, you can never let your concentration down for a second, whether you’re driving or liaising with control from the passenger seat. Despite the siren, people still step out into the road with their headphones on, so you have to be ready for anything all the time. Good eyesight is crucial for accessing patients, especially in poor light. And the

eye contact you have with a patient is a massive part of the communication you have with them. It’s harrowing attending a serious road traffic collision, especially where you suspect it has been caused by speeding or careless driving. I still enjoy driving at night. It can be relaxing, but equally it comes with its own hazards, like car headlights, which are getting brighter. If you feel like you’ve been dazzled, then slow down, and if it’s safe to do so, pull over and stop to give your eyes time to recover their night vision. Taking a few minutes to do that and arriving late is a lot better than pressing on and being involved in an accident and never reaching your destination at all. Great Western Air Ambulance Charity provides the critical care and air ambulance service across Bristol and surrounding counties, and relies entirely on donations. Find out more at www.gwaac.com.

VINCENT TUCKER Vincent and his colleagues at Ringway maintain National Highways’ south-west motorways, and rely on motorists behaving responsibly to keep them safe

orking on the motorways at night, we of course do everything we can to minimise risk. But ultimately we rely on motorists behaving responsibly to keep us safe. Most people see the

warning signs well enough, but some just choose to ignore them. When driving at night, it’s essential that motorists look out for signs warning them of a workforce on the road, and they need to obey those signs. Lane closures mainly occur at night because there’s just too much traffic in the day now. We can’t put the

first cone down unless the traffic flow is below 120 vehicles passing within three minutes. Sometimes we can’t even do it at night – there’s that much traffic. Our team is based at Tormarton in South Gloucestershire, close to major routes to destinations in the West Country. In some ways, the lighter summer nights are better for us because there’s more visibility, but there’s also more traffic with people going on holiday choosing to drive at night to avoid the worst of the jams. Whatever the time of year, or time of day, we always use impact protection vehicles (IPVs) to keep us as safe as possible. They have a cushion at the back and can withstand a rear impact of 70mph. But we’re very aware that if this vehicle is hit we’re still pretty vulnerable. If we’re working off the lorry, we always do so in pairs. One person works while the other watches the traffic. We get our eyes tested regularly, and we wear safety glasses to protect against stone chips and debris. You get used to working in the dark and spotting things that others might miss. A few years ago, for example, my colleague noticed gravel scattered on the hard shoulder. When we investigated, we found flattened grass, a broken fence and eventually a car in the middle of a field. It was damaged so badly we couldn’t tell what type it was until we found a wheel with a BMW badge. The police told us afterwards that the driver – a young guy – had been clocked travelling at over 160mph earlier that evening. He must have thought it was OK to travel at those speeds in the dark on a quiet motorway. But he lost control and, very sadly, paid with his life.

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 39

RHYS HUGHES The head of the Driver Training Unit for Avon and Somerset Constabulary recognises riding and driving in darkness as a challenge – but one that can be mastered

hen you ride, you ride for Don’t get too close to the vehicle in yourself and your own front of you. When you accelerate, your safety, but you need to motorcycle headlight rises, and that can ride for other people too distract drivers ahead. Sometimes, riding and anticipate what they and driving at night on quieter roads can may do, especially during feel more relaxed than during busy times the hours of darkness. in daylight. But don’t get lulled into a Ensure that the headlights on your false sense of security. Don’t end up just motorcycle or car are in good working following the red tail lights in front of order for maximum visibility. Make sure you. Keep your observation skills up and you’re not using a tinted visor during low look out for additional hazards such as light and that your ‘clear’ visor is clean and unscratched. Remember, it’s not just about seeing. It’s about being seen, too. In the dark, a single motorcycle headlight can easily get ‘swallowed up’ by other vehicles’ headlights, and car drivers will find it harder to spot you. It’s even worse if you’re dressed all in black, so make sure your hi-vis kit is clean and wear it. Anticipating others’ actions also means recognising that they may be more tired and perhaps not paying proper attention during the hours of darkness. This is just as applicable on animals’ eyes reflecting back at you from winter mornings as it is at night. hedgerows – they may be about to run out The road is an entirely different thing in front of you. during the hours of darkness. It’s so On the positive side, the road provides much more difficult to spot changes in a lot of information during darkness, such the surfaces, be that ice, a wet drain cover as cat’s eyes and white lines to show the or a fuel spill. You need to ride and drive edges on rural roads. The more paint you in ‘super sense’ mode. And you need to can see on the road, the greater the hazards keep remembering to use good you face. Always ride at a speed observations. Even our that allows you plenty of time traffic officers recognise that to slow or stop to deal with Right Rhys is also a IAM they have to retrain their that hazard. Take breaks, be RoadSmart Observer, so brains to look further ahead super-vigilant, make sure you is able to draw upon a when they come back for a can be seen, stay safe and enjoy wide range of riding and driving skills in the dark. refresher course. the ride.

