link 267 2014 03

THE LINK

the newsletter of Bristol Advanced Motorists

the LINK – newsletter of Bristol Advanced Motorists Page 1

Circulation 400 no: 267 Mar 2014

newsletter of Bristol Advanced Motorists

IAM Group no: 1009 Registered Charity No 289807 Run entirely by volunteers Affiliated to the IAM

Sec. 22 Highfields Close, Stoke Gifford, BRISTOL BS34 8YB Tel: 0117 979 8061 email: [email protected]

IAM Bristol Group: www.iam-bristol.org.uk IAM Chiswick (national): www.iam.org.uk

IAM? Bristol Group? Who we are and what we do

This LINK is the newsletter of Bristol Advanced Motorists, which is a Group (or Club) affiliated to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

We, and the other 210 local IAM Groups, are independent volunteer organisations, but are officially affiliated to the national IAM and work extremely closely with it. Local Groups are Membership Clubs, with two main functions. Today, firstly they provide Advanced Driving Guidance to enrolled Members of the Public (Associates), preparing them for the IAM Advanced Driving Test. Details of how we do this in the Bristol area can be found on page FORTY. Secondly, they offer a local focus for existing IAM Members to continue their interest in Advanced Driving.

The national IAM is the UK’s leading Road Safety charity, dedicated to increasing skills for all road users, improving standards and safety in driving and riding, and helping to save lives on our roads. It is largely financed by the membership fees from IAM Members and Associates.

The IAM has commercial arms which charge for training provided: IAM Drive & Survive for Occupational Drivers who drive for work, and IAM Driver Retraining Academy Ltd for Offence Re-training courses.

This newsletter is printed, collated and despatched by Group volunteers.

It is also displayed for free access on our website: www.iam-bristol.org.uk-

Views expressed in this newsletter are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent those of the Editor, the Committee of Bristol Advanced Motorists, or IAM Chiswick. The Group reserves the right to edit or otherwise amend original materiel submitted for publication. Materiel submitted may also be published on the Group website and in other IAM Group newsletters. If you wish to reproduce any materiel, please credit the LINK, Bristol Advanced Motorists, as the source.

Editor: Paul Hunt [email protected] 0117 960 8494 21 De Verose Court, Hanham, BRISTOL BS15 3SW

http://www.iam.org.uk/


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.iam-bristol.org.uk/




Mar 2014 Read this newsletter on our website www.iam-bristol.org.uk

Contents this Issue

page Bristol Group and the IAM explained 1 Would You mind Awfully . . . . / AGM Notice 3 Recent IAM Test Successes 4 Observer Re-qualification 6 FAD Course – enrol now ! 7 Young Driver Refund Offer on Skill for Life 8 Three-in-a-Car / March Meeting / Read your Annual Report 9 Refresher Course Success / New Seminar Presenter 10 Bristol Group’s Advanced Driving Refresher Course 11 New Associates Administrator / New Associates 12 Do You Use Social Media? 13 IAM Chiswick News 14 IAM Skills Days 15 What do you think of the New LINK Cover? 16 Bristol 20mph Roll-out 18 Forthcoming Monthly Meeting Speakers 19 EasyFundraising 20 CALENDAR – WHAT’S ON ? 21 MG Motors date set / Interested in Advanced Motorbiking? 22 German WW2 Counterfeiting of UK Bank Notes – January Mtg 23 Bicyclist News Items – a Response 25 Advert: TOLLGATE car and van hire 28 Avoid Pothole Damage 29 Driving News - Google Glass 30 Regional Liaison Forum 31 Forum posters come out from behind their screens 32 Desperate to be Mobile 33 Are Basic Driving Skills being Lost? 37 Volunteering Opportunities in Bristol Group / And Finally . . . . 38 CONTACT US: your guide to who does what 39

What’s this course about? / Associate Course Dates 40

All content compiled by the Editor unless otherwise credited. Contributors this issue: Geoff Bevan, Clyde Brown, Barnaby Ellis, Martin Evans,

Paul Hunt, Margaret James, Andrew Nicholls, Clare Reeves, Alan Tapp, Tollgate Hire, Sergeant Wilson, Paul Woozley.

Thank you also to all people talked to during research.

We welcome items from our readers Letters. Pieces on advanced or general driving topics. Your experiences as an Observer or Associate. Offer to write a report of Group Events or Meetings. Send email, letter, or phone. Photos - electronic or prints.

[email protected] 0117 960 8494 21 De Verose Court, Hanham, BRISTOL BS15 3SW

DEADLINE DATE for items to include in the next ( May ) issue: Sat 26th April

Page 2 the LINK – newsletter of Bristol Advanced Motorists


Read this newsletter on our website www.iam-bristol.org.uk Mar 2014

I say, Would You Mind Awfully . . . . paying your correct subscription . . . . Please ? ? ? ?

Thank-you to Members who have paid your membership renewal subscription for 2014.

However, many have not yet done so, and, more importantly, many more have not yet updated their Bank Standing Order to the new rate, and so they remain under-paid.

In place of a second paper reminder being sent, Members of the Committee are in the process of telephoning all the Members concerned, and this appeal in the style of laid-back, care-free Sergeant Wilson of the BBC’s Dad’s Army will maybe prompt those whom we have so far been unable to contact.

above: The “Sergeant Wilson” character from Dad’s Army. photo: BBC

ARE YOU A CHEQUE PAYER WHO HAS NOT YET RENEWED ? Note that if you are a cheque/cash payer who does not respond to this appeal and you remain unpaid at the end of March, you will unfortunately be regarded as lapsed. This will be the last LINK that you receive.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given by order of the Group Executive Committee that the 56th Annual General Meeting of BRISTOL ADVANCED MOTORISTS

will be held on Tuesday 22nd April 2014 starting at 7.30pm at the BAWA Healthcare and Leisure Centre, Filton, Bristol,

to enable the Trustees of the Group (Registered Charity No. 289807) to present their Annual Report and Accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2013 for approval by Group Members, and to conduct an election.

All Members, Associates and Friends are invited to attend but only fully paid-up Full Members of both the IAM and the Group may vote.

Secretary: Martin Evans, 22 Highfields Close, Stoke Gifford, BRISTOL BS34 8YB Wednesday 5th March 2014 IAM Group No: 1009



Recent IAM Test Successes by Clare Reeves

The Committee and Members of Bristol Group congratulate the following people, who have recently passed the IAM Advanced Driving Test after taking part in the Bristol Group’s Skill for Life Associate Scheme.

ASSOCIATE OBSERVER JAKE BRATTLE CLYDE BROWN JOSEPH JAYS DAVE CALLISTER NICK GRISON CLYDE BROWN GEORGE SALMON MARLENE BAKER Jake, Joseph and George are all under-25 Young Drivers.

You will all be Upgraded to Group Full Member until the end of 2014.

We hope that in due course each of you will continue as both an IAM Member and a Bristol Group Member and support our efforts to help other people in the Bristol area to become better drivers.

above: “ Your turn to hold up the Certificate and smile ! ” Nick Grison (left) accepts his Certificate from Group Chairman Andy Cole at the Group’s February Club/Social Meeting. photo: Geoff Bevan



More Test Successes Guiding Associates to an IAM Test pass is what the Group is all about – so here are a couple more Associates receiving their IAM Certificates.

above: Michael Ballard (left) receives his IAM Certificate from Bristol Group Chairman Andy Cole at the January Group Club/Social Meeting.

above: Sam Steeper (left) could not make a Monthly Meeting so instead he is pictured receiving his IAM Certificate from IAM Examiner Alan Hale at the “Meet an Examiner” seminar of the October course. photos: Geoff Bevan



Observer Re-Qualifications Congratulations to Mike Hall, the latest of the Group’s Senior Observers to re-qualify under the new externally-accredited National Observer scheme. Mike joins our five existing National Observers, and eventually all Senior Observers will hopefully re-qualify as National Observers.

above: “ Now it’s your turn – no Certificate? –hold up your name badge and smile ! ” Mike Hall (right) being congratulated by Group Chairman Andy Cole at the Group’s February Club/Social Meeting. photo: Geoff Bevan

MEMBERS - WOULD YOU CONSIDER BEING AN OBSERVER ? Helping new Associates to improve their driving up to the standard required for the IAM’s Advanced Driving Test is one of the core activities of the Group - and it helps you improve your own driving standard too.

We need more Members to train to act as OBSERVERS – especially those living in the SOUTH of our area, and LADIES in general, in all areas.

If you are interested, contact our Chief Observer Geoff. Now is a good time to step forward, because the Group is soon starting a FAD course, the precursor to the subsequent training in Observing skills.



FURTHER ADVANCED DRIVING COURSE –

A FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO ENROL ON THE 2014 COURSE – THE FIRST STEP TO BECOMING AN OBSERVER

Course re-timed for May, with a ‘closing date’ of 31st March. Bristol Group is planning to hold a FAD Course in May 2014, with classroom sessions at the BAWA Club on MAY 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th. This course aims to improve driving from IAM Test pass level, using Roadcraft as the text, and concentrating on System and Commentary. It is a higher-level driving course on its own, or the essential precursor to the Observer Course. One FAD course is held per year. Cost is £39. This course must be completed, i.e. the final test taken, by 31st August.

