Category: IAM RoadSmart

1. Snowing me, snowing you … there is something we CAN do!

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 26th Feb 2018

   IAM RoadSmart brings you expert advice on driving in snow from its head of driving and riding advice Richard Gladman.

   Best advice is to avoid travelling in extreme weather. If no one is moving, you just add to the problem - so listen to travel advice. 

   If you do have to travel in bad weather, plan your journey thoroughly. Think about where you are going and what it will be like all the way along the journey. If you can, avoid travelling on less-used roads or country lanes as these are less likely to be gritted.

   Before setting off, clear all your windows and mirrors fully. Clear off snow piled on the roof of your car and the bonnet too, as it can fall and blow on to the windscreen. Don’t leave anything obscured.

   Start your car gently from stationary and avoid high revs. If road conditions are extremely icy and you drive a manual car, you should move off in a higher gear rather than first gear. You should stay in a higher gear to avoid wheel spin.

   It’s important you get your speed right when travelling in snow. Never drive too fast that you risk losing control, and don’t drive so slowly that you risk losing momentum for getting up a slope.

   Increase your following distance from the vehicle in front of you. It may take up to 10 times as long to stop on snow or ice build this into your following distance – this will give you more time to slow down using engine braking which is less likely to induce a skid.

   Make sure you slow down sufficiently before reaching a bend so you have enough time to react to any hazards that appear as you go round it – and so you do not skid as well. You should have finished slowing down before you start to turn the steering wheel.

   If you break down or have to pull over on a motorway or dual carriageway, you should leave your vehicle and stand to the safe side of it - ideally well over the armco to the nearside of the road, but not in front of it, when waiting for help.

   Richard said: “Many of the problems associated with travel during snow could be avoided if people planned in advance. People routinely travel with only the minimum of safety equipment, without realising their journey could be a lot longer than expected.

   “At the very least you should have a shovel, torch, blanket, jump-leads and tow rope. You should ensure your mobile phone is fully charged, and the number of your recovery organisation is saved into it. A bottle of water and a snack may also prove useful and don’t set out without knowing the locations of petrol stations on your way.

   “This all might sound obvious, but too many of us forget to do any of this. Don’t be one of the ill-prepared, and listen to the weather forecast for the whole length of a winter journey to help you prepare for it.”

   IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.

   To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com

2. ‘Queen of bikers’ Maria Costello renews ambassador safety role with IAM RoadSmart for another year

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 15th Feb 2018

   The UK’s biggest independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has announced it will be renewing its contract with pioneer racer Maria Costello MBE as its Rider Ambassador for a further year.

   Maria, often known as the ‘Queen of Bikers,’ was hired by IAM RoadSmart to promote the road safety message in her work as a professional solo biker and sidecar racer. She will also talk about current developments on rider safety and advanced riding through her well-read social media channels.

   In 2017 Maria staged a women-only biking track day at Donington Park in September, offering free places to IAM RoadSmart members. Maria will also be heading up a ladies’ day for members of IAM RoadSmart on 11 July this year at Thruxton circuit.

   She was a special guest on IAM RoadSmart’s stand at Motorcycle Live at the Birmingham NEC last November.

   In her professional career Maria needs no introduction. She has made 40 starts at the fearsome Isle of Man TT and became world famous as the first women ever to claim a podium on the island – with third place in the Ultra Lightweight category of the 2005 Manx Grand Prix.

   For five years Maria held a Guinness World Record at the Isle of Man TT, when she lapped the Snaefell mountain course at an average speed of 114.73 mph in 2004 – becoming the fastest woman to have done so.

   Maria said: “I am delighted to continue working with IAM RoadSmart, an organisation that is totally committed to reducing the number of deaths on the road for all users. It is a goal I believe in passionately, and the chance to work together for a further year on some exciting new projects was too good to pass up.”

   Added Sarah Sillars, IAM RoadSmart Chief Executive Officer: “Having Maria as an ambassador for riding safety is a significant boost for IAM RoadSmart and the work we do. Having someone the calibre of Maria on board helps us reach an important audience – people who love bikes and riding them – and she will help inspire those enthusiasts that riding safe is the only way to ride!”

3. Biker, have YOU got a 'Biker I.C.E. Card'?

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 24th Jan 2018

   In recent years, motorcyclist deaths have decreased, but serious injuries have increased. However, in 2017 motorcyclist deaths in South Yorkshire have increased. Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists (SAM) is a charity that trains motorcyclists in advanced riding skills, thus making motorcyclists safer on UK roads. When a biker does have an accident emergency services need relevant health information immediately. So, SAM has developed the Biker I.C.E. Card and are giving it away free to any biker who wants it. They will then know that, in the event of an accident, essential health information is in their wallet/purse/pocket readily available to emergency services staff at the scene.