“RIDING AND DRIVING AT NIGHT ON QUIETER ROADS CAN FEEL MORE RELAXED, BUT DON’T GET LULLED INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY”

40 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

xxNight Masters Stars xx

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 41

Night xxxxxxxxxx Stars

42 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

SERGEANT ARRON GASKIN Driving off-road, in a war zone, in darkness, without lights might sound daunting, but it’s just another night at the office for Royal Air Force driver Arron

riving in challenging conditions minutes and have a caffeinated drink. is all part of my job. I’m a Royal On really long journeys, we stop and take Air Force logistics driver with an hour’s sleep. 2MT (Mechanical Transport) We have an annual medical that Squadron, formed during the includes an eye test. My eyes have Battle of Britain to recover deteriorated a little bit over the years and aircraft. My logbook covers me I wear glasses now. It’s so important to to drive around 50 vehicles, from a Land keep on top of your eye health. Vehicle Rover to a 34-tonne crane. We drive maintenance is another critical factor: anything that hasn’t got tracks on it – we make sure your tyres are at the correct leave the tanks to the army. We drive in darkness without lights. Sometimes, if conditions on the ground permit, the lead vehicle may have its sidelights on, but everyone else follows a white dot on the back of the differential on the rear axle of the vehicle in front. That’s fine until the dot gets covered in mud and then you can’t see it. Modern technology helps – we have infrared lights and night-vision goggles – but we must still be able to drive without all that. Constant observation is essential. In a war zone, you must be ready to leave pressure, and it may seem silly, but make the vehicle and take on a combat role sure your vehicles’ lights are clean too at a second’s notice, so you’re looking before heading off. for indicators that this may be about to There’s a massive difference with the happen all the time. We drive quite lighting technology on the old Land slowly in the military, giving more time Rovers we drive compared with some of to react when something goes wrong, our more modern vehicles. If you drive whether it’s in a war zone, on a naturalat night regularly, it might be worth disaster relief mission or as part of a considering buying a more modern car convoy in the Arctic Circle. with better lights. And if These lessons are invaluable your pockets are deep for road driving, too, enough to buy a brand Left The principles especially at night. Tiredness new car, maybe spend your of military motoring can be an enemy. After two money on the optional xenon apply to civilian trips: hours at the wheel, we always headlights instead of the observation, preparation and having time to react. stop for a break of at least 15 interior leather trim.

PHOTOGRAPHY; ALEX TAPLEY

“TIREDNESS CAN BE AN ENEMY. AFTER TWO HOURS AT THE WHEEL WE ALWAYS STOP FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES AND A CAFFEINATED DRINK”

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 43

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ALEXANDER SIMS The high-speed pressures of endurance racing are different from the challenges we face on dark roads. But Alexander, who races in Formula E for UK-based Mahindra Racing, says the principles of safe driving remain the same

ou’re driving down the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans in the middle of the night at 170mph. You’re two metres from the car in front, deciding whether to overtake. And then the insanely bright LED headlights of a car from the top category appear in your rear-view mirrors and flash past almost like you’re standing still. Driving a race car at night is an incredibly complex, constantly changing process. You need to be able to take everything in and process it with a single quick glance in your mirror. If your vision isn’t perfect and gets just slightly blurry it can be hard to tell if it’s one car or two that’s closing in fast. If your depth perception isn’t spot-on, you don’t know just how close

your rivals are. If you need to doublecheck, you’re just wasting mental energy. I’ve been wearing glasses since 2016 – mainly for astigmatism and a little bit of distance correction. The first time I raced in my new glasses at night there was a clear difference. Although my vision was better than most people’s, it was like seeing in HD again. My eyes felt much less strained, and I felt a lot sharper, yet more relaxed and in control. While racing is all about performance and speed, it’s also about safety because you certainly don’t want to crash. I’ve undergone training on a driving

simulator – basically a glorified computer game – with eye-tracking software to help me look much further ahead and not just focus on the area in front of the car. That’s useful for road driving too, of course. Another thing I’ve learnt from endurance racing is that it’s always better to be driving through the dusk into the darkness than to jump in the car in the brightly lit pit area and then charge off into the night. And it’s the same if we’re sitting at home watching TV in the middle of the winter and then get into the car. You may only be popping out to the shop, not racing at Le Mans, but it’s still essential to give your eyes time to adjust from light to darkness.

