The Gloucestershire Group

of Advanced Motorists

NEWSLETTER

Spring 2013

IAM Spring 2013

The Gloucestershire Group of Advanced Motorists

Registered Charity 1054403

Group Web Site www.glosiam.org IAM Web Site www.IAM.org.uk

We are affiliated to The Institute of Advanced Motorists

Group President: Dr. Timothy Brain, QPM, OBE.

Vice Presidents: Mr. Anthony Whitehouse, MBE Mrs. Jean Whitehouse Mr Peter Davies

Group Chairman Tony Higgs Email: chairman@glosiam.org

In a recent episode of TV’s ‘Police, Camera, Action’

‘life hammer’ with red plastic body for use in the event of an

Editor’s decision is final. No correspondence etc etc

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Secretary: Rod Harrison Email: secretary@glosiam.org

Treasurer: John Seed Email: treasurer@glosiam.org Chief Observer: Peter Davies Email: chiefobserver@glosiam.org

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Membership Secretary & Associate Coordinator: Phil Tebble Email: membership@glosiam.org

Newsletter Editor David Sheppard

Email: newsletter@glosiam.org

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Webmaster: James Thomas; Email: webmaster@glosiam.org

Committee Members: Frances Hunter Jean Sheraton

EDITORIAL

You will have noticed one or two changes in the line up of Committee members since the last issue. James Thomas is now our official Webmaster, having volunteered to take over responsibility for the Group’s website. It has been updated and revamped and if you haven’t visited it recently, it is well worth a visit. Thanks to James for taking this work on. Thanks are also due to Rod for the work he has done recently on updating and improving the website.

Peter has stepped down as Group Chairman. I’m sure the Group as a whole would like to join the Committee in thanking Peter for all the time he spends and hard work he does in promoting IAM, and the Gloucestershire Group. He is not, however, giving it all up. He will retain his post as Chief Observer. 3

I suppose it’s one way of ‘making progress’

‘Woody’s adventures in India

g enough to hold a man’s fist.

At the recent AGM, the Group recognised the contribution Peter has made to Advanced Driving in Gloucestershire over the years by voting him as Vice President to the Group. Congratulations Peter.

We welcome Tony Higgs, voted in at the AGM as our new Chairman. Tony introduced himself to members in an article in the last issue and I know he has plans for the Group’s future. Watch this space!

Other items of interest in this issue include reports on the recent AGM, an opportunity to drive 4x4s off road, skid pans, and, of course the latest instalment of Woody in India! Congratulations also to husband and wife Mark and Karen Skey who have together recently passed their tests.

Ed

Thoughts from the Chairman,

Tony Higgs

By the time you read this the 2013 AGM will have taken place. I am writing this as your new Chairman instead of Peter Davies.

Our grateful thanks are due to Peter, who can now concentrate on being Chief Observer. This is something he is really looking forward to doing. I was delighted that the AGM agreed to make Peter a Vice President. He thoroughly deserves this position as a thank you for all he has and is doing for the Group and the promotion of safer driving.

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It should also be noted that Peter has taken and passed the IAM National Observers Programme, which is the new certified qualification for Senior Observers. Congratulations Peter.

What of the future? I am keen to seek ways to enable more younger drivers to become involved and to take Skill for Life. I have spent some time with the Under 17 Car Club and have been impressed with the standards of driving they achieve.

I do hope you will be able to come and hear about what they do and how we might help them with their Pathfinder sessions. These are arranged locally and usually take place in half term holidays.

I look forward to seeing you to hear more about this on 21st March at 7.30pm at Churchdown Community Centre. We have a good panel of speakers this year and I hope you will be able to support these evenings. For details of speakers and their topics, as well as other important dates, please take a look at page 24.

As a very recent recruit to the Group I am amazed that I find myself as Chairman. In this role I am keen that your Committee take the opportunity to review our arrangements. If you have any thoughts about how things are done, speakers you would like to hear or things you would like the Group to do let a member of the Committee know. I am honoured to be Chairman and look forward to meeting you and working for the Group. Tony

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terms of improving road safety across the county. He said, “I

He went on to say, “Drivers should not feel they are –

problems with a little professional help”.