Note that participants may be asked to undergo a pre-course driving assessment to assess their suitability.

To find out more please contact Margaret James NOW 01454 776416 or [email protected] CLOSING DATE 31st MARCH.

BECOME AN OBSERVER It is hoped that those who complete the FAD course will continue onto the Group’s OBSERVER course, which will be held later in 2014 and which is 95% concerned with ‘training /guidance’ techniques. There is no further charge for the Observer course.

COME ON, GIRLS! Committee is keen to encourage some more FEMALE Members to take-up Observing. Bristol Group attracts a higher than average number of female Associates – around 33% of the total - but has very few female Observers to give guidance to those who would prefer a female Observer. So, come on girls, apply for the FAD course now!

LIVE SOUTH OF THE RIVER ? THEN WE NEED YOU ! The Group has become extremely short of Observers living in the Southern part of our area – so if you live there and would like to become an Observer – please get in touch!

TO FIND OUT MORE . . . . about Observing, FAD and Observer courses, contact Margaret James 01454 776416 [email protected]





Full Money-back Offer for South Gloucestershire

under-25 Young Drivers who pass the IAM Test

Turning Young Drivers into Advanced Drivers

BRISTOL ADVANCED MOTORISTS is pleased to be working with SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL to promote better driving and

reduce casualties in the vulnerable under-25 age group.

We are offering a Full Refund of the £139 IAM Skill for Life course fee to qualifying Young Drivers who pass the IAM Advanced Driving Test.

The refund offer is open to Drivers aged under-25 who are RESIDENTS in the SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE Local Authority Area,

or who WORK PERMANENTLY in that area, or alternatively who are undertaking FULL-TIME EDUCATION in that area.

The Refund will be given to those qualifying Young Drivers who pass the IAM Advanced Driving Test within 12 months of starting guidance, and who are aged under 25 on the day they pass the IAM Test.

South Gloucestershire Council's Road Safety Team is providing the funding as an incentive. We currently have plenty of funding available.

Do YOU know a Young Driver who could benefit? BRISTOL GROUP Bring this to his / her attention,

or talk to the parents.

Further details available: [email protected]

0117 969 1746

Y

oung Drivers who live in the Bristol City area Unfortunately the Group can no longer offer the Refund Scheme to any new applicants who are residents of the Bristol City area, because the Young Drivers we already have under guidance from the Bristol City area will, when they are successful in the IAM Test, exhaust the scheme funds we have remaining from Bristol City Council's Road Safety Team.





Come to the first THREE-IN-A-CAR of 2014

Bristol Group is an organisation that provides Advanced Driving Guidance. Mainly to new Associates. BUT, MEMBERS, this is YOUR opportunity to get a few tips from some of the Region’s top Observers. Even if you’ve never been on a Three-in-a-Car you’ll be welcome – they are free and they’re an ideal way of 'keeping in touch' with Advanced Driving. Their purpose is to assist you in maintaining your high driving standards.

Date Time Location Team 1. Saturday 29 March 10.00am Old Sodbury, Cross Hands Cabot Contact: Alan Dunn 01454 228093 07941 896 248

MARCH 29th is the first in the series for 2014, and Alan Dunn, who has organised this one, is keen to see as many of you there as possible to support him and the Group. The location is easy to access, on the outskirts of Chipping Sodbury but amid country roads, so there’s a wide variety of driving situations. Give Alan a head start - call him to let him know you’ll be there. Don’t delay - call him today!

And put these other Three-in-a-Car dates in your Diary:! Sunday 18 May 10.00am Gordano M5 Services Thursday 03 July 19.00 evening Thornbury Leisure Centre Sunday 10 August 10.00am Old Sodbury, Cross Hands Saturday 13 Sept 10.00am Gordano M5 Services Sunday 19 October 10.00am Keynsham, Ashton Way

Motorists’ Question Time – in March You can ask all sorts of motoring questions: Basic driving issue. Technical motoring issue. Explanation of IAM course/tests/ Observer training.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS NOW ! ! ! Contact Martin Evans 0117 979 8061 [email protected]

Read your Annual Report Group Full Members will find the Report enclosed with this LINK, in preparation for the AGM in April. Please take a few minutes to read it, especially the Reports from Committee Members.

These summary statements give an impression of what the Group does, the volunteers who do it, and also what more could be achieved. YOU are a Member of the Club. Have you considered becoming actively involved?




Refresher Course Success “The course was very good”, said Jim. “Although I am already a Full Member, I learnt a lot. “The topics are described with lots of new ideas and words, and it was all very well-presented and put-together at the course seminars – much better than when I originally prepared for the IAM Test”.

above: Member Jim Ivory (left) is one of our latest Refresher Course participants. He is pictured here receiving his Completion Certificate from Group Vice-Chairman Marlene Baker at the January Monthly Meeting. photo: Geoff Bevan

New Seminar Presenter Congratulations to Observer Mark Gollop, who is a new face amongst the seminar presenters. For the January course, he presented the second half of seminar two, covering Limit Point and Motorways.

He came over well, with a natural style. One of the participants said, “Dahhling, I thought you were marrr-vellous”. Praise indeed. right: Mark Gollop

archive photo by Geoff Bevan



BRISTOL ADVANCED MOTORISTS

ADVANCED DRIVING REFRESHER COURSE

The Refresher course is run by Bristol Group for existing IAM Members, who passed the IAM Advanced Driving Test maybe some years ago. It provides an opportunity for you to ‘refresh’ your Advanced Driving skills to a current level where you could easily pass the IAM Test again.

Without regular re-assessment or re-reading of the IAM manual and Highway Code, many IAM Members find that their knowledge and application of Advanced Driving skills reduces to a standard below that needed to pass the IAM Test. Ask yourself random questions, such as: ● Can you name and explain the underlying factor and the four phases that make-up the System of Car Control? ● Can you put words to C………… O………… A………… P………… ? ● How are you at Cockpit Drill and POWDERY? ● Can you explain Limit Point Analysis? ● What about Short Stay and Long Stay? ● Can you explain the techniques for safe Motorway driving?

If you said “ NO “ to any of those, or similar questions, or are unsure, then the Refresher course is for you.

You share the three classroom seminars of an Associate course, and also your allocated Observer will give you six practical driving guidance sessions, individually tailored to your requirements. There isn’t a Test, but a Certificate of Completion will be awarded. Cost: £39.

To take part in the course, you need to be a current national IAM Member, and also a current Bristol Group Member. If you are not a current Bristol Group Member, you will additionally need to join Bristol Advanced Motorists. The annual Membership fee is £20. Ask us for an application form.

Previous course participant Pauline says, “I would recommend the Refresher, particularly to longer-term Members who took the IAM Test some years ago. It has boosted my confidence and, I believe, has made me a better driver.”

Courses for 2014 start in January, April, July and October.

For further information please contact: [email protected] 0117 969 1746





Group News

CLARE IS OUR NEW ASSOCIATES ADMINISTRATOR Clare Reeves (pictured) has taken-on the role of Associates Administrator, starting from January 2014.

Group Chairman Andy Cole said, “In January the committee said goodbye to Pam Hunt, who stepped-down as Associates Administrator after doing this role for almost 14 years. “On behalf of the Committee, Members and Associates, I would like to say a huge thank-you to Pam for her commitment to this role.” Clare says, “I offered to take over the position from January 1st when Pam stepped-down. With the January Skill for Life course then due to start in a few weeks, luckily 95% of the enrolments and necessary admin and paperwork were in place. Pam helped me through and hopefully all will become clear as we move towards the April course. “Hopefully I can continue in Pam's footsteps and with the help of the Bristol Observer Corps, and of IAM Chiswick, the Bristol Group can go forward with continuation of our high pass rate.”

Clare Reeves, Meetings Organiser / Associates [email protected] 0117 969 1746

New Associates The following people have enrolled on the Group’s Skill for Life Course which started in January:

GEORGE CLARKE SUSAN CLIFFORD HARVEY GEORGE FRANCIS KWONG LUKE LAMBERT PHILLIP MORGAN HAZEL TRAPNELL JAMES WILLIAMS LAURA WRING

In addition, we also have a couple of people enrolled on our April course who have already started, in advance. taking their Observed Drives.

And we have existing Full members JO DAY and NONA DAWSON taking our Advanced Driving Refresher Course.




Do you use (or look at) Social Media?

Facebook became 10 years old on February 4th. There have been other Social Media sites which have come and gone, and brand new ones are coming along now, used mainly by teenagers – and younger children.

Will Facebook survive, and also will Twitter for that matter? Facebook is a business, which depends on maintaining a vast number of users to generate income from adverts. It cannot afford to shrink. Maybe it will become the most dominant social media, by acquisition, as Google did to become dominant in the world of Search Engines.

