Category: IAM RoadSmart

1. Famous motorbike scenes from the screen

   Posted on 9:24am Tuesday 29th Jul 2014

   The Institute of Advanced Motorists takes a look at how advanced riding skills might have changed things...

   The cinema loves a chase scene – if it’s on two wheels, even better. But quite often these high-octane stunt sequences don’t end too well for our hero, who barely escape alive.

   Here are the views of a motorcycle-riding expert on some classic bike chases from the silver screen. Where did the riders go wrong? Is there anything they could have done that would have meant things turned out differently?

   The expert: Geoff Pretty*

   1. The Matrix Reloaded (2003) Dir. Andy & Lana Wachowski

   Trinity and the Keymaker steal a Ducati motorbike and head off against traffic on the wrong side of a busy motorway, pursued by police and the agents.

   

   Expert view: “The filtering was done far too fast with a large speed differential between the bike and other traffic; any sudden movement by another vehicle could prove problematic (as seen when the silver car changed lanes). You should never accelerate into a closing gap, but wait until you have a clear exit and proceed gently through.”

   2. The Dark Knight (2008) - Dir. Christopher Nolan

   Our eponymous hero takes on the Joker astride his heavily-armed Bat Pod bike, tearing through the streets (and shopping malls) of Gotham City.

   

   Expert view: “An even more extreme version of the Matrix scenario; the gap simply wasn't big enough, evidenced by the fact that the cars all lost door mirrors or had other damage. Saying that, the bike is pretty impressive - can I have one?”

   3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) – Dir. Stephen Spielberg

   Indy and Sean Connery leave the Nazis trailing in their wake thanks to their trusty Dnepr MT-11 and a fortuitously positioned flagpole.

   

   Expert view: “Riding any bike (particularly a road one) on a loose surface is pretty tricky. Better progress could have been made by positioning earlier for the bends, thereby increasing his view - this would have given him the chance of straight-lining at times, rather than treating each bend as a separate entity.”

   4. Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave (1995) - Dir. Nick Park

   There are more side-car shenanigans as the plasticine pals hunt down some mysterious sheep rustlers.

   

   Expert view: “Be aware of traffic that is closing up from behind, as it will seriously compromise your 'safety bubble’. If you feel at danger from another vehicle, find a place to pull over and let it pass; that way you are not pressurised into going faster than you are comfortable with.”

   5. Knight & Day (2010) - Dir. James Mangold

   Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz belt around dodging bullets on the back of an Aprilia SXV 550, which was modified for the film’s stunt scenes to look like a Ducati Hypermotard.

   

   Expert view: “Too much swerving from side to side will increase the risk of skidding and completely losing control. As with Indy, look well ahead to pick out parts of the road where you can ride in as straight a line as you safely can, thereby maintaining your momentum as high as possible.”

   6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part one) (2010) - Dir. David Yates

   What is it with movies and sidecars? In this clip, Harry fends off Death Eaters and Voldemort himself alongside Hagrid’s flying Triumph.

   

   Expert view: “The main point from this clip is at the end, where they manage to land in water. Whenever you make any manoeuvre (for example an overtake), you need to make sure that you have identified a safe place to return to - it's no good half-planning something as the end result is not guaranteed.”

   7. Tron: Legacy (2010) – Dir. Joseph Kosinski

   Futuristic Light Cycle battling is the order of the day here. Things don’t seem to end too well for our neon-blue front-runner.

   

   Expert view: “Don't let your bike come into conflict with other vehicles, as there is a great possibility that you will come off; keep as big a safety zone around you as possible. The rider failed to notice the green bike cross his path; his gaze was fixed ahead so intently that he failed to pick it up with his peripheral vision - this may have given him a chance to take avoiding action.”

   8. The Great Escape (1963) – Dir. John Sturges

   Steve McQueen and his Triumph T60 lead the Nazis on a merry chase before being cruelly felled by a barbed wire fence.

    

   Expert view: “Once he started to make his getaway he should have picked a road and stuck to it. By going off-road and constantly stopping and starting he lost too much time. In sticking to a more decent surface and applying the system, he could have made good progress and put a lot of distance between himself and his pursuers. Don't know if he would have made it to safety, but this would give him the best chance.”

   9. The Terminator (1984) – Dir. James Cameron

   Our cyborg super-villain hunts down poor Sarah Connor with murder on his mind. In this clip, he blasts away with a machine-gun from his Honda CB 750 Four K2 as the humans attempt escape in a bullet-riddled pickup.