We offer a warm welcome to new members,

associates and friends to the Group.

We wish you well with your preparation for

the Advanced Driving Test.

Associate Observer

Alison Dugmore John Kitchen Michael Evans Philip Tebble Paul Brown Angus Watson Henrietta Hutton-Potts Rod Harrison Phelan Gowing Joe Logan George Turner Harrison Adams Jack Carrington

Congratulations to the following associates

who recently passed their Advanced Driving

Test and are now full members. Candidate Observer Rod Street Rod Harrison Samantha Pates Neil Tappin Tim Williams John Kitchen Karen Skey Peter Davies Ruth Pitt Peter Davies Mark Skey Peter Davies

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This was held on 21 February 2013 at Churchdown Community Centre, in front of members, friends and associates. The evening began with Peter introducing our President, Dr. Tim Brain, who gave the address.

President’s Address

Dr Tim Brain addressed the meeting on the subject of crash protection this year. He started by recounting his experiences of fatal accidents in Somerset and the difficult task of informing the loved ones of their sudden loss. He then led us through the fatal accident statistics over the years since motoring began and showed that the rate of fatalities has steadily fallen.

This rate has been enhanced over the years by the introduction of legislation to limit speeds, attack drinking and driving, and ensure that seat belts were fitted and used.

He then turned his attention to some mathematics to demonstrate that it is the kinetic energy that is released in a collision that causes the injuries and deaths.

Early cars were built without regard to the effects of a collision on the vehicle or its occupants. Many car interiors in the era up to the 1970’s were quite dangerous in an accident situation. Over recent years, vehicle design has included much more protection for the occupants with head restraints, air bags, a rigid cabin cell, and crumple zones front and rear. Cars are now designed to absorb some of the impact of a collision and mitigate the effects of kinetic energy as much as possible. The effect of this progress has been to reduce UK road fatalities to around 2000 per year. 7

‘jump over’ an oncoming vehicle during one of the saccades.

look near the edges of a ‘framed’ scene,

things ‘sun up’

However, further initiatives were needed to continue that decline. Dr Brain then showed how motorway safety barriers in this country are being enhanced. The metal barriers are being replaced with shaped concrete versions that are designed to deflect a vehicle back onto the carriageway and help alleviate the problem of vehicles crossing to the opposite carriageway.

Finally, he explained a new discovery of using flywheels to absorb impact and energy. A collision would push a rod inwards that would be geared to a flywheel. The flywheel would then spin up and absorb kinetic energy. It is envisaged that the system could be used on motorway barriers as well as on vehicles themselves.

Dr Brain then made the presentation of National Observer Certificate to Peter Davies. Peter recently qualified as one of the first National Observers under the new IAM IMI Awards scheme.

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A Fighter Pilot’s guide to

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t

AGM Resolutions

The Group Committee members as elected are:

Peter Davies retired as Chairman. Tony Higgs was elected in his place. Chairman Tony Higgs Secretary Rod Harrison Treasurer John Seed Chief Observer Peter Davies Membership Secretary Phil Tebble Newsletter Editor David Sheppard Webmaster James Thomas Committee members Jean Sheraton Frances Hunter

Other Resolutions

The Minutes of the meeting in 2012 were adopted. There were no matters arising. The Accounts for 2012 were adopted. There had been a reduction in the balance in the accounts because of capital purchases made for exhibition equipment. The Committee were authorised to increase the subscription to no more than £12 for 2014 if felt necessary. Peter Davies was appointed a Vice President for his many years of dedicated work as Chairman. It was agreed that the Chairman would invite the new Chief Constable of Gloucestershire to be our President and Dr Brain would be appointed Vice President.

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Chief Observer’s report

Four associates have achieved Advanced Driving Test passes so far this year. One of these, I am especially pleased to say, was a First Pass. Well done candidates and their Observers, a good start to the year and may we keep this up to gain a record year for passes and new members.