Children/teenagers are migrating to the new opposition, because Facebook has become mainstream and is used by adults. Its use has changed somewhat, into that of a personal diary and photo album. It has also become an ‘Internet replacement’ in developing countries. There are still shallow ‘obsessed addicts’ who do not live in the real world, and announce their every move to their imaginary ‘friends’, and there is also a very strong following in the media world, because Facebook, and even more so Twitter, are ‘immediate’ means of communication, news usually breaking there first. The Isles of Scilly Police Facebook page is excellent for communication and social uses, and has recently won the accolade from LikeAlyser as the “Best Government site for engagement – in the world”. Worth a look.

But an evolved use of Facebook is for businesses, organisations and Clubs/Groups to publicise themselves – getting people to look at the ‘open’ page without posting much themselves. Er, look below at the case of Bristol Advanced Motorists. Useful tools, as long as they last, anyway!

Find us on Facebook by Barnaby Ellis DON’T DO IT WHILST DRIVING – Our ‘open’ Facebook page is viewable without you needing to belong to Facebook. Go to www.facebook.com/BristolAdvancedMotoristsor search for Facebook Bristol Advanced Motorists

Follow us on Twitter by Geoff Bevan @ iam_bristol DON’T DO IT WHILST DRIVING

You can see all the tweets on our account without belonging to Twitter. https://twitter.com/iam_bristol or search for Twitter IAM Bristol


http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=171078605914&ref=ts

http://www.twitter.com/iam_bristol


IAM Chiswick News

RAC OFFER FOR ASSOCIATES TO CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER YEAR Every Skill for Life course comes with an offer of 12 months’ FREE RAC Roadside and Recovery cover (£106 RRP) so there has never been a better time to become an Advanced Driver! This offer is reviewed from time to time and we understand from IAM Chiswick that it will continue with all Skill for Life purchases until at least 31 March 2015. st

SORRY YOU’RE LEAVING IAM NATIONAL IAM Chiswick is conducting research into why people leave national IAM, to find out if something different should be offered to help retain national Members. Lapsed members should have received an email from Chiswick. If YOU (as a Group and IAM Member) speak to any former Members, please encourage them to take the survey. Participants will be put into a draw to win an i-pad plus runner-up prizes of £30. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact [email protected] ARE YOU USING IAM CHISWICK’S SOCIAL MEDIA ? Like the Group, IAM Chiswick is using Social Media to keep you up-to-date with what it’s up to – and we can tell them what we’ve been doing too. “Like” the IAM Chiswick Facebook page ( facebook.com/skillforlife ) and follow IAM Chiswick on Twitter ( @IAMgroup ) THE IAM’S 2020 VISION The latest INSIGHT communication from Chiswick majors on this. IAM CEO Simon Best says he has been working for a year “to create a vision to deliver our purpose and make a clear plan to get there, with the charitable purpose uppermost in the mind. The IAM aims to be the largest provider of post-licence driver training in the UK. To do what the IAM has done is no longer an option, else it will stagnate or decline.” But Simon waffles on for a whole page without saying anything concrete that you can identify with. Campaigns and public affairs work are still regarded as a priority, whilst “a communications system which will be accelerating the move to digital communications” and “building business capabilities to increase our ability to train and educate drivers” are some of the corporate-speak phrases. But “digital communications” and “business capabilities” do not seem to link well with voluntary IAM Groups and Associate Training. We will have to wait and see what happens – maybe a simpler explanation will come at the Spring Group Meetings.

PRODUCED MONTHLY BY IAM CHISWICK FOR IAM GROUPS AND THEIR MEMBERS



£129

FOR A HALF-DAY SESSION

IAM Chiswick has announced the first dates in the 2014 programme of “Skills Days”, which offer “stimulating learning experiences on well known, challenging motorsport tracks/circuits, with IAM Instructor guidance throughout, with the focus on anticipation, cornering, planning, smoothness and understanding how your vehicle performs in a variety of situations.” The Motorbike days sell-out immediately – Thruxton in April, Croft in May and even Thruxton next September. Take-up of Car events is much more ‘sedate’, with 2 dates on offer, Croft (North Yorkshire) on May 7th and more locally to us at Thruxton on July 8th.

Thruxton Circuit, Hants, Tues 8th July, Call the IAM Support Team: 0208 996 9700 [email protected]

• Members can book either a morning or afternoon session. • You are also encouraged to bring Non IAM Members as this is a fantastic opportunity to recruit new Associates. • Registration: morning 07:30 till 08:00 hrs, afternoon 12:00 till 12:20 hrs. • A session is 7 Drives on the circuit in your own car with an IAM Instructor. Each drive is followed by a theory input and de-brief based on IPSGA. • Drivers’ vehicles must be road legal, roadworthy and hold a valid MOT. There will be a basic visual scrutineering to check this. • The venue offers a controlled environment free from many of the usual

hazards and challenges of the public road, but although it is ‘Driver Training’ it is regarded as motorsport and you will need to sign a ‘Disclaimer’. Bristol Group Editor’s Notes for your consideration: 1. Events are organised by IAM Chiswick. This page is on behalf of IAM Chiswick. 2. Driving Licences are checked at the event. 3. Ensure your car is in good order and with fluids topped-up to sustain the experience. 4. High speeds on a circuit can cause unexpected rapid tyre and brake wear. 5. Although mishaps are rare, they can happen. Be aware that insurance for participants is NOT included in the £129 fee. Insurance on-site is the responsibility of the individual. 6. IAM Surety policyholders can pay £15 for an extension of cover on their policy. Most other Insurers, and breakdown services, may not cover participation. Specialist brokers may quote for limited own damage and personal injury Insurance (but not third party), and also for specialist breakdown/recovery service.




What do you think of the new LINK Cover ? Here are some of the images that didn’t make the cut . . . .



NEW COVER The arrangement whereby the Group received newsletter covers donated free of charge from PRISM of Emersons Green (printers and suppliers of office goods) ended last year, and the stock has now run out.

The Group could have continued to use the same cover - but purchase it. However, a majority of Committee thought this an opportunity for change, and for a move to colour, rather than greyscale, although the tradition of using an image of Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge should continue.

One Member favoured a distant view down the Avon Gorge, as used in old Great Western Railway posters and in the modern Pitkin Bristol Guide, or a wide broadside view from the Observatory. But a graphic designer had advised us to stay with a close-up large image, warning that a wider view could be indistinct. Your Editor favoured a view from underneath. Several alternative types of image were tabled at committee and the majority vote was to stay with the current image as on the old cover, but in colour.

The new cover has a wrap-around photo taken and ‘adjusted’ by Member Tony Gilbert; it was printed by PRISM. I know you will agree that it is excellent. We have included the traditional IAM button logo as a distinct recognition feature, rather than the bland new IAM ‘letters logo’ which would become lost on the cover. Much time was spent pondering what wording should go on the back cover - in the end, the strap-line and text devised by publicity Officer Geoff Bevan was used.

There is also a QR code on the back; non-Members who wish to find out more about us can photograph it with a suitably-equipped Smartphone and will be taken to the Group’s website, www.iam-bristol.org.uk

THE TWO YEAR LINK COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN Our new stock of 5,000 covers should see the LINK’s requirements through until the AGM 2016. But committee is to consider whether the paper Group newsletter has a future beyond that two years, considering both the cost of postage, and the effort and commitment needed by the Editor, and the printing and collation people. Maybe members should be encouraged to access the newsletter online, with the ultimate aim of ceasing the paper version altogether.

More to come on this issue. What do you think?

opposite: Rejected images of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Broadside from the Cumberland Basin - and from the Observatory; Do you recognise the ‘abstract’? It’s part of the side graphic on First buses running the X39 Bristol to Bath.




Bristol 20mph Roll-out

The time when a 20mph speed limit will apply all over the Bristol City Council area is fast ( ??? ) approaching.

Two Pilot areas started in Southville and Redfield in 2010, and after a very short trial the statistics apparently proved to the City Council that it would be worthwhile to expand the scheme across the whole Council area.

On 20th January, ‘Phase 1, Central and Northern’ came into being, covering the Central area, Clifton, Redland, Cotham and Bishopston.

Next, in March, will be ‘Phase 2, Southern’, covering Filwood, Knowle and St Annes.

In June, ‘Phase 3’ will follow, including Westbury-on-Trym and Lockleaze.

In August, ‘Phase 4, East’ will follow in Speedwell and Oldbury Court.

November will see the implementation in ‘Phase 5, North’ covering Avonmouth, Blaize, Brentry and Southmead.

The last areas will be covered by ‘Phase 6, South’, being Highridge, Hartcliffe, Hengrove, Stockwood and Brislington in March 2015.

Our Group Representative, Secretary Martin Evans, attended the latest ‘20mph Consultation Meeting’ in early January. He said that this particular meeting attracted more representatives than had any previous one, and there were attendees from the Ambulance Service, Bicycling campaigners and the Police.