   

   
   Expert view: “A motorcycle has the edge over a car/van in respect of acceleration, but will suffer on bends/swerving, as four tyres give much more grip than two. Also, riding with one hand will limit his ability to change direction effectively by using positive steering. He could have caught the vehicle up by riding two-handed and looking further up the road (ahead of the van), in order to see the layout of the road and plan his ride accordingly, rather than reacting at the last minute to what was immediately ahead.”

   10. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) – Dir. Adam MacKay

   Ron is enjoying a delicious-but-filling burrito with his loyal friend Baxter, when Jack Black pulls up alongside him on a Yamaha chopper. The rest is history.

   

   Expert view: “This is one of the basics of advanced riding: never put yourself in a position of potential danger. Anything could have been discarded out of the window (cigarette end etc) - also the driver could have lost control due to many factors e.g. a puncture, changing a CD, being distracted by passengers, especially children. You should be either in front of the vehicle where the driver can definitely see you, or positioned behind so that you are visible in their mirror. Thus both he - and the dog - would have come out of it a lot better!”

   11. Transformers 4: The Age of Extinction (2014) – Dir. Michael Bay

   The perennial battle between man and machine comes to a climax with a two-wheeled tear-out through the streets of Beijing. Bad guys transporting a nuclear bomb on a bike – what could possibly go wrong?

   

   Expert view: “They were travelling much too fast for the conditions ahead, thus giving them little, if any, time to react. This was exacerbated by the fact that much of the weight was too far back, thus compromising handling. Finally, heading down the tunnel meant that they were accelerating into a closing gap, with the inevitable consequence of a fall, as they were unable to stop safely in the distance they could see to be clear. Now if they had been able to get hold of a Transformer-cycle…”

   If you’re interested in a smoother, superior ride, visit the courses for bikers section of the Institute of Advanced Motorists website. Even great riders can improve: 97% of participants said the IAM advanced test increased their enjoyment from riding.

   Article and images supplied by Geoff Pretty a Senior Observer at the Middlesex Advanced Motorcylists group within the Institute of Advanced Motorists, and the consultant motorcycle trainer for IAM Drive and Survive.

   A former police motorcyclist, Geoff has ridden all size and types of motorcycle both professionally and for pleasure. He holds an NVQ in Advanced Motorcycle Instruction and is a member of the DVSA Register of Post-Test Motorcycle Instructors. He has been with IAM since 2004.

2. Britons taking unnecessary risks when travelling abroad

   Posted on 10:06am Tuesday 22nd Jul 2014

   A survey by Britain’s leading road safety organisation has shown that more than a quarter of those taking a car or motorbike into Europe on holiday will travel without having their transportation checked or serviced in any way. 

   The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) points out that as we reach the height of the holiday season, tens of thousands of people will be heading into mainland Europe to enjoy the delights of sun, scenery and a week or two away – without realising that if their car or bike breaks down, they could be in line for an expensive repair bill, several days (or more) off the road and disruption of that hard-earned break.

   The findings come from an online survey conducted by the IAM of people who have either taken a European driving or riding break in the last two years, or are considering doing so.

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “A breakdown is inconvenient at the best of times, but to have that occur while on holiday is even more upsetting. Even with comprehensive travel insurance, there will be huge disruption to your holiday if you have a breakdown – and factoring in the extra expense of getting your car or bike back to the UK.”

   “It is vital that your car or bike is in good condition to cope with the distances and demands of European driving. The roads will be unfamiliar so it is essential your brake pads, lights and tyre pressure levels are all in proper working order. Simply don’t leave yourself open to the risk of an unnecessary breakdown or even an accident.”

   The IAM survey also found seventy-eight per cent of respondents feel that regulations about the equipment that you have to carry in Europe have become more complicated in recent years.

   Respondents felt that unforeseen circumstances (33 per cent) and cost (17 per cent) are the biggest disadvantages when thinking about going on a driving or riding holiday.

   Of those who have been on a riding or driving holiday, forty four per cent of those drove and twenty per cent rode or drove from the UK. Forty-one per cent prefer to drive their own car abroad. Thirty five per cent of respondents would like to go on holiday for two weeks.

   Forty-three per cent of respondents favour France as a riding/driving holiday destination closely followed by Spain and Germany.

   Top reasons for a driving holiday are increased experience and exposure to local people and customs at destination (44 per cent) and adventure (28 per cent).

   Eight-five per cent of respondents always travel with full breakdown cover as well as full medical cover emphasising that respondents are taking necessary precautions for their health and safety abroad.