At an Observer’s meeting in December, it was agreed, among all of those present, that we would each apply for the IAM National Observers Programme (Car) Qualification when this is made available. This is a new IAM award, which will eventually replace that of Senior Observer, and which is recognised by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) as a Quality Assured Award. Since the meeting, I was offered the opportunity to apply for an early assessment and, after a programme of self training, I am pleased to report that I gained a National Observer Pass on 4th February. For me, this is another good start to the year.

I intend that this news will be an encouragement to my fellow Observers and to say that the experience was not at all as daunting as I first thought. Just as we should say to our Associates who are preparing for their Advanced Driving Test, I say, “This really is an exciting opportunity to show your ability and while you are willing I will continue to help you until you gain your pass”.

My best wishes to all of you, Members, Associates and Observers for 2013.

Peter

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Phil has sent in this item, as a follow-up to one

of our recent speakers.

Electronic Driving Aids

fitted to modern cars

Ed Thomas, the representative from Ford who gave the talk on ‘Electronic Driving Aids’ at an evening meeting last year, is responsible for informing Ford dealer staff of new features being fitted to Ford cars. Hence he had no presentation for ‘old hat’ features such as Anti Lock Brakes, Traction Control, Electronic Stability Control and Electronic Brake Assist. I have, therefore, prepared a summary of the function of these important driving aids which are fitted to many cars.

ABS - Antiskid (or Antilock)

Braking System

ABS has been fitted to all mass-produced cars sold in the UK since April 2003. ABS rapidly modulates the braking pressure to prevent the wheels from locking which is likely to induce a skid. Early systems operated all four brakes as one (Single channel). Two channel systems followed that operated the front and rear brakes independently.

To give even greater control the later 3-channel systems operated the front brakes independently and the rear brakes together. Finally the four-channel system, now fitted to all cars, has individual control of all four brakes.

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In a situation where maximum braking is required the driver should hold the brake pedal down, ignore the pulsing of the brake pedal, and allow the ABS system to control the braking. It will do this far more efficiently than any driver as it can control each wheel’s brake individually, which is impossible for a driver.

It is important to note that the main function of ABS is NOT to reduce braking distance but to allow steering control to be retained under heavy braking.

You may also see EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) mentioned. This is just another way of stating that the car has 4-channel ABS.

EBA - Electronic Brake Assist

Research shows that in an emergency many drivers do not press the brake pedal hard enough to achieve maximum possible braking. EBA monitors the driver’s use of the accelerator and brake pedals and if it senses the driver is initiating sudden heavy braking, works with the ABS to maximise braking effort. This is maintained until the driver reduces or releases his pressure on the brake pedal.

TC - Traction Control

TC reduces the amount of throttle being used, regardless of the position of the driver’s foot on the accelerator, to prevent the application of too much engine power and hence to prevent wheel spin. TC operates in such circumstances as turning sharp right out of a junction where there is loose gravel on the road surface. 13

‘reverse’ steering.

heel’s brake individually, which is impossible for

EBA monitors the driver’s use of the

the position of the driver’s foot on the accelerator, to prevent

ESC - Electronic Stability Control

Different car manufactures have different names for this feature. It uses sensors to gauge whether the direction of the car is following that requested by the driver when he turns the steering wheel. ESC individually applies the brakes as necessary to create drag on one or more wheels to tighten the turn and return the car to the chosen course. For instance, if on a left-hand bend the front of the car starts to run wide (understeer) the system will lightly apply the brake on the inside rear wheel. This system is NOT infallible and cannot bring the car back into line if the speed is too great. Some ESC systems also reduce the throttle opening, and hence engine power, to give even greater automatic control.

As the system gauges the required course of the car by the position of the steering wheel it is vital that the driver does not attempt to correct any deviation from the required course by ‘reverse’ steering.

http://www.carbibles.com has a number of articles describing how various parts of a car work, e.g., brakes, steering, suspension, etc. It is well worth a look if you want to understand more about the technologies contained in your car. This website also has product reviews and other motor related articles. However, do note that some of the information on this web-site is somewhat out of date.

Thanks for all this excellent information Phil.

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Former Committee member Patrick Ward has

sent in the following...

An opportunity to drive

Off Road 4x4s

During a part of 2009 and 2010, I had the pleasure of touring the Cotswolds in a Land Rover County, in the company of Roger Whitley who, at the time was assigned to me as an associate.