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 45

Home insurance hints and tips Get the perfect policy for your home with expert advice from Cornmarket

as the nights draw in it’s a great time to take stock and make sure you have the insurance cover in place to keep your most prized assets protected – your home. Choosing the right type and level of cover to protect your property can seem daunting, with so many variations and terms that might not be familiar. While getting cover for a reasonable premium is important, it’s essential to get the cover you need. You’ll need to think about all these things when shopping around:

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/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

BE WEATHER-PREPARED Consider the increased risk posed by bad weather at this time of year. Places not usually exposed to floods could be affected by extreme conditions, so it’s important to check all risks are covered on your policy, including flood. To reduce your likelihood of claiming, check gutters are clear of debris and in good repair. Make sure doors and windows are secure and can withstand harsh weather. Also ensure there are no loose items outside that could be damaged (or cause damage) in gales.

TAKE STOCK OF YOUR CONTENTS It’s important to insure your contents for their replacement value. If you’re taking out cover or reviewing the amounts insured, consider each room and its contents. An easy way to look at it is to consider anything you would take with you if you left the home. In the run-up to – and just after – Christmas it may be easier to realise the volume of both new and old items, which you might not have included. Items stored in the attic

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The very latest from IAM RoadSmart

Back on track IAM RoadSmart Skills Days are running again, so members have been enjoying action on the track / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 49

IN S IDE R AFTER PAUSING for the pandemic, IAM RoadSmart Skills Days are back in business and better than ever. Almost 20 events took place over the summer for both bikes and cars, including a Skills Day Plus at Thruxton featuring hot laps courtesy of the BMW British Touring Car Team. As well as learning valuable skills from qualified instructors while driving their own cars, guests had two passenger laps in specially prepared BMW M240iR race cars. At the wheel were the team BMW trio Tom Oliphant, Stephen Jelley and Colin Turkington, the fourtime BTCC champion who passed his IAM RoadSmart Advanced driver course with a F1RST in 2019.

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Opening page As well as enjoying the track action and a two-course lunch, guests quizzed the touring car stars in a Q&A hosted by BTCC journalist and commentator Alan Hyde. Opposite page, clockwise from top Guests watched the hot laps from the pit wall before strapping into the passenger seat of a race-prepped BMW – the perfect place to watch and learn from the pros. This page, clockwise from right Whatever you drive or ride, whether it’s a McLaren or a Toyota, an IAM RoadSmart Skills Day is a great chance to learn more about your car or bike’s performance, as well as boosting your skills with help from expert instructors.

For more information on our regular Skills Days visit www.iamroadsmart. com/skillsdays / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 51

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IN S IDE R VIEWPOINT

Tony Greenidge

ith a raft of recent announcements aimed at steering the UK to a fossil-fuel-free future, including the government’s plan to completely decarbonise transport by 2050, the summer of 2021 will certainly prove pivotal in shaping the future landscape of travel in the UK. So as we focus on meeting our target of net zero carbon emissions, and as we edge closer to the ban on new, non-electrified petrol and diesel vehicles in 2030, the question arises: what role can IAM RoadSmart play? Firstly, it could be argued that there’s never been a better time to offer additional training to help drivers cope with new automotive technologies, and the shift from petrol and diesel power to electric and electrified vehicles. IAM RoadSmart already plays a key role in providing cost-effective, high-quality tuition through a range of courses accessible to the majority of drivers. There’s now a huge opportunity to cater specifically to electric vehicle users too, which is why we’re looking at how we can best support drivers and riders with their personal transition to EVs. Our EV feature in the Spring 2021 edition of RoadSmart showed there’s plenty of enthusiasm and interest among members for battery-powered motoring. Others may take a little more convincing, and it certainly sparked some lively debate. But like it or not, the change is already under way, and as an organisation we need to lead the way in helping drivers and riders adapt. There is, I believe, a dual benefit to this. Those who display a high degree of skill and good behaviour on our roads, as well as making a positive contribution to

DID YOU KNOW? Domestic energy supply is the second biggest source of CO2 emissions in the UK. It was the leading source until 2016, when it fell behind the transport sector.