   Other findings include:

   •Thirty seven per cent of respondents have been on a driving holiday

   •Nineteen per cent have been on a riding holiday

   •Forty-eight per cent of respondents stay at hotels when on driving and riding holidays

3. Bikers rate skill over speed

   Posted on 7:38am Friday 4th Jul 2014

   Survey of IAM members uncovers secret to a better ride

   Motorcyclists with a need for speed should think again, as research finds going fast without the right skills means a less enjoyable ride – and losing the respect of your peers.

   Surveying over a thousand of its members, the Institute of Advanced Motorists found that over three quarters strongly agree that going fast does not mean you are a good rider. Eight in ten (83%) have much more respect for other bikers who are not as fast but have advanced skills, dispelling the myth that bikers are all speed fanatics.

   The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is encouraging more bikers to consider advanced skills courses in order to become better riders.

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Riding is unpredictable – the same road can be different each time you ride it. We want people to get the best out of their bikes and enjoy the experience of riding, which comes more easily with more advanced skills. Of those who have taken the IAM’s Skills for Life course, 88% feel more in control of their bike. and nine out of ten (92%) agree that the more advanced their skills have become, the more they have been able to enjoy the ride.”

   Top tips for a smoother ride from IAM expert, Geoff Pretty:

   1. Take additional training. The more skills, knowledge and experience you gain the better. No matter how good you are (or how good you think you are), there is always more to learn and scope to improve.

   2. Slow In - Fast Out. The way to deal with any hazard you encounter. Ease off, assess, plan and execute your manoeuvre before accelerating away. Don't rush into any situation you can't fully see, even if you know the road really well - after all, you wouldn't want to run around your house with your eyes closed, would you?

   3. Self Assess. Give yourself an honest appraisal of your performance after every ride. Think of where things could have been safer, smoother, more controlled etc; then work out how to improve next time.

   4. Talk to Yourself. An excellent method for maintaining concentration and ensuring you are taking in all relevant information (don't worry - others can't see you behind your helmet!). This is particularly useful when you are feeling tired and need to keep 'switched on,' until you can find somewhere safe to take a rest.

   5. Practice. The more you carry out any activity, the better you get (sometimes referred to as muscle memory). The physical act of riding the bike will then become second-nature; this will allow you to devote more brain power to applying the system in a more timely and effective manner.

   Go to www.iam.org.uk or BikeSafe today to sign up to the courses. Those who complete IAM’s Skill’s for Life course benefit from one year RAC cover, one year free IAM membership, how to be a better driver’ handbook, and reduced insurance.

4. New assessment to help older drivers

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 25th Jun 2014

   The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is launching its Mature Driver’s Assessment – a way for older drivers to gain a trusted second opinion on their driving and is available for motorists aged over 70. It consists of a 60 minute driving assessment that includes advice on what action to take.

   The assessment is not a formal test, it is a 60 minute drive with an IAM-approved assessor. Candidates drive in their own vehicle taking routes that they are familiar with. At the end of the assessment, they are given immediate feedback and a confidential written report. A certificate is given to those judged ‘Excellent’ or ‘Competent’ or there is advice that their driving needs to improve and what needs to be done about it.

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “This assessment helps keep older people driving for as long as it is safe to do so. It’s worth remembering that many older people actually give up too early, simply because they lack confidence. It also gives elderly drivers and their families the information they need so that they can choose the right time to give up driving.”

   In March this year, IAM research showed that 42 forty-two per cent of the population is worried about an elderly relative driving, yet they are unlikely to do anything about it.

5. Motorists still say no to electric vehicles

   Posted on 8:56am Saturday 21st Jun 2014

   Sixty-nine per cent of drivers would not consider buying an electric car, according road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) analysis of the latest government research.1

   The most important factors deterring motorists from buying an electric vehicle were recharging (40 per cent), the distanced travelled on a battery (39 per cent) and cost (33 per cent).

   Currently, less than one per cent of drivers already own an electric car or van. Five per cent said they were thinking about buying an electric car and eighteen per cent had thought about purchasing an electric vehicle but later changed their mind.

   However, not all motorists are put off the idea of an electric vehicle. Thirty-seven per cent said that lower cost would encourage them to buy an electric vehicle as well as the distance travelled (20 per cent), widely available recharging points (17 per cent) and environmentally friendly (16 per cent). With costs, the most important cost stated was the purchase cost, followed by fuel and recharging costs, maintenance, insurance and vehicle excise duty.

   IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “It is clear that the government have a long way to go to convince drivers that electric vehicles really are the future. On the positive side drivers are not worried about safety or comfort issues, but range anxiety and charging infrastructure remain real stumbling blocks. For the good of the environment the IAM want to see quicker roll out of charging points and long term guarantees that the current £5000 subsidy will remain in place.”