We had many discussions about our respective occupations, and ideas for the future. Due to various other activities, the training had to take a break towards the end 2009. Nevertheless in Spring of 2010 we resumed our observed drives. All credit to him, not a lot had been forgotten. Then, towards the end of June, the appointment with Mike Addis was a success.

Since then Roger has successfully gained employment with the 4X4 training establishment at Eastnor Castle, near Ledbury, as an off road instructor. He has been able, via the Management, to offer members of Gloucestershire IAM Group a half day course for a substantial price reduction from the normal fee.

It would be an interesting day if a small group, or individuals, wanted to arrange to take up this offer. If you would like further details please contact the Committee.

Thanks Patrick. 15

‘Electronic Driving Aids’ at an

‘old hat’ features such as Anti Lock Brakes, Traction Control,

Chief Observer’s report

At an Observer’s meeting in December,

I say, “This really is an exciting opportunity to show your ability

gain your pass”.

So what is it like on a skid pan?

Rod knows.....

A Skid Pan Experience

At Castle Combe

I bought a rear wheel drive car this year and as winter arrived, I recalled watching BMW drivers embarrassing themselves on the ice and snow last year. As an advanced driver I decided to gain some confidence and skills in the art, so I booked a half day skid pan experience at the Castle Combe racing circuit near Chippenham.

On arrival, along with 8 other people, we were met by two very enthusiastic instructors. After a safety briefing, we were split into 3 groups and directed towards the two cars on the track. One was a front-wheel drive Rover, the other a rear wheel drive BMW 3 series. I was in a group of 4, and we took turns to drive each vehicle around the slippery track, which consisted of a 200 yard x 100 yard area, coned off in the shape of a peanut. Much hilarity followed, particularly in the BMW which spun off at regular intervals. I should mention that the track is covered in a silicone material, which is then sprayed with water. The resultant surface is a good imitation of black ice.

After our initial fun, we were then given a further briefing on skid technique in each car. This was followed by a further session on the track, but this time attempting to keep the cars under control under the watchful eye of the instructors. The rear wheel drive car, whilst much more prone to develop a rear wheel skid, was perhaps easier to correct because the natural reaction was to turn into the skid. Couple this with removal of the foot from the accelerator, and depressing the clutch if necessary quickly brought the skid under control, provided that the speed was kept to a sensible value.

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The front wheel drive car was more stable, but was more prone to a front wheel skid whilst turning. Here the required action is to temporarily straighten the steering, whilst taking the same foot actions, and this did not come as naturally. As the car understeers, there is a great temptation to turn even harder.

We were then given a briefing on ABS, and with an instructor in the vehicle, experienced a maximum braking exercise which required us to avoid a simulated pedestrian. This exercise was then repeated in the BMW without ABS, where we had to use cadence braking.

Finally, we all had a go at a time trial, requiring two circuits of the track in opposite directions, followed by a reverse into a coned area.

The whole event took 3 hours and was exceptional value for me. I came away, feeling much more confident about handling both a front and rear wheel drive on ice. For details of the experience go to the following url:

http://www.drivetechltd.co.uk/skid-pan.html

If any members are interested in skid pan

experience or driving 4x4s, please contact

a member of the Committee.

and now for something completely different......

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A Fighter Pilot’s guide to Surviving on the Roads

Précised from an article by John Sullivan, reproduced with his kind permission.

Have you ever been about to pull out from a T-junction when a car or bike seemed to come out of no-where? Why did you fail to see it? Only a small part of the retina in our eyes, the fovia, can generate a high resolution image. This is why we need to look directly at something to see detail. The remainder of the retina generates peripheral vision. Peripheral vision cannot see detail, but it is very good at detecting movement. If movement is detected we usually then swivel our eyes rapidly to look at the object in detail.

If you are on a collision course with another vehicle, any fighter pilot will tell you that there is no apparent movement between either vehicle. Your peripheral vision will not therefore attract you to see that vehicle. We therefore have to be careful to look sideways in situations such as crossroads and roundabouts to negate this effect.