“THE BASIC IAM ROADSMART PRINCIPLES OF PREPAREDNESS, PLANNING AND ANTICIPATION NOT ONLY CREATE SMOOTH RIDING AND DRIVING BUT ALSO HELP REDUCE EMISSIONS”

road safety, can also make a significant contribution to our green ambitions. After all, the basic principles of preparedness, planning and anticipation not only create smooth riding and driving but also help reduce emissions (or, indeed, maximise battery range). Transport is the single biggest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions in the UK, causing around 25% of the total. And yet it’s interesting to note that the UK produces just 1% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. So what impact will our achievement of net zero make in the global scheme of things? For me, it’s about setting an example that – hopefully – other countries can follow, and therein lies the bigger opportunity for the UK to affect change. One area that may be slowest to recover from the pandemic is the use of public transport, meaning more people potentially driving or riding to work. This may create a significant demand among commuters looking to develop their confidence in dealing with high traffic volumes, including a greater number of cyclists and even e-scooterists, particularly in cities where walking may not be an easy option. That’s why we’re working to find ways of reaching out to the vast number of motorists who find themselves having to drive or ride more often now. Early evidence shows the demand is certainly there – since lockdown restrictions started to lift in April, sales of our Advanced driver and rider courses are almost back to pre-pandemic levels. I’m also confident that new opportunities will emerge with the evolution of initiatives such as car clubs and rideshare apps, where having ‘Advanced’ status might provide users with access to additional benefits. There will be bumps in the road as we navigate these changes. But we’re clear on the challenges ahead, and we look forward to rising to them. / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 53

ILLUSTRATION DAVID MAHONEY

“We need to lead the way in adapting to electric vehicles,” says IAM RoadSmart’s CEO

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IN S IDE R

I A M ROA DSM A R T NE W S The latest updates, initiatives and information from IAM RoadSmart

Recruit a member for a chance to win a £250 experience OUR MEMBER GET MEMBER recruitment scheme is a great way to encourage non-members to take an Advanced course – and to promote our mission to make better drivers and riders, improve road safety, inspire confidence, and make driving and riding more enjoyable. As a member, for every referral you make you’ll be entered into a

prize draw for a chance to win a £250 Virgin Experience Gift Card. Whether it’s a track day with a friend or a hot-air balloon ride, you’ll enjoy a day to remember. To find out more about the scheme and how you can spread the word among friends and family, visit www.iamroadsmart.com/ mgm or call 0300 303 1134.

Fight grime with our new valeting range MADE BY MEMBERS for members, the all-new IAM RoadSmart car and bike valeting range is now available to buy. Developed by long-time member, Observer and examiner Martin Doran – whose career took him to the top of the chemicals industry – the range includes Advanced Bike Cleaner, Advanced Snow Foam, Advanced Visor Wipe and Advanced Wash & Wax. As well as boasting superior cleaning performance, the concentrated formulas mean you get more for your money. Even better, the profits raised from these products go back into the IAM

MOTORCYCLE LIVE IAM RoadSmart will be at the UK’s biggest bike show, Motorcycle Live in association with Bikesure Insurance, at The NEC from 4–12 December. Find us at Stand 2C01 in Hall 2. www.motorcyclelive.co.uk.

RoadSmart Charity fund, helping to keep the roads a safer place for all. “I’ve used every type of cleaner for my motorcycle over the years” says IAM RoadSmart’s Sean Cronin. “But this is different – it dilutes so it goes a very long way, cleans every part of my bike and cars, is easy to use from a pump sprayer and cleans with very little effort.” Q Prices start from £17.49+VAT for five litres. Visit www.mdco.co.uk/shop

WIN TICKETS! We have six pairs of tickets to Motorcycle Live to give away. To enter, visit bit.ly/IAMLiveTickets and enter your name and membership number. The competiton ends on 22 November 2021. Winners will be chosen at random. The ticket voucher is non-refundable and no cash alternative is available. One entry per person. You certify that with your entry that you consent for IAM RoadSmart to use your name on all of its platforms.

A memorable day out could be yours with our Member Get Member referral scheme.