   Accidents to motorcyclists result in much more serious injuries than other road users. All methods of carrying personal 'in-case-of-emergency' (I.C.E) information have real flaws. There is often very limited information to hand, or it can only be accessed remotely when the biker is taken to hospital. It can be difficult to keep personal and health information up to date.  SAM recognised the problems and designed an easy method, the Biker I.C.E.Card, of giving every biker the ability to carry information that will help emergency services staff at the scene of an accident and/or staff at a hospital.

   The Biker I.C.E. Card has all the information about a biker's identity, emergency contact, medication, ongoing illnesses and disabilities, etc. Such information is vital to emergency services staff to help in safeguarding the health and welfare of a biker casualty.

   The Biker I.C.E. Card is a FREE, downloadable, editable pdf file - Go Click 

   Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists (SAM), a charity of volunteer bikers, provides the full range of IAM RoadSmart advanced riding courses. We recognised that existing methods of carrying 'in-case-of-emergency' information have flaws. Such information may have very limited content, only be accessible remotely by a limited number of people and/or may be contained in electronic devices that may be either locked or damaged in an accident. In addition, the user may not have an easy, readily available method of changing or replacing their information to keep it relevant to their current health and welfare. The 'Biker I.C.E. Card' is printed onto A5 card/paper from any desktop printer. We recommend that the printing is protected by a spray fixative or it can be put into a small plastic pouch. A helmet sticker alerts the emergency services staff to the location of the 'Biker I.C.E. Card'. The card can be folded down to half the size of a credit card for easy storing in a biker's pocket/wallet/purse.

4. Give a unique gift to your car or bike mad loved one, complete with 10% discount from IAM RoadSmart

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 15th Dec 2017

   If you are stuck without a clue of what to buy your car or bike loving relative or friend, wonder no further … IAM RoadSmart’s Advanced Driver Course and Advanced Rider Course is available to buy at a 10% discount until Christmas.

   The advanced courses are administered by the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity and vouchers don’t have to be redeemed for 12 months. With the special offer you can buy the course for another person for £134 instead of the usual £149 until 20 December.

   The vouchers are sent to the person who ordered them, so it allows him or her to write their own greeting inside.

   The offer applies for both IAM RoadSmart’s Advanced Driver Course and Advanced Rider Course, and are sure ways of making sure your loved one becomes the safest driver or rider they can be – as well as getting a host of benefits once they pass, including access to low rate insurance from IAM Surety.

   To order online use the following link: www.iamroadsmart.com/christmas or by phone call 0300 303 1134. Quote GV10 to obtain the 10% discount by phone or online.

5. Patrick Hopkirk proves the equal of rally legend dad Paddy – and passes IAM RoadSmart advanced test again!

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 26th Oct 2017

   Proving he is a chip off the old block, Patrick Hopkirk, son of rally legend Paddy Hopkirk, has followed in his father’s footsteps and recently passed his IAM RoadSmart advanced driving test more than once.

   Patrick, 46, has passed his advanced driving test twice before – the first time age 19 in a Citroen 2CV, and again age 35. He decided he wanted to update his skills yet again some 11 years later. Paddy, winner of the 1964 Monte Carlo and 1967 Acropolis rallies, is also IAM RoadSmart mature driver ambassador.

   Patrick said: “This is really a revision of what I had already learnt – it really is important to keep updating your driving skills. I rediscovered how important mirrors are, of reading the road ahead, assessing what I had and then acting on it.”

   Patrick, who is a sales representative and drives more than 18,000 miles a year, added: “Really people should take the advanced test every five years.”

   He was assessed by John Dowell from the South of London Advanced Motorists. John said: “Patrick has achieved a lot and is well up to the standard needed to be an advanced driver.”

   Added Patrick: “John is a very professional teacher. He has helped me enjoy driving again.”

   Paddy, who is a household name having taken part in races all over the world including the gruelling London-Sydney Marathon, Le Mans 24 Hours and Daytona, has taken the IAM RoadSmart advanced test twice, most recently in June 2016.

   Just recently Paddy has been appointed President of the BRDC (British Racing Drivers’ Club) taking over from former Formula 1 driver Derek Warwick.

   For more information about the advanced driver course, which costs £149, click here