“It is too late - the leviathan is moving on and unstoppable now – but moving slowly”. It is surprising how few roads – even major thoroughfares - are being excluded from the 20mph limit. The Council people admitted that the scheme is more than just about safety – it involves bicycling and walking, environmental, health, obesity, and ‘sense of place’ issues.

The Police said at the meeting that they will be prosecuting for exceeding the 20mph limit - in light of the revised ACPO guidelines on prosecution conditions and penalties which are now in place. The existing detection equipment and cameras are all suitable and calibrated for operating in the 20mph speed range. There are not enough Police resources to operate blanket coverage – but there will be visits by camera vans, and specific issues will be dealt with where concern is raised - outside schools, etc.

It need not end at the City boundary – South Glos Council has already announced that certain streets in Kingswood next to the City boundary will have 20mph applied – and 20mph areas are cropping up all over the area.



Forthcoming Group Monthly Club Meetings

Clare Reeves, our Monthly Meetings Contact, has organised our meeting speakers for the whole of 2014. The current programme is below (may be subject to last-minute changes):

MARCH Motorists’ Question Time A ‘panel of experts’ answers your questions, in a repeat of the successful 2013 event. SEND QUESTIONS TO SECRETARY MARTIN NOW.

APRIL After the AGM business - Chief Inspector Yannis Georgiou of the Roads Policing Unit, Avon and Somerset Police. The exact topic is currently unknown, but Yannis is acting as ‘Police Liaison man’ with the IAM and other organisations. He was interviewed on BBC Radio Bristol in September 2013 and came over as a talkative and personable chap.

MAY Bloodhound supersonic land speed record car Martin Evans gives an update on progress.

JUNE Ian Brooks, of abnormal load escorts, Road Pilots.

JULY Freewheelers – Emergency Motorbike Voluntary Service

AUGUST Martin Davey, who is involved with a scheme with the RAeS for schools to build a micro-light.

SEPTEMBER Lecturer / Consultant in Environmental Health Protection Dr. Sarah Jones

OCTOBER Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire

NOVEMBER Drink/Drive presentation by W02 Chris Stockwell of the Army Reserve

INTO 2015 Ideas include the IAM’s PDS Driver Retraining Academy and the UWE RACING project.

The Group is still on the lookout for fresh leads and ideas to keep the momentum going. So if you have a contact – or an idea for a subject – such as a topic, interest or hobby you are passionate about – then get in touch with Clare at [email protected]




YOU can raise funds for us too!

Bristol Advanced Motorists members raised £201 last year with

RAISE ‘REWARD’ FUNDS WHEN YOU SHOP ONLINE If you shop online, doing so via EasyFundraising is a no-brainer - because every purchase raises a percentage cashback reward for the Group at no extra cost to the purchaser. There are over 2,700 retailers taking part in the scheme, and over half a million users. At the November Meeting, Secretary Martin Evans demonstrated on a laptop how easy it is to register with EasyFundraising. So sign-up now!

MARTIN’S IDIOT’S GUIDE 1. From your Internet browser, go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk 2. Find, and click on, the green box, “Support a good cause”. 3. When you are asked to “Find a good cause”, enter BOTH BRISTOL ADVANCED MOTORISTS and postcode BS15 3SW, then click “Search”. 4. We will be displayed, with our logo. Click “Support this cause”. 5. Enter your personal details: name, email, password. Read the terms and conditions and click on “Continue”. 6. Find and Remind Toolbar. Instal this and then when you visit the website of a retailer who offers EasyFundraising donations, a yellow notification bar will appear. When you click “activate donation” and make a purchase, the retailer will make the donation to us. Statistics show that having the Toolbar installed enables shoppers on average to raise over 5 times more in donations than without it.

GET A REWARD FOR EVERY INTERNET SEARCH You can raise a donation for the Group EVERY TIME you search the web with http://iambristol.easysearch.org.uk You will raise half a penny with every search. It may not sound a lot, but it all adds up - our members have raised over £150 with EasySearch.

STILL UNSURE WHAT TO DO? Just contact the Group’s Geoff Bevan or Martin Evans and they will advise you.

Join the 32 Group Members already registered! ( see the Contact Us page.)


http://www.iambristol.easysearch.org.uk/

http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/iambristol

http://iambristol.easysearch.org.uk/


CALENDAR for Bristol Advanced Motorists Next Club/Social Meeting Topic – March 25th MOTORISTS’ QESTION TIME – Put your questions to the “expert panel”. BAWA Pavilion Room 7:30pm for 7:45 start

MARCH Tue 25 Monthly Meeting BAWA Pavilion 7:30pm for 7:45 start Motorists’ Question Time A ‘panel of experts’ answers your questions, in a repeat of the 2013 event. Send Your Questions to Secretary Martin NOW ! Wed 26 Training Committee Meeting BAWA 7:30 Sat 29 Three in a Car driving update session (see page nine) at Cross Hands, Chipping Sodbury, 10:00am start Mon 31 Last date for FAD Course applications APRIL Tue 08 Exec Committee Meeting - if you wish to raise an issue, contact the Group Chairman Wed 09 Observers’ Meeting 7:30pm BAWA Tue 22 AGM BAWA Pavilion 7:30pm for 7:45 start Speaker after the AGM: - Chief Inspector Yannis Georgiou of the Roads Policing Unit, Avon and Somerset Police. Wed 23 Skill for Life Course - seminar one BAWA 7:30pm Sat 26 Copy Deadline for LINK newsletter (May issue) Wed 30 Skill for Life Course - seminar two BAWA 7:30pm MAY Wed 07 FAD Course starts. 7:30, BAWA. Also May 14, 21, 28 Mon 12 Newsletter Collation at BAWA 4:30 until 7:00 approx *** More helpers needed *** – contact Andrew Nicholls Tue 13 Exec Committee Meeting - if you wish to raise an issue, contact the Group Chairman Tue 27 Monthly Meeting BAWA Pavilion 7:30pm for 7:45 start Bloodhound supersonic land speed record car Martin Evans gives an update on progress. JUNE Wed 11 Skill for Life Course seminar three – Meet an Examiner BAWA 7:30pm

[The BAWA Club is at 589 Southmead Road, Filton, BS34 7RG, between Southmead Hospital & British Aerospace. Look for the playing fields. ]



Thurs 12th June date for Visit to MG Motors

Committee has put-up a provisional date for this proposed visit and so far 12 people have expressed interest, all seeming to prefer the option of using their own cars rather than using a minibus. Whatever, we will all have to arrive on site as one party. We will still retain the minibus option as a possibility – a couple of Observers are willing to share the driving.

If you are interested in attending - own car or minibus - put your name forward at a Monthly Meeting or contact Andrew Nicholls, who has offered to organise. 01749 860321 [email protected]

To recap: Visitors meet in the MG Sales Centre on the Longbridge, Birmingham, site, which showcases MG products. There is an insight into ‘today's MG’, a visit to Lord Austin’s original office, a look around the MG Museum, and a visit to the Technical Centre. Test drives of MG6 or MG3 are offered if booked in advance, subject to a valid driving licence on the day. Tours last 2 hours and there is a charge of £5 per visitor to cover the cost of ‘tea and biscuits’, all profits going charity.

A wannabe Social Organiser is still desperately required by the Group. Please get in touch with the Chairman, or indeed any Committee Member.

Interested in Advanced Motorbiking ? Bristol Advanced Motorcyclists is a separate IAM Motorbike Group, providing Advanced Riding guidance for newcomers, at SUPER SUNDAY events, and acting as a club for existing Members in Bristol.

Newcomers, just turn up at 09:00 on the first SUNDAY of any month (but NOT January) at Kings Oak Academy, Brook Road, Kingswood, BRISTOL BS15 4JT.

Get a taste with a free assessed ride, and maybe sign-up for the Motorbike Skill for Life course. Grab a bacon buttie and a cup of tea, meet like-minded people, and maybe attend the various presentations. Use the link on our own website to access the Motorbike Group’s website. Or go to the Motorbike Group’s website direct: www.bamo.org.ukOr phone 01275 372637 or email [email protected]


http://birmingham.mg.co.uk/

http://www.bamo.org.uk/



German WW2 Counterfeit UK Bank Notes MONTHLY MEETING JANUARY – GERALD LITTLE

Not a motoring subject, but an unusual one of interest, especially as in the news at the time was the story of the run on gold and the financial crisis at the start of Word War One, in 1914.

Gerald had given a previous talk to us last year about the Bank of England and Bank Notes. This time 39 Members gathered to hear about German counterfeits of UK Bank Notes in World War Two. The story

started in 1937 when Hitler planned to take over Europe. Some of his people had the idea of flooding the UK with counterfeit notes so as to disrupt the currency by setting-off

roaring inflation, leading to an economic collapse.

above: Gerald Little in full flow. photo: Geoff Bevan

Two prominent Nazis started the forgery operation - Alfred Naujocks, who had been instrumental in physically starting the war by taking a platoon in Polish Uniform to Poland and attacking the German radio station at Gliewitz – and Reinhard Heydrich, the architect of ‘the final solution’.