A FLYING START FOR ROADSMART WEBINARS While IAM RoadSmart’s on-road activities have been disrupted by Covid restrictions over the last 18 months, online activity has flourished with a brand new series of live webinars. With topics ranging from neurodiversity to drink-driving, the webinars – hosted by experts with interactive Q&A sessions, polls and videos – have been a big hit with members. Over 2,000 of you signed up for the drink-driving event, which was so popular it was delivered twice. And with 96% of attendees saying they’d join another online event, we’re already planning the next sessions, including Hazard Awareness, Smart Motorways, Understanding The Highway Code and more. Updates will be shared in our monthly newsletters. To re-watch the Drink Drive webinar, and to find out about future events, visit www.iamroadsmart.com/ specialpages/member-webinars. / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 55

BENEFITS

Great deals just for you Your membership of IAM RoadSmart gives you some exceptional benefits, including deals and discounts across a wide range of products and services. To take advantage of any of the offers on these pages, simply log in to our website www.iamroadsmart.com and click on ‘My benefits’.

SET A COURSE FOR A SAFER JOURNEY PLANNER WITH A DEDICATED SATNAV While smartphones can be convenient for route-planning, a dedicated satnav has the benefit of being free from other distractions – incoming calls, messages or notifications. But as with all in-car tech, remember to familiarise yourself with all your satnav’s features so you understand the information it’s giving you, and be sure to programme your route before you set off, not after.

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To redeem To redeem all these all these offersoffers log into gowww.iamroadsmart.com to www.iamroadsmart.com/xxxxxxxxxx and click ‘My benefits’

BE PREPARED: TOP TIPS IN CASE OF A BREAKDOWN Long-term car hire on your terms Thrifty’s FlexiFleet service is a great alternative to leasing, working more like a subscription service. Enjoy long-term car hire without the commitment but with a range of benefits including breakdown cover. IAM RoadSmart SAVE members can save 11% on their FlexiFleet hires.

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Being stranded by the roadside is frustrating and could be hazardous. But some simple steps will get you on your way sooner. Keep a high-vis jacket, waterproof coat and charged mobile phone in the car in case you need to get out and ring for assistance.

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Be seen, stay safe If you break down, make sure other road users can see you by attaching a high-vis Be Seen Screen to your vehicle. SAVE IAM RoadSmart members can save 10% on each sign.

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BENEFITS

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Even more to enjoy As well as great deals to save you money on your riding or driving, your IAM RoadSmart membership entitles you to discounts and offers on holidays, gifts and more…

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HAVEYOURSAY S H A R E YOU R THOUGHTS ON THE DR IVI NG AND R IDING ISSUES THAT MAT TER

STAR LETTER Time for more consideration Whenever I see reports about the latest driver safety aids, I remember Jeremy Clarkson’s solution for reducing collisions: a 10-inch spike protruding from the centre of every steering wheel! He had a point (excuse the pun): the less the driver has to do, the less they care. I’m a Master’s Distinction rider, and what bothers me are road users who are getting ruder, more impatient, less tolerant and less observant. From the elevated seat of an ambulance, where I work, it’s easy to see who isn’t wearing seatbelts or who’s texting on their phone (among many other distractions). The number of HGV drivers on phones is terrifying, but their crime remains hidden from car drivers. Ambulance crews used to politely reinforce the wearing of seatbelts and putting down phones to other drivers, but the abuse they now receive for doing so is so shocking that it’s not worth the conflict. This is the state of the allpowerful modern driver in their kingdom of luxury. I believe punishments need to be more severe, but there needs to be a way of enforcing them too. Retesting every five years should also be introduced. It would generate income for the Department of Transport – then they could buy more of those JCB pothole repairers you showed in the last issue. Tim Styche

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/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

Below The vehicles we use now may be very different from those 60 years ago, but the principles of safe, enjoyable motoring remain the same.