Now for the interesting part. When we move our head

and eyes to scan a scene, our eyes are incapable of moving smoothly across that scene and seeing everything – in the same way that a camera would blur the image. Our brain overcomes this by moving our eyes in a series of jumps (called saccades) with very short pauses (called fixations).

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It is only during a pause that the image is processed. Our brain fills in the gap between fixations with a combination of peripheral vision and an assumption that it is similar to the fixations. 19

President’s Address

up to the 1970’s were quite dangerous in an accident situation.

In other words, your brain blocks the image whilst your eyes are moving. Therefore, when you get to a road junction, and look rapidly left and right, it is entirely possible for your eyes to ‘jump over’ an oncoming vehicle during one of the saccades. The smaller the vehicle, the more likely that is. Also, the faster you move your eyes, the larger the saccades, so you are even more likely to miss something.

Two more facets to this phenomenon are that we tend not to look near the edges of a ‘framed’ scene, i.e., our windscreen. It is likely therefore that our eyes will jump a bigger distance when looking past a door pillar. Moreover, the brain is less likely to see something when it is not expecting it.

How do we fix this? Scan methodically over the

whole scene. Close, middle and far distance. Remember to look at what is happening, and what might be expected to happen.

At a junction, look methodically left and right as you approach the junction and at least twice before you move out. Be aware of the limitations of your peripheral vision in a collision course situation. Look around your windscreen pillars. Drive with your lights on. You are more likely to be seen.

Beware the Hun in the sun. It is more difficult to see things ‘sun-up’.

Thanks to Rod for this. If you want to read the complete article, visit the website www.glosiam.org

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How many drivers are lacking

confidence when executing

manoeuvres?

An AA/Populus survey has found that a high proportion of drivers were lacking confidence about lining their vehicle alongside another one in order to complete a parallel park manoeuvre.

The survey showed that of 20,073 drivers checked, 19 per cent (nearly 3,900 drivers) changed their plans at the last minute as they appeared to have insufficient confidence or skill to get their vehicle into the parking space provided.

The AA Driving School Managing Director, Jim Kirkwood, said that many drivers found parking manoeuvres too hard and that 29 per cent of drivers shunned certain car parks for the same reason. He went on to say, “Drivers should not feel they are beyond help – most people can overcome their driving problems with a little professional help”.

Peter Davies has written to the publishers of the original report to say that IAM Skill for Life provides precisely this training in addition to so much more, and to an advanced standard.

Thanks to Peter for the above item, which raises some interesting issues. Is sufficient time spent during initial driving lessons, on manoeuvres? Or do some drivers simply not find it necessary to execute these manoeuvres often, because we have driveways at home and car parks at work?

Do let us know your opinion. 21

Safety Work Praised

Figures have suggested that speed cameras and other safety measures have drastically reduced the number of deaths on a dangerous stretch of one of our local roads. The Road Safety Foundation, which carried out the survey, say that serious accidents have been reduced by more than 70 per cent during the course of five years and this is placed as the second most improved road in terms of safety in England.

The length of road concerned stretches from the A46 close to Evesham and runs through Gothrington to the centre of Cheltenham before heading past Charlton Kings and on to Cirencester.

The writer is unaware of the most improved road in England, if any reader knows the answer to this, we would be pleased to learn Improvements included road widening, better signs, flashing speed limit signs, as well as other traffic calming measures.

There are still accidents happening along the stretch, including a motorcyclist being killed in a horrific crash in September. However, Cotswold District Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, who has been campaigning for better safety here for a number of years said that it is good news that the number of accidents are decreasing, but warned that it is the tip of an iceberg in terms of improving road safety across the county. He said, “I have been campaigning about saving lives and preventing accidents and we have to keep putting the road safety message out there.

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Peter thinks that, considering our own interests, Paul Hodkinson could be a choice speaker from whom we will learn more detail and perhaps another visit from the Camera Partnership is appropriate.