They used a mansion as headquarters for ‘Operation Andrew’ and the whole story came to light after the War because of the German pre-occupation of writing everything down in detailed records. The initial work met difficulties – apart from the actual copying, there was the paper, ink, numbering systems, watermark. It kept 50 people fully occupied and nevertheless £500k worth of forged notes were made in 18 months.

It proved they could do it, but it was too big a job on top of normal duties, so a young chap Freidrich Bernhard Krueger took charge full time. A former Chief of Police, SS Officer, and an expert at copying documents for the Secret Service, he started ‘the Bernhard Undertaking’ using a labour force of Jewish skilled printers/engravers rounded-up from concentration camps. Eventually 160 were working in Block 19 at Sachsenhausen Camp in August 1942. Production went up to £1m-worth a month of forged notes, which were even ‘aged’. They still had severe problems with copying the vignette emblem of Britannia and pattern lines,



even though the originals had been blown-up (sorry, bad choice of words) – rather, ‘enlarged’ 100 times to make copying easier. Even then, the eyes and ‘3-D’ appearance was beyond them.

Gerald talked about the design of genuine UK Bank Notes of the time. Imperfections are built-in on purpose, to make forgery more difficult. Parts of letters and lines are incomplete, there are black spots, etc. More than 100 of these security checks. The Jewish counterfeit gang could not perfect all these – and additionally put in imperfections of their own, in the hope that the forgeries would be detected in the UK.

It was planned to air-drop notes over the UK. These plans however were disrupted by weakness of the Luftwaffe and non-availability of planes to securely complete the task. So, widespread distribution never took place. Forged notes were however used to buy German imports, and German agents used them. The Allies were aware of the plans and eventually some were detected and acquired by the Bank of England. They were considered to be really good, some of the best forgeries ever made.

The Bank of England responded by withdrawing all genuine notes over £5 value. Later, a smaller note was used and from 1944 a new note with a metal thread was introduced. This was replaced by the blue fiver in 1957 and larger value notes did not appear again until the £10 in 1964.

As the War ended, the Germans destroyed the stock of notes, equipment and evidence mainly by dumping it in Lake Toplitzsee. Fifteen years later, much was recovered in a special Allied operation.

The Jewish prisoners were all to be “liquidated” together. They were transferred to another camp for their fate, but only one truck was available and on the last trip it broke down. In the delay and confusion, the prisoners mingled with other prisoners and none was killed.

Gerald circulated genuine and forged notes for us to decide which was which.

The UK and USA had planned a counter-counterfeiting scheme, but did not proceed. The Germans started counterfeiting dollar bills, but did not produce a complete note. They also made cruder ‘propaganda notes’ for other countries, intended to guarantee safety to civilians who ‘came quietly’.



Bicyclist News Items – a Response from Alan Tapp

Dear Editor I’d like to respond to your series of short pieces on bicyclists in the January issue of the LINK. I am an IAM Member advanced driver and also a commuter bicyclist in Bristol, and I work professionally as a researcher at UWE on a variety of relevant topics - road safety, speed limits, and promoting bicycling.

Bicyclists would like nothing better than their own infrastructure of segregated pathways, but warm words from government have not been matched by funds, so it is reasonable to assume we will all have to share the roads for a while to come. The aim of much of this research is therefore to see how best we can generate harmony between road users, allowing for a reasonable growth of bicycling levels.

I was very concerned with the tone of your articles. I understand provocative journalism, but, to be frank, some of the tone seemed designed to incite anger towards bicyclists. The first paragraph ‘jokes’ about Police marksmen shooting bicyclists. You quote a Member who says – presumably without irony - that because so many bicyclists get injured, his/her answer is to ban bicycling.

You go on to quote Ian Walker’s study of overtaking distances, disparaging his findings that hi-viz makes no difference, and that 1-2% of vehicles passed at 500mm or less. Finally, you conclude with quite a lengthy discussion of undertaking in which your claim is that this is the major cause of collisions. Embedded in this last piece is a call for research – my eyes lit up – you’re asking, “Why do people change character when they bicycle? [why do] They adopt a mode of self importance, fail to abide by the rules, throw caution and safety to the wind?”

Well, with all these idiot bicyclists about, thank goodness for motorists for being so law-abiding. After all, motorists never break the speed limit, take phone calls, fiddle with the radio, jump lights, nod off, lose concentration, suffer from road rage, or best of all, drive too close to the vehicle in front, do they? Please... come on. One of the many problems with this ‘who is to blame’ kind of debate is ‘visibility of sin’ – so, when bicyclists jump lights / ride on the pavement their ‘sin’ is easy to spot, and they are noticed by drivers who tut-tut in irritation. What’s not noticed (we all turn a blind eye?) are the 2/3 of drivers (google the in-depth study by Stradling et al) who speed, 1/3 of whom habitually speed, taking no notice of limits at all. What’s also not mentioned in your article is the



endemic nature of British motoring culture in driving too close to the vehicle in front.

So – in this debate, what are the root causes of crashes, and who causes them? I was at a road safety workshop recently at DfT. Their Stats19 Police records data is available to the public and has been analysed. Over the last ten years an incredible 25,000 people have died on Britain’s roads, including about 5000 pedestrians, and about 1200 bicyclists. In that time around 20 deaths have been attributed solely to (blamed on) bicyclists, the victims almost all pedestrians. Of the 1200 bicyclists who were killed, we can be guided by a study of crashes led by Westminster Council (not a Liberal in sight...) who found that 68% of KSIs were attributed to driver error, the remainder on bicyclist fault.

So, in sum, motorists are responsible for 6 deaths every day on Britain’s roads, including 2 pedestrians every day. 2 bicyclists are killed by motorists every week in this country. In the majority of these bicyclist deaths, fault is attributed by the Police to driver error. Bicyclists cause roughly 0-2 deaths each year across the country. Still think bicyclists are to blame for the carnage on the roads? Do we still think that ‘because bicyclists get injured so much, we should ban bicycling’?

None of these statistics should be remotely surprising. What is more dangerous: two tons of metal at 40mph, or 25lb of bike at 17mph? There are idiot bicyclists and idiot motorists, and there are sensible bicyclists and sensible motorists. But the duty of care surely has to lie with those who are in charge of the lethal weapon. Indeed the law agrees with this – that’s why vehicles are only allowed on the road under license, and bicyclists and pedestrians do not require a license. The early patrons of law recognised the blindingly obvious: that cars are inherently dangerous to others, and, with rare exceptions, bikes are not.

One or two specifics to finish up. Ian Walker’s study of overtaking: Ian is a world leading academic in experimental psychology and his work was published in a leading journal. If 2 in every 100 cars overtake at closer than 500mm, then that means that once every few miles a car is whizzing past the cyclist with only 3 feet or so of passing distance. If motorists feel irritated when a bicyclist jumps a light, multiply that emotion by 100 for how the bicyclist feels when their life feels in danger from the passing motorist. It is simply not good enough for drivers to ignore this, and to blame the bicyclist for their own poor driving.



Your points about undertaking: being IAMers, and experts on the Highway Code, you will know there is no law against undertaking (this also applies to cars). Your claim that bicyclists undertaking is the major cause of crashes is simply inaccurate (in fact most KSI crashes take place on junctions and, here, SMIDSYs are most often attributed). The law is clear: bikes are fully allowed to make progress on the road, and this includes undertaking, and indeed this is encouraged in Bikeability training with two crucial caveats: it must be safe and considerate to do so, and the infrastructure should enable it. Being safe and considerate is key to the whole business of harmony on the roads. We should start by seeing that cars and bikes don’t ‘fit together’ very well on the roads – cars and bikes have different speeds, different turning circles, different visibilities, and we see and use the road in different ways. So, we need to re-learn to get along – something that needs more debate and more training for both drivers and bicyclists.

Lastly, remember everyone: those bicyclists in front of you are just trying to get to work like you are, and if they weren’t on a bike they’d be in front of you in a car – lengthening the jam in the morning. They’re part of the solution. Best regards, ALAN TAPP The Editor replies: Alan looks at bicycling purely in terms of injury stats.

What I was alluding to was the attitude of bicyclists and their apparent inability to co-exist in an ordered society in harmony with other road users, everyone showing manners and respect and abiding by basic expected rules.

Riding on pavements, Zebra crossings, through red lights, wrong way in one-way streets, in the dark without lights, are blatant rule-breaking – done by many more than the "small minority" routinely stated by the pro-bicycling lobby. Duty of care and looking out for the vulnerable is all very well, but should not the vulnerable act responsibly too, and look out for themselves?

Currently there are many media articles on ‘bicyclist attitudes’. One researcher said, “Bicyclists have got a confused identity”. They should use the road, but somehow consider themselves a ‘super pedestrian on wheels’ and use pedestrian facilities as well, generating annoyance and ill feeling.” Incidentally, Alan, bicyclists are banned from the UWE central area.

The authorities have a biased preference for bicycling because it is also seen as an issue of ‘green’, health, community, etc, which clouds the issue. When was the last time you saw a ‘patrol’ stopping bicyclists for non-compliance?