Having just renewed my membership for the 59th year, now is the time to compare motoring today with the early days of the Institute. Re-reading treasured old copies of Milestones, with articles by the likes of George Eyles and Lord Strathcarron, reminds me that their thoughts are as valid today as they were six decades ago. We did not have the Masters, but the High Performance Course was available. And of course there were no national speed limits. Personal responsibility was the norm and vehicle unreliability taught us to expect the unexpected. Safe motoring depended then, as now, on attitude of mind, rather than on adhering to gratuitous, often irrelevant legislation. Safety requires a constant questioning of why we do things. When you use headlights or indicators you are communicating with other road users, hopefully using conscious thought, not mindless rule application. Each journey is not a chore to be endured, but an art form to be savoured. Anthony G Phillips

ALAMY

GET T Y

Lifelong lessons learned

IN S IDE R

GET IN TOUCH

RoadSmart Magazine, 1 Albany Place, Hyde Way, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 3BT 0300 303 1134

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Left Blood bikers need to transport life-saving supplies at all hours, so should speed limits be reconsidered at night?

IN BRIEF GET T Y

On the other hand…

“I ACCEPT THAT SPEED LIMITS ARE GENERALLY A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO ROAD SAFETY, BUT IS A 20MPH LIMIT REALLY NECESSARY AT 3AM?” Speed limits costing lives? It was encouraging to see the article about Josie HubbardPalmer’s volunteer work as a ‘blood biker’ in the Summer issue of RoadSmart. I’ve been a volunteer rider for SERV-SL blood bikes for four years. One of my regular runs – often in the dead of night – is from St George’s Hospital to Kings College Hospital, both in south London. As I approach the hospital the road opens out to two lanes each way and the speed limit is just 20mph! I accept this is generally a great contribution to road safety – but is it really necessary at 3am? At that time of the morning this section of road is often completely empty. On many roads some lanes are restricted to certain vehicles between certain times, so why can’t the same be applied to speed limits? Often the deliveries we make are urgent and time-critical and in some circumstances are needed for life-saving treatment. Unnecessary delays could cost lives! Colin Dawson

The problem of parking ‘improvements’ Roger Rurdam (RoadSmart, Summer 2021) has a valid point about reverse parking but I’m not sure that herringbone parking is helpful. Any Advanced driver should know that the main advantage of reverse parking is that it keeps the steered wheels

I think Nick Carter has got hold of the wrong end of the gearstick (RoadSmart, Summer 2021). Right-hand drive cars are safer for right-handed people. The left hand is used for mundane things like indicating and changing gear while the stronger, quicker hand is on the steering wheel. Gerald Manterfield Manual labour I had a chuckle at page 13 of the Summer edition’s article about driver assistance systems and the phrase “most drivers won’t read a car’s 400-page manual to find out how these systems work”. It reminded me of when I purchased a new Mercedes SLK320. I decided I’d read the manual cover to cover. The first section was all about the key, which I began reading for about half an hour a day. Two weeks later I was still learning about the key, at which point I decided to figure out the rest of the vehicle’s knobs and buttons as I went along – so, indeed, failing to read the handbook! Bob Brewer

IAMRoadSmart

of the car in open space for longer. This allows better precision in manoeuvring, making it more likely the car can be positioned with a single movement. My local authority has recently enforced herringbone parking at several shopping parades. The main consequence has been to reduce the number of parking spaces by about a third. Parking availability is a problem almost everywhere and an unintended consequence here has been a major increase in selfish double parking and displacement of parking into residential areas. Traffic is not some alien horde of invaders; it is the sum total of all of us going about our lawful business and exercising our freedom. A little more consideration for others is needed. Tony Cater

The art of taking turns I would like to add to Richard Gladman’s answer about zip merging (RoadSmart, Summer 2021) in the hope of persuading some of the doubters. Anti-zippers think all the traffic should merge into one lane at the back of the queue, some distance behind them. This isn’t actually possible because as soon as a driver detects that traffic in the other lane is slowing down they’ve already passed the ‘back of the queue’ so anywhere they change lane now is ‘pushing in’. The place where the lane actually closes is an identifiable spot where every vehicle in each of the queues can let one vehicle go ahead of them. When all drivers accept that this is the best way there will be two lines of traffic of roughly equal length approaching the zipping point at the same speed. Nobody will be able to “zoom down the closing lane” because both lanes will be full. Nobody will be “pushing in” because everyone will be taking their proper turn. Stephen Palmer

Absent traffic officers I am a former IAM Observer but am sticking my neck out to comment on the Star Letter in the Summer 2021 edition. / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 61

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IN S IDE R

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Left Members’ views on zip merging continue to spark debate. There is a consensus that all motorists should use common sense.