The final instalment of

‘Woody’s adventures in India

Tail-gating, is a national sport only second to cricket, so the IAM could have a field day if it chose to "assist" India. Socio-Economic market profiling would suggest marketing to the high caste rich minority first. On a needs basis one could be tempted to try and address the lower caste masses - sheer numbers would mean a task even more daunting here in the sub-continent than the introduction of Birth Control. Tyre delamination is a big problem from Tuk Tuk to trucks alike from the rubbish road surfaces. Quite often during a Tuk Tuk overtake I could clearly see daylight between the main body of the front tyre and the outer tread band. Some of the truck tyres have holes big enough to hold a man’s fist. Buddha only knows how only 300 drivers die a day, on India's roads. Road works are ubiquitous as India grows new and repairs existing infrastructure. We must pass on average 20 sets of road works a day and I can remember only seeing 3 road traffic cones in total. We could send them some of our cones; after all I'm sure that we leave so many cones out as the UK doesn't have enough storage space to put them all away.

I now have a clearer understanding of why motorbike riders (who do) wear loose fitting helmets and leave their straps undone. It's so when their mobile 'phone rings they can 23

the last issue and I know he has plans for the Group’s future.

responsibility for the Group’s website. It has been updated and you haven’t visited it recently, it is well worth

Peter has stepped down as Group Chairman. I’m sure t

quickly whip off the helmet on to their left arm and then take their phone with their left hand; all without slowing down at all. I suppose it’s one way of ‘making progress’ Hero Honda is probably the most popular motorbike brand in both India and Nepal - they manufacture more than 3,000 motorbikes a day, each and every day. No wonder their unit price is so low around £450 and up to a £1000 for their top 160cc model. Second most popular brand is Bajaj. Royal Enfield is popular with those with money to burn for a 350cc Electra, so low volume sales but they do make a nice noise!

Stop Press: Hero and Honda have now been corporately divorced since Hero grew 8% in a month. Hero reckon that it can go it alone with Mr Honda-san

no longer taking his cut. Only time will tell, to quote Bob Marley.

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By the way we had just been pulled by the Agra Police laser-video van. All papers and speed are in "jolly good order" but Raj our driver, still had to bung the Bobbies 500/- (that's how they still denote Rupees by using the old UK shilling symbol) to get going again.

So to close, India and Nepal may drive on the same side of the road as us but everything else is down to local style. For the last two weeks we visited Goa, way down South in India and traffic there was slightly calmer and with noticeably less use of the horn. My advice, take a taxi for a couple of days then try a rental bike. When in Rome – do as the Romans do!

Oh Yes, if riding on National Highways (e.g. NH17 runs North to South through Goa) helmets are the law (not really enforced though) for the rider but not for the pillion.

Cheers, Woody

Dates for your diary

2013 Meeting programme (revised)

21 March. Pathfinders. Driver training for under 17s

in Gloucestershire

27 April Advanced Skills Day with Mike Addis

30 May Road Safety in Gloucestershire Gary Handley

18 July IAM Chief Examiner. Peter Rodger

7 Sept Advanced Skills Day with Mike Addis

27Sept New Technologies in Tyres. Stephen Booth

2 Nov Advanced Skills Day with Mike Addis

21 Nov Weather Forecasting. Rod Harrison

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All meetings take place at Churchdown Community Centre, Parton Road, Churchdown GL3 2JH.

Advanced Skills day run from 10am to 4pm. All others start at 7.30 Meetings are free and visitors are always

welcome. Refreshments are provided.

Quiz question In a recent episode of TV’s ‘Police, Camera, Action’ programme, they referred to an acronym C.O.A.S.T. as being 5 things drivers need to ensure (as far as possible) the safety of themselves and their passengers.

C stands for Concentration

If anyone would like to suggest what the remaining letters of the acronym might stand for, correct answers will be put into a hat and the first three pulled out will receive;

A ‘life hammer’ with red plastic body for use in the event of an accident and trapped in car. Hardened steel anvil to break toughened car windows and shielded blade to cut seatbelt. Luminous spot on carrier to enable finding in poor light or as above but with aluminium body and a small torch All 3 in plastic blister packs. Prizes donated by Phil

Editor’s decision is final. No correspondence etc etc Please email answers to newsletter@glosiam.org Winners will be announced in the next issue of the newsletter.

Good luck!!