Bicyclists' attitude is not only a UK issue. I recently visited Amsterdam, supposedly the most-established bicycling city. But as our train approached Amsterdam, our tour guide briefed us: "As with any city, pickpockets are a problem - so watch out. "But the biggest problem is arrogant bicyclists. “They do not stop for anyone - even at the traffic light pedestrian crossings on the bicycle paths. “One of my party was hospitalised on my last tour with a broken ankle - run-over on a crossing. “It's like the Wild West out there."



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Avoid Pothole Damage There is much coverage in the news about potholes and the resulting damage to cars. There is also much talk of claiming compensation.

There’s certainly a lot of road damage. In town, in the country, on A-roads - even on motorways, you will find potholes, erosion, and lengths of rough, eroded surface or large patches of many small potholes. These patches not only give a rough ride but can affect the steering and braking. Some country lanes fare even worse. Some of those around Oakhill in Somerset, for example, are so eroded and full of potholes than 10mph is not possible. You really need a 4*4, and there is talk of closing some to public access!

As Advanced Motorists, we have a tool to help us avoid the potholes and to save ourselves hassle and repair bills. It is Limit Point Analysis. Ask yourself, have I got a clear view of the road surface ahead for the length of my stopping distance? It may mean driving a little slower than usual, but with that vision and observation, you should be able to spot and avoid most potholes, and you are less likely to need to brake (risking a collision from the rear). If you do hit one, a lower speed will lessen the impact. We can also use other vehicles as pathfinders. If a vehicle ahead swerves or slows for no obvious reason, that is a clue to road conditions ahead. You may even notice it lurch as it hits a pothole. And avoid driving through puddles; that smooth water could be hiding a big pothole lurking below. Of course, avoidance of potholes is much more difficult at night.

You can prepare somewhat. Make sure your tyres are inflated fully, preferably to the higher ‘eco’ or ‘maximum load’ setting; this will give a stiffer ride, but will reduce the tyre deflection if you hit a pothole and may even prevent wheel rim contact with the road in severe cases. A minor benefit may come from removing all un-necessary items from the boot; extra weight just strains the suspension and tyres in an impact.

Should the worse happen and you crash over a large pothole, hold the steering wheel with both hands as you do so, then slow down, try the steering to ensure that it responds, and listen for noises. In heavy impact cases, pull over when convenient and check for obvious damage to the tyre(s) and wheel rim(s). Even if there is no visible damage, the inside wall of the tyre (or even the interior) could be damaged, or the suspension or steering arms could be damaged (and maybe the tracking could be put out, which could cause tyre wear). So get it checked if you are in any doubt.

Check tyre pressures more often than usual, because a slow puncture could indicate that something more serious is amiss.



Driving News GOOD NEWS FOR GOOGLE - BAD FOR DISTRACTION DRIVING A California Court has cleared of wrongdoing a woman who was the first person caught driving whilst wearing the new Google Glass.

Cecilia Abadie is one of 30,000 people called ‘Glass Explorers’ selected to try out Google Glass before the technology becomes widely available to the public later this year. It features a thumbnail-size transparent display above the right eye, and a camera, and responds to voice aeye-blink commands. It can film/take photos, check emlearn background about somethingthe wearer is looking at, get driving directions, etc. photo: BT N

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The San Diego Traffic Court threw out the citation against Abadie on a technicality, ruling she was not guilty because the offence for which she was ticketed, ‘driving whilst a video or TV is in view’, requires proof that the device was in use, which was not provided beyond a reasonable doubt.

At least three USA states - Delaware, New Jersey and West Virginia - have introduced bills that would ban driving with Google Glass, but the process is in doubt.

Abadie said she was happy she won her case but had hoped the court would rule that Google Glass was legal to wear when driving, whether activated or not, and indicated that a campaign to make it legal was in progress.

Meanwhile, another ‘Glass Explorer’ wearing the device, Sarah Slocum, has allegedly been verbally and physically attacked in San Francisco because of animosity towards users of ‘rich tech’, and a concern about the lack of privacy with someone continuously filming with the device.

There are safety concerns with the use of the device, apart from this attack. Whether driving or walking in the street, using the device is a distraction from reality and downgrades your vital senses, just when you need to be fully aware of everything around you.



Regional Liaison Forum by Secretary Martin Evans ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND

The IAM has a geographical structure. All individual Groups are invited to send representatives (usually Committee Members) to their Region Meetings. Bristol is in the Southern Region, which covers the South West and South East. Any issues raised – or coming down from Chiswick – are sent via the NRG (National Representatives Group), the next level up, which consists of Officers of all the various Liaison Groups.

A new venue for the Region 1 RLF came in the shape of the Winter Gardens at Weston-Super-Mare, for the meeting held there on Sept 13th. So, in the rather 'hangar-like' hall, the great and the good from the 30+ IAM Car and Bike Groups from around the Region assembled.

A notable speaker was new Regional Operations Manager Mark Trimmer, who explained the changes in the way the IAM is structured across the UK – now rationalised to 5 Regions as laid out in the January LINK. Since our new Region stretches from Penzance to Dover, it was agreed the existing RLF would continue for the South-West because the travelling distances are too great for a single meeting for the whole, new Region.

Mark, and Group Support Manager Dave Shenton also explained how a ‘Group merger’ had worked in the Brighton area recently. This was done because two nearby Groups were struggling to form committees, so, with assistance from IAM Chiswick, a new larger Group called 'Central Southern' was created. It has a single committee, but separate ‘local’ Social Meetings and ‘local Observer Pods’. Interestingly, IAM Chiswick is collecting the local Group subs by Direct Debit along with the IAM National subs. The local money is then transferred to the Group. This is part-way to something we have been suggesting in Bristol for several years - it seems very old-fashioned to collect 2 separate payments.

The 7 new IAM Modules were described: Night Driving, Winter Driving, In-car technology, Motorway, Manoeuvring, Lone-driver, Distractions. All are available to the general public; 5 topics are seminars for a roomful of people, 2 are individual in-car, with prices £15 and £45 respectively. (It's up to each Group to decide if the Modules will be run, but our Bristol committee has agreed we will, and we are in the process of preparing.)

At the 2013 Spring AGM of the Liaison Forum it appeared that the Accounts were somewhat confused. RLF Chair Roger Jewell and his wife, Cynthia, have done a good job in tidying-up the RLF Accounts and consequently recent years’ adjusted accounts were formally approved.



There was a fascinating presentation by Mat Hubbard of Anthony Best Dynamics – the company designs and makes robotic driving car test equipment and is based in Bradford-on-Avon. Mat may be giving a talk at one of our Monthly Meetings next year - one not to miss I can assure you!

Forum Posters come out from behind their screens

Do you look at the IAM website? Or the ‘Forum’ on which Members can post comments on many and various separate topics? Some entries are quite interesting, whilst others make you wonder if the people have any idea what Advanced Driving is all about. One of the recent topics explored tiny detail of what techniques are acceptable in the ‘personal-achievement’ Masters Test. It got so intense that some of the ‘posters’ actually came out from behind their screens and met in the real world.

Amanda Smith and Paul Woozley from Chiswick, with a Staff Examiner, an IAM Examiner and 7 Forum-posting IAM Members – some from this area - met at the Gaydon Heritage Motor Centre. Fixed-grip steering, brake-gear overlap, offsiding/straightlining of bends and roundabouts, driving ‘results’ versus driving ‘techniques’, the use of the new Roadcraft, the definition of IAM Masters, etc. were among items discussed.

Paul Woozley, Membership Manager, made a post, which I summarise:. “Change is certainly underway. The IAM is to issue an update of the Associates’ book, including clarification of some topics. Those changes will also need communicating to the hundreds of IAM Examiners, and local Groups. Masters may also be re-described as, “The ultimate expression of Roadcraft-style driving for civilians”. The IAM’s broad aim is to help as many road users as possible to improve their driving and riding skills and become safer and more skilled. Some will choose to do that via Modules or Skill for Life and some will go to Masters. Whether you are an obsessive driver or rider or simply want help now and again, the IAM will be there with suitable, relevant support under the beacon of driving excellence”.

Looking at this forum entry, with Masters and F1RST, there is now a wide range of driving standards in the IAM. But the basic aim remains to get Associates through the IAM Test, using How to be a Better Driver as the syllabus text. There remains for Observers the balance of getting Associates to Test standard without spending too long boring them with fine detail and maybe losing their interest, bearing in mind that 50% drop-out before Test and 50% of those who pass do not remain as IAM Members even for one year. Look for the topic on national IAM website Forum: Search for General/Masters/Report on Members Meeting/05 Dec



Desperate to be Mobile by Clyde Brown

Nowadays we take personal transport for granted - but some younger IAM members may find it surprising how recently this has come about.