ILLUSTRATION: ROUGHCOLLIE

IN BRIEF International zipping

“I AGREE THAT IT’S DESIRABLE TO REDUCE CONFLICT BETWEEN MOTORISTS AND CYCLISTS, BUT TRAFFIC PATROL OFFICERS ARE ALL BUT EXTINCT NOW” I agree that it’s desirable to reduce conflict between motorists and cyclists, but there’s precious little education going on. I don’t know how long ago Mr Dunn was a traffic patrol officer, but that species is now all but extinct. They appear in order to sweep up after accidents, then keep major routes closed for hours while they look at the ‘crime scene’, but in the ordinary course of events they are all but invisible. Thus it is that many motorists get away with appalling driving and, with or without the ample legislation which Mr Dunn says is in place, the prospect of careless or dangerous cycle use being prosecuted is vanishingly small. That is why so many motorists have a poor attitude to cyclists and many cyclists play fast and loose with road law. Richard Elliott

Cycling co-operation needed Michael Dunn’s letter in the Summer edition deserves further comment. This part of Dorset is at times overrun by the ‘Lycra brigade’ who use the roads to Wareham and Corfe. There are cycle paths alongside the road, but they still insist on using the roads and hold up the traffic by often riding two or three abreast. The attitude of the local constabulary is that the motorist is guilty whatever. Yet the rules in the Highway Code (59 to 82) are clear that on narrow roads or in heavy traffic cyclists should

In Germany in the mid-1980s, there was a regular five-minute programme on German TV giving driving hints. I remember them advising using zip merging for the reasons given in RoadSmart. That said, the different national traits may be why it works there but is unlikely to here, as our propensity for forming a queue will outweigh good driving sense! Tony Moore

Power plans needed I’ll only believe the plan to ban the sale of new internal combustion vehicles by 2030 is feasible when I hear we’re building power stations to meet demand. And for those who enjoy driving abroad, what about the availability of infrastructure overseas? Geoffrey Curtis

IAMRoadSmart

be in single file. They should be as considerate a road user as the motorist. Our local MP pushed hard for the provision of cycle paths. Sadly, most of the cycle brigade just ignore them, even though they’re for their safety. Frankly, any cyclist choosing not to use them is not only inconsiderate to other road users, but in the event of a regrettable accident, has in part contributed to their misfortune. I’ve discussed this with our local police force, and sadly it seems they can only think one way: the motorist is always wrong. I should add that like Michael Dunn, I am a cyclist as well as a driver. And yes, as Advanced motorists, my wife and I give cyclists plenty of room before overtaking them, as well as a wide berth. The police and local authorities should be working with the cycling associations as well as IAM RoadSmart so all aspects of road use are covered. Nigel Griffiths FRICS

Steaming into the future I read the letter from Clyde Brown (RoadSmart, Summer 2021) with interest, as he highlights some of the weaknesses of electric vehicles. He asks are there alternatives, and the answer is yes. One is a return to steam propulsion, which has all the advantages of electric vehicles and none of the disadvantages: maximum power and torque at standstill, the absence of a gearbox – except for forward and reverse – and zero emissions. If this sounds like a fanciful idea, a modern unit would have a sealed system, so that as the steam has been used, it is recycled, and therefore there would not be an exhaust. At the dawn of motoring, steam vehicles outperformed petrol engines on every parameter. On the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, just when you think you’re going really well, a steam car is likely to come whizzing past, almost silently! Had we not been railroaded down the petrol and diesel route, and developed the steam option, we would not be in the position we are facing today. Douglas Wragg / AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 63

IN S IDE R

MEMBER PROFILE

“DO THE MATURE DRIVER REVIEW AND TAKE ON BOARD WHAT YOU LEARN” Presenter and journalist Chris Goffey has always kept his driving skills sharp. And that’s continued with his IAM RoadSmart Mature Driver Review – which he took in his motorhome… WORDS SARAH BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHS JOBY SESSIONS

hris Goffey will be a familiar name to RoadSmart readers from his escapades on motoring TV from the 1970s onwards. Something of media trailblazer, he’d started out as a reporter on local newspapers, and progressed via writing automotive columns to taking on the role of Autocar news editor. Several years later he found himself editing The Motor Trader and from there he moved into radio and TV presenting. “I worked on Thames Television’s Drive In and its successor, Wheels, for several series,” Chris, now 75, recalls. “I ended up both co-writing and presenting the show, before being ‘poached’ by Top Gear in 1981.” And, of course, that’s the longstanding role he is most remembered for, although he appeared equally frequently in industry films for brands such as the RAC, Audi and Fiat, created via his own video-production company. Already a highly experienced driver, not to mention motorcyclist and equestrian (“Riding bikes sharpens your perception, while riding horses teaches you a lot about vulnerability on the road”), Chris took his IAM Advanced Driver test in 1972. He went on to earn his Public Service Vehicle operator licence while making London Transport training promos. “I didn’t feel comfortable telling bus drivers what to do if I couldn’t do it myself,” he explains. This led to an assignment for Commercial Motor to gain his Class 1 Heavy Goods Vehicle licence 64 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

