The world’s top drivers would never mix alcohol with driving – so nobody else should. This is the message from former Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell CBE this festive period.

He is backing the IAM RoadSmart ‘Drive Like a Champion’ anti drink-drive campaign this month (December).

President of IAM RoadSmart for over a decade, Nigel believes everyone can be a winner on the road – simply by thinking ahead, anticipating the road … and most importantly in the run up to the festive season, not touching a drop of alcohol when getting behind the wheel.

He said: “Quite simply drink and drug driving is for losers. On the track you need to be in the best possible form at all times. This equally applies to anyone driving on the road. You have your own life, those of your passengers and everyone around you in the palm of your hands.

“Drink driving increases your risk of being a potential killer behind the wheel. The responsibility of driving a road vehicle safely is just as great as when driving a Formula 1 car – if not more so.”

Nigel’s advice comes as statistics in IAM RoadSmart’s 2018 Safety Culture Survey (reference 1) show there is still some shocking thinking about getting behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs among UK motorists.

Each year since 2015 IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, has surveyed over 2,000 drivers about their worries, fears and attitudes.

This year’s findings included:

•        7% of drivers say it’s acceptable to drive when they thought they might have had too much to drink – a figure that rises to 13% of 17-34 year olds

•        7% say it’s acceptable to have driven after using drink and marijuana (12% of 17-34 year olds)

However the majority support a tough line on punishment and rules around drink-driving. The survey found:

•        88% support alcohol interlocks to stop those who have been convicted of drink driving starting the car if they are drunk

•        88% support fitting all new cars with such technologies

•        79% support lowering the limit in England and Wales to that in Scotland

•        Drink and drug driving is the top priority for police enforcement according to the survey

Nigel added: “Be a champion of the road like me this Christmas and New Year. Do the right thing for your family, friends and other road users. Drive safe, drive sober and go #NoneForTheRoad.”

H-C Travel is preparing for its 25th touring season in 2019 with a brand new website www.hctravel.com, and branding, as well as exciting new tours in South America and Scotland

David Grist, owner of H-C Travel, said "We're kicking off our silver jubilee year with the launch of our new website and logo. We've had great feedback about the website's visual impact and believe it reflects more appropriately the amazing holiday experiences we provide for motorcyclists. Take a look at www.hctravel.com. We hope you'll like it."

David added ''We're delighted to be adding several new tours. As well as fabulous guided rides on The Trail Of The Incas, riding the South American Lake District and Patagonia, we've organised a 'Highland Fling', guided by our man in Scotland, Chris Smith. Now we're looking forward to the next 25 years of spreading our bit of motorcycling happiness!"

H-C Travel Ltd was established in 1994 and is the UK's leading specialist operator of fly - ride motorcycle tours to destinations around the world. Based in Overton, Hampshire it also has a retail travel agency for the North Hampshire/Berkshire borders (serving the area between Basingstoke, Newbury, Winchester and Andover.) Its Orange & Black brand offers Harley-Davidson authorised guided tours, self-guided tours and rentals in the USA. H-CTravel is uniquely positioned in the UK motorcycle tour market with professional travel industry recognition, ATOL bonding and TTA membership.

Motorex is celebrating another successful year of competition on the world stage, taking its tally of world titles to 118 after adding another eight to its collection in 2018, in a year that also saw the brand take its maiden MotoGP podium.

The Swiss oil giant picked up a fourth consecutive FIM Supercross World Championship early in the year, with Jason Anderson adding to Ryan Dungey’s three-in-a-row from 2015-2017. There were also back-to-back MXGP and World MX2 titles, as Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado respectively added to Antonio Cairoli and Pauls Jonass’ wins from 2017.

2018 also saw Motorex power five more riders to world championship glory, with Toby Price winning the Cross-Country Rallies title, while in the world of enduro Cody Webb was crowned Super Enduro World Champion. Brad Freeman, Matteo Cavallo, and Ruy Barbosa were all Enduro World Champions in the E1, Junior, and Youth classes.

This year’s success means Motorex boasts 118 world titles since it entered world championship racing with Mick Bollhalder and Charlie Büsser, helping them claim the FIM Sidecar Cross World Championship. Since then they have helped teams and riders win world championships in motocross, enduro, supermoto, rally, supersport, Moto3, and Moto2.

The culmination of this year’s MotoGP season also saw Motorex make history with its first podium in the premier road-racing championship, as Pol Espargaro – a former Moto2 champion with Motorex – finished third at Valencia.

Motorex offers a wide selection of engine and gearbox oils to suit a range of machinery, as well as suspension oils, coolant, chain lube, and other maintenance, care, and cleaning products.

Curvy Riders Motorcycle Club
- Debbie Boardman

The 2019 schedule for IAM RoadSmart’s ever-popular Skills Days has been announced; the perfect way to sharpen up driving or riding skills in your own car or motorbike at top racing circuits around the UK.

The Skills Days, run by the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, take place from April to September at Croft, Mallory Park and Thruxton circuits – all tracks steeped in motorsport history.

Skills Days are open to anyone with a full car or motorcycle licence, and any road-legal car or motorbike. You do not have to be an IAM RoadSmart member to take part.

They involve working either one-to-one in a car, or in a very small group on motorcycles with a dedicated instructor. During a day that aims to be fun as well as safe, drivers and riders taking part can expect to learn new techniques and gain greater understanding about the capability of their car or motorcycle.

Expect to learn about your own capabilities and that of your machine; entry, apex and exit points, how they vary from road to circuit; where to brake, when and how much to brake, how it feels in an emergency; controlled, progressive, smooth cornering; and how to use the accelerator or throttle to add stability to the car or motorcycle when cornering.

Here is the full schedule of motorcycle days:

Tuesday 9 April – Thruxton

Wednesday 15 May – Mallory Park

Tuesday 28 May – Thruxton

Tuesday 18 June – Thruxton

Tuesday 25 June – Croft

Tuesday 9 July – Thruxton

Tuesday 16 July – Mallory Park (ladies’ day)

Tuesday 27 August – Thruxton

Wednesday 11 September – Mallory Park

Tuesday 17 September – Thruxton

Here are the car days:

Monday 8 April – Thruxton

Wednesday 12 June – Mallory Park

Monday 16 September - Thruxton

Queen of Bikers and IAM RoadSmart ambassador, Maria Costello, will be leading the ladies’ motorcycle Skills Day at Mallory Park on 16 July.

Maria has made more than 40 starts at the daunting Isle of Man TT and returned there this summer. She became the first woman ever to claim a podium at the 2016 Classic TT alongside 23 times TT winner John McGuinness.

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

Mike Quinton, IAM RoadSmart Chief Executive Officer, said: “Skills Days are all about advancing the ability of drivers, riders and their machines, guided by experts in a safe controlled environment.

“We will help you unlock the secrets of getting the best from your car or bike, how to handle your machine to the best of its capabilities, without risking yourself or people around you. Safe driving can also be fun driving and our Skills Days are the key to that.

“Launched at the Motorcycle Live event at the NEC this week, Skills Days are flying out so book soon.”

Motorcycle days are £149 per rider (full day). Car days are £135 a driver (half day).

For more information visit our dedicated web page on Skills day here: https://www.iamroadsmart.com/skillsday or call our booking hotline on 0300 303 1134.