My days on the road of motorised transport commenced in 1964 when I bought my first motorcycle for £45, a 1958 German Zundapp 201S. I needed this when I started my apprenticeship with Bristol Siddeley Engines (now Rolls Royce Bristol) to get to college and work, as well as propelling me from one girl to another. This was luxury compared with my push bike, travelling by bus or, worse, on my own two feet, although I think I learnt as much about engineering in trying to keep the Zundapp running as I did in my engineering apprenticeship!

Desperation to be independently mobile, to me, thinking back, seemed quite bizarre for some ‘devices’ that I remember. There was one that went under the general term as an auto-cycle, which was basically a push bike with a 25cc two-stroke engine attached. I have vivid memories of their owners pedalling furiously trying to get the beasts started and in a similar manner when they came to slight grade, let alone a hill. I had great fun, as a youngster, overtaking them on my conventional push bike, usually getting some choice language directed at me. Bizarrely, because they were considered a motor vehicle, they had to be registered and taxed, and carried front and rear number plates!

Having bought my first motorbike, it was not very long before I was dissatisfied with this and wanted to move on. The first winter if I guess! Some of my pals, who were a little better-off than me, did venture into the world of so-called microcars, of which several examples were available that could be driven with a motorcycle licence and attracted less purchase tax and road fund tax. These were basically 3-wheelers, had to weigh less than 8cwt (about 400 kg) and bizarrely, if you only had a motorcycle licence, could not have a reverse gear. The infamous ‘bubble cars’ were quite popular, one being the Isetta, an Italian design made under licence by BMW (you may find it hard for BMW to admit that one now I guess). It had two wheels at the front, one at the rear and you gained access through a front opening door, the steering wheel folding back with it.

A pal of mine was talking to me one day telling me he was fed up with his BSA Gold Star (a good one is worth £15,000 plus these days!) and whinging that “I can’t get a bird on the back of this thing in the winter”. A short time later he turned up in an Isetta with a very attractive blonde girl and even I thought that maybe he was on to a good thing here and that I



should get one (the Isetta that is - well; a blonde would have been nice also). This thought did not last long as he was on his way to the cinema travelling up Red Lion Hill in Knowle when the bubble started to fill up with smoke! He stopped rapidly and the girl, obviously remembering that she entered through the front, hit the door handle, swung the door open, which whipped the steering wheel out of his hand causing the car to swing around backwards and run over her foot! A very short relationship I think.

The final insult to injury was that my Dad, who was an engine driver for British Railways, worked odd shifts. Around 4 o’clock one morning he was walking to his garage to get his Austin A55. Next to his garage was a wall where my pal parked his Isetta and my Dad noticed him inside, fast asleep. He knocked on his window to see if he was OK and what had happened was that, being somewhat inebriated on the alcoholic apple juice, he had driven up to the wall so close that he could not get the door open - and having no reverse gear, he was stuck for the night. The next time I saw him, he was riding another motorbike.

Having no reverse gear could be a little provoking, not always convenient having to push them about. Some cars overcame this up to a point; the quite popular Bond minicar for example, utilised Villiers 125, 197 and 250cc motorbike engines attached to the single front wheel which could be turned through 90 degrees, so with good position planning, it could be placed where you needed it to slot it into a parking space. There was another unique way of overcoming this with cars that utilised single cylinder 2-stroke power, the Bond being one of them. They were often equipped with a device called a dynastart which doubled up as an electric starter and once the engine was running it reverted to a dynamo. A feature with these single cylinder 2-strokes was that you could wire the starter solenoid in such a way that, through a switch, could reverse the polarity and thus could start the engine rotating backwards.

A fellow apprentice owned a Messerschmitt cabin scooter which resembled a WW2 Messerschmitt ME109 cockpit on castors! In fact you entered it by swinging the top open and climbing in. Not so good as a courting car though, a little challenging as your girlfriend had to sit behind you, aircraft style. It was powered by a Sachs 197cc single cylinder 2-stroke powering the back wheel. I did the wiring mod to a fellow apprentice’s car and we took it to the former Bristol airport at Whitchurch to try it out. The engine did not run particularly efficiently in this mode as it ran with the ignition timing retarded but what fascinated me was you could get all four gears in reverse - so I was interested to see



how fast it would go backwards! I followed him along the runway on my motorbike and we reached a speed of 45mph but then he had to stop because he was being overcome with exhaust fumes. Good trick though.

Another of my pals, to get free of motorbikes, bought a microcar called a Coronet. This was only produced in 1958 and the company went out of business. It bore a slight resemblance to a Daimler drophead coupé sports car of the 50s, but with one wheel missing. It was powered by an Excelsior 325cc twin 2-stroke powering the single rear wheel. It had a single bench seat which could take three people. Unfortunately, my pal made a monumental error with it. It all started when we were on our motorbikes on Brean Sands on when a guy turned up with a Berkeley B105 car. Berkley was another manufacturer of microcars and had nifty little 3 and 4-wheeler sports cars, also utilising the Excelsior but also Anzani 2-strokes. The B105 was a 4-wheeler powered by a Royal Enfield 700cc Constellation engine transversally mounted driving the front wheels. Needless to say with 50bhp on a light chassis and glass fibre bodywork, it went rather well, almost ballistic in fact. Immediately cogs started turning in my pal’s brain and a short time later he turned up with an Enfield Super Meteor engine, also 700cc, which he salvaged from a local motorcycle dealer in Stokes Croft. The plan was to drop it in to replace the Excelsior lump to provide more speed. A few problems here; a) how to mount it; b) how to start it, having no electric starter; c) how would it react with the power increased from 15bhp to 40bhp. Answer a), various brackets were made up to attach it to the glass fibre body. Answer b) drilling a hole in the side, fitting a tube with a shaft inside, then inserting a Ford 8hp starting handle and kick starting it! Answer c) Mmm, slight problem. Started OK, although did sound like a Centurion tank and shook quite concernedly from side to side on tickover, gentle move forward and a bit more power and then disaster! The crude engine mount broke away causing the rear wheel to turn through about 90 degrees and the performance of some wonderful pirouettes in the road! He eventually did sort of get it running and gave me a ride in it. Quite a notable experience although not one I would like to repeat, particularly as an oil pipe fractured during our ride causing it to resemble the Aston Martin DB5 of James Bond Goldfinger fame. My final memory of it was being towed to the scrap heap.

Of course, the ultimate 3-wheeler that could be driven with a motorcycle licence was the Reliant. Two of my pals had Regal models. In fact both of my pals’ cars were convertibles, or as we called them as a joke, drop head



coupés. They were powered by an up-rated Austin 7 engine with a 4-speed gearbox that whined like a jet engine, and again, no reverse.

One of my pals (who was somewhat lacking in grey matter) had a very bizarre experience with his 1955 Regal. I used the Little Thatch Country Club on the Wells Road as my local in the 60s and late one Saturday night I left for home to see my pal wandering outside a little worse for drink and looking confused. I asked him if he was OK and he said, “Someone’s pinched my car!” I didn’t help much by laughing and asking, “Why would anyone want to pinch that thing?” I had a look in the car park and in the road but nowhere in sight was the Regal. “What are you going to do?”, I asked. “Better phone the police” says he. “This is going to be interesting” thinks I. So we cross the road to a telephone box and he dials 999.

Having explained his plight I heard the policeman on the other end say “Are you taking the mick, sir? Why would anyone want to pinch a Reliant?” He was then told he would have to report it to the nearest Police Station, which was in the middle of Knowle West, a long walk from the Little Thatch. Now feeling somewhat sorry for him, as he was really upset, we walked to my home and I got my motorbike out to run him over to the Police Station. Before we arrived however, he started banging on my helmet and shouted, “I remember where I left it! I had a few drinks in the Yeoman before I came in the Thatch.” The Yeoman was about 200 yards from the Thatch so he decided he may as well walk - but forgot that he had left his car there. So; about turn and sure enough, there was the Reliant all on its own in the Yeoman car park. I made sure he was OK and watched him leave.

I can say this; the Police in those days seemed to be very hot on the job because a black Wolseley 6/10 with blue light flashing and bell ringing shot past within seconds of my pal leaving. “Oh dear”, thinks I (or words to that effect). I followed to see the Police car forcing my pal onto the pavement. “He might need some help here” thinks I. So I pull up behind them to hear the driver ask, “So why would you report your own car as stolen then sir?” I explained everything to his mate and he could not stop laughing. Fortunately the driver could see the funny side as well and gave him a ticking off about wasting Police time and drink driving. Fortunately for my pal, it was pre-breathalyser days and the Police had a sense of humour.

Purchase tax on normal cars decreased during the late 1950s, accompanied by increased production of conventional cars, with an accompanying reduction in price. For example my Dad’s Austin A55 was £875 in 1958



whereas his 1965 larger and better-equipped Austin A60 was £825. This had a devastating effect on the companies that produced the microcars. Probably the final nail in the coffin was the introduction of the Mini which at £499 did not cost much more than an Isetta. The only company to survive for a notable time period was Reliant, who mostly relied on people who only had a motorcycle licence and at least it had a reasonable amount of comfort.

Difficult to imagine now, but I still find it amazing regarding my memories of those times where Joe Public was truly desperate to be mobile.