Above Chris on Top Gear in his trademark knitwear. Right Chris today with the motorhome in which he took his IAM RoadSmart Mature Driver Review.

within seven days – which he successfully achieved despite initially failing his test. Yet fast-forward several decades – which have seen ownership of many vehicles, including classic Citroen DSs, a race-ready MGB and a Fordson Major tractor, as well as a stint driving a mobile library for Oxfordshire County Council – and even this very competent motorist felt there might be room for improvement. The prompt came from his wife, Linda, as Chris relates: “We’d always enjoyed road trips in our camper van, and then we bought a bigger motorhome in which we were planning a major jaunt to Europe in early 2020, roaming the Dalmatian Coast and the Balkans. But then Linda dropped a bombshell, asking: ‘Would your driving be up to it?’ “‘Bloody insult!’ I grumbled. But then I thought about it, and decided to ask IAM RoadSmart whether I could do the Mature Driver Review in my motorhome.

The Observer, Robbie Downing, and I had a great time, and while he highlighted my speed and ‘overdecisiveness’ at roundabouts, I came away with an ‘Excellent’ rating, and the conclusion I was ‘a very experienced and competent driver’. At my age, that’s a nice enough compliment!” Chris highly recommends the Mature Driver Review to fellow IAM RoadSmart members: “Everybody thinks they’re a good motorist, don’t they? But as you get older, you have to admit that your reaction time is slowing, while your vision declines – especially at night. Swallow your pride, do the Review and take on board what you learn. It’s a great idea to have somebody impartial sitting alongside you, analysing your driving. It’s very relaxed, friendly and reassuring – and it does as much for your peace of mind as for those who travel with you.” So has he had a chance to put those newly honed skills into practice? The pandemic curtailed his travel plans, but he and Linda managed to squeeze in an island-hopping tour of the Hebrides. And with restrictions now easing, they intend to complete that Balkans road trip. Chris can’t wait: “Everyone goes, ‘Isn’t the pandemic a shame for youngsters?’ But I say, ‘yeah, but what about us oldies? We haven’t got many years left!’” he laughs. For more on the Mature Driver Review, see www.iamroadsmart.com/courses/maturedriver-review

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021 / 65

IN S IDE R

MY OTHER CAR IS…

…an Allis-Chalmers With over 50 years’ experience as a tractor driver, driver trainer and examiner, Lance Butters tells us how staying safe at the wheel of agricultural equipment can help with everyday driving PHOTOGRAPHS MAT THEW POVER

here are two classic tractors in my garage: an Allis-Chalmers ED40 and a Ferguson TE20, better known as the Little Grey Fergie. I’ve used both of them on the road, although most of my work involves much larger, more modern machinery. The skills we have as Advanced drivers are directly transferable to the cab of a tractor, although often the challenges are amplified due to the size of the vehicle. For example, blind spots to sides and front can extend for several metres, so shoulder checks are vital. On the move, the road behind is just as important as the road ahead. It’s easy to get a build-up of vehicles behind a tractor 66 /

/ AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

so it’s important to plan your journey and know the safe places to pull over – it’s best to avoid a situation where motorists behind become impatient and attempt a risky overtaking manoeuvre. Even something as simple as turning left or right can be hazardous. An implement attached to the rear could swing out when you turn, creating a barrier across the road, so you have to think carefully about the traffic. These principles can be really helpful when driving a car. In fact, marrying tractor-driving techniques with IAM RoadSmart’s advanced theory has helped me to improve candidates’ skills in all types of vehicles.

Top Despite the very different ‘dashboard’, there are many shared skills when driving a tractor and a car. Above The last Allis-Chalmers ED40 was made in 1968, though Lance’s model is still going strong. Its name refers to the 40-horsepower engine.

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