Are Basic Driving Skills Being Lost ? HAVE MODERN DRIVERS LOST SOME BASIC SKILLS ?

One of (the many) curses of driving in Bristol is seemingly unnecessary traffic lights on most of the roundabouts on the Avon Ring Road (A4174).

One roundabout that remains ‘normal’ is the one at Wraxall Road, between the Kingswood and Hanham ‘signalised’ ones. And it works very well, with mostly through traffic, little in comparison using the ‘side arms’.

However, some local ‘activists’ and Labour Councillors have been calling for traffic lights to be installed there too, claiming that, “joining the ring road is problematical, particularly during rush hour”. But I find this confusing, as I use it regularly and there is never a problem – a few cars waiting maybe, but that’s all. Even South Gloucestershire Council says that the roundabout is too small for conventional roundabout signals, and installing lights would increase, rather than decrease, the queues. In February, it looked like the plan for traffic lights was rightly dead and buried.

Very surprisingly, the recent budget negotiations have seen the Councillors obtain £600,000 “to contribute to” the cost of installing traffic lights. In my opinion, a total waste of money, especially in these constrained times.

Studying the behaviour of drivers, it is noticeable that many hesitate and dwell unnecessarily before pulling out indecisively, and many take a path around the roundabout switching lanes. It is as if the skill of negotiating a roundabout has gone, no longer in their repertoire of driving since so many roundabouts in the Bristol area are now controlled by traffic lights. Any Comments?



Volunteering Opportunities in Bristol Group

ALL AVAILABLE NOW The AGM is coming-up and the committee would be delighted to welcome some additional Members to our enthusiastic, hard-working volunteer team. We would love to have some new people with fresh ideas and energy. We currently need help with a variety of roles. Take your choice.

OBSERVERS – THE ESSENTIAL GROUP ROLE We need more Members to train to act as OBSERVERS – especially those living SOUTH of the river, and LADIES throughout our area.

MEETING REPORTER (S) Someone (or maybe a few taking it in turns) to prepare an impression of the Monthly Club Meeting guest speaker’s talk for inclusion in the LINK.

SOCIAL ORGANISER Someone to promote and organise Group Social Events – such as visits, Socials etc., to put the fun back into the Club. Some ideas already exist.

MONTHLY MEETING SPEAKER ORGANISER Clare has sorted the speakers right through 2014, but is looking for someone else to find and book speakers on interesting, relevant topics for 2015. Start now and you’ll have plenty of time to organise 2015.

ASSISTANTS and OTHER SMALL JOBS There are opportunities to act as ASSISTANTS to Committee Members or to undertake OTHER SMALL TASKS.

INTERESTED ? If so, please talk to the CHAIRMAN or ANY COMMITTEE MEMBER either via the listed contacts or personally at a Monthly Meeting.

And Finally . . . . Don’t forget – try to attend the AGM (Tues 22nd April). There’s a lot to discuss and it’s your big chance to have your say and hear what’s going on in the Bristol Group. There are also the elections to Committee to consider, perhaps to the extent of getting involved yourself – if not, just come along to socialise, maybe win a prize in the raffle, and hear our speaker Chief Inspector Yannis Georgiou of the Roads Policing Unit, Avon and Somerset Police. See you there!



. CONTACT US: Your guide to who does what

TO ENQUIRE ABOUT SKILL FOR LIFE OR A REFRESHER [email protected] 0117 969 1746

ADVERTISED PUBLIC ENQUIRY NUMBER: 07071 20 11 73

Executive Committee, Bristol Advanced Motorists Chairman Andy Cole 07714 992 639

[email protected] 619289 Vice Chairman Marlene Baker [email protected]

Secretary Martin Evans 0117 979 8061 [email protected]

Treasurer Paul Hunt 0117 960 8494 [email protected]

Publicity Officer Geoff Bevan 01453 860365 [email protected]

Associates Administrator Clare Reeves [email protected] 969 1746 0117 960 8494 Newsletter Editor Paul Hunt [email protected]

Database Administrator James Rowland 07817 152 405 [email protected]

Training Administrator Margaret James 01454 776416 [email protected]

Membership Development Tony Gilbert 07973 730 498

[email protected] Events Organiser Gary Nunn 01454 851 984 07557 765 946

[email protected] Young Driver Rep. Barnaby Ellis [email protected]

Other Post Holders Committee Minute Taker Clare Reeves 0117 969 1746

[email protected] Meeting Contact Clare Reeves Ideas for speakers? Tell Clare

at [email protected] 860365

Chief Observer and [email protected] Bevan Web Administrator [email protected] Display Boards & LINK Collation Organiser Andrew Nicholls 01749 860321

[email protected] Events Organiser vacant contact Secretary for the moment

If you would like to volunteer, please contact the Group Secretary.

PHOTOGRAPHY NOTICE: Please note that by attending the Meetings and Driver Guidance Sessions of Bristol Advanced Motorists, you agree to your image being captured and used to promote Bristol Advanced Motorists and its activities.

This may include in our newsletter, on our website or for general promotion. If you wish to withhold your permission, please contact the Group Secretary.

[email protected] or phone 0117 979 8061






















Skill for Life – a Driving Course to develop your skills

The IAM’s Skill for Life Advanced Driving course is open to anyone who holds a Full EU Driving Licence. The course, based on UK Police driver training, enables drivers to gain knowledge of a wide range of Advanced Driving principles, and develops driving competencies which can help you become a better driver, a driver who feels more confident, and safer – and who will therefore find driving less stressful and more enjoyable.

Whether a brand new or young driver, or a driver ‘with years of experience’, you will benefit from this comprehensive driving programme - drivers who have passed the Advanced Driving Test reduce their risk of being involved in a road crash by up to 75%.

The Skill for Life course begins with two theory seminar sessions, before you embark on a series of regular, individually tailored, on-road guidance sessions, at times convenient to you and your Observer. The course gives drivers the skills required to pass the IAM’s Advanced Driving Test, which combines driving skill with safety.

Bristol Group aims for you to complete course and Test within 6 months.

Every Skill for Life course now comes with 12 months FREE RAC roadside and recovery cover (£106 RRP) so there has never been a better time to become an Advanced Driver!

Young Driver aged under-25 ? Then you could have your Skill for Life fee refunded when you pass the IAM Test. See page EIGHT.

2014 Advanced Driving Course Dates TELL FRIENDS, FAMILY, COLLEAGUES ( PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED )

APRIL Seminars on Wednesdays Apr 23rd, Apr 30th, Jun 11th. JULY Seminars on Wednesdays Jul 09th, Jul 16th, Aug 27th. OCTOBER Seminars on Wednesdays Oct 22nd, Oct 29th, Dec 03rd. JANUARY 2015 Seminars on Wednesdays Exact dates to be arranged.

Can’t give the time or commitment? Enquire about our one-off DriveCheck Assessment.

For details of course or assessment, contact: 0117 969 1746 or [email protected]




The Cover of the hard copy version

The A5 paper version of the LINK has for several years had a donated but professionally-printed glossy thin card cover, in monochrome, with a red IAM roundel, continuing the tradition first started in about 1971 of having a cover image of Bristol’s iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Supplies have run out, so the Group has adopted a new cover. It bears the same view as the previous one, but is now in full colour. We have had the cover printed by Bristol Printing and Office Supplies firm PRISM. Director Doug Lodge is a Member of the Bristol Group, and had previously donated covers to us.

For the benefit of non-Members who look at the LINK, the back of the new cover incorporates a strap-line and a brief descriptive text about the Group, with a QR code which directs suitable Smartphones to our website.

Print & Stationery Management Co Ltd 103 Farendell Road, Emerald Park East, Emersons Green, BRISTOL BS16 7FF

0845 126 6600 [email protected] www.prism-ltd.co.uk



http://www.prism-ltd.co.uk/


THE GROUP NEEDS MORE ASSOCIATES Publicity is the Key

above: Chief Observer Geoff (right) pictured talking to that valuable commodity we MUST acquire for the Group – a Member of the Public (left) who is interested in signing-up for the Skill for Life course and IAM Advanced Driving Test.

photo: Barnaby Ellis

Reaching Members of the Public with Publicity efforts has become extremely difficult, due to the ‘Market Fragmentation’ of media channels.

As an existing Member or Associate, you can be a good Sales Persuader for the Group. Do you know someone in your family, circle of friends, or amongst your work colleagues, who could benefit from joining the IAM and our Group? Every new Associate will help towards securing the short, medium and long-term future of both your local Group and the IAM itself.

Remember we have our YOUNG DRIVER REFUND SCHEME available – courtesy of South Gloucestershire Council. Those aged under-25 who pass the IAM Test can have their £139 SfL fee refunded. (Note: Conditions apply: Residency/Work/Education in the South Glos Local Authority area; must pass the IAM Test within 12 months of course start date.)

Information about Skill for Life can be obtained from: [email protected]

07071 201173 or 0117 969 1746



THE LINK

the newsletter of Bristol Advanced Motorists

link 267 2014 03

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