The road safety charity, the Insitute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has issued some timely advice for driving in windy weather as severe gales have spread across the UK. 

• Plan your journey in advance – is there a route with less exposure to the weather and less risk of fallen trees?  If there is, choose a sheltered route if you have this option.
• Strong winds are not constant, they are usually gusty so ensure you hold the steering wheel firmly at all times.
• Overtaking high sided vehicles or driving past buildings can result in a sudden gust from the side of the other vehicle as you clear it – take care.
• Give cyclists, motorcyclists, lorries and buses more room than usual as they get blown around more by side winds.
• Watch our for trees and bushes on the roadside – their branches will show you how strong the wind is.  Look well ahead as that way you don’t need to take your eye off the road. You can then see any windy patches ahead before you get to them.
• Go slow enough to cope with the strong gusts.  Wind can get underneath a car or van and reduce its handling and braking significantly.
• Keep an eye on what is happening to other vehicles on the road – where they are affected by strong winds will give you a pre warning.
• Keep an extra distance between you and the car in front.
• Be careful of any debris in the road and try and have space beside you in case you need to dodge it.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger commented: “I have seen a parked car moved by the wind.  Don’t underestimate how powerful it is and how it can affect you whilst in the car.”

To help drivers stay safe this winter, the IAM’s website, www.drivingadvice.org.uk, offers traffic updates, weather forecasts and tips on how to drive safely in winter. These tips include driving in rain, snow, ice, fog and wind.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) latest report, “The fast and curious: young people’s attitude to driver training” has revealed that 62% of young male novice drivers think they are more skilful than the average driver. Only 32% of young women say the same.

According to DfT statistics (2010), the reality is that young novice male drivers are the highest risk group on our roads, and male drivers between the age of 17-29 are more than twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured as young female drivers.

The report also highlighted some other relevant data about young male novice drivers.

• 30% of car occupant fatalities are drivers aged 17-24, or passengers of a driver aged 17-24
• This age group however makes up only 8% of all driving licence holders (DVLA data 2010)
• Young drivers are more likely to take post-test training if a financial incentive is offered i.e. reduced insurance premiums would encourage 75% of young drivers to take further driver training.
• Training needs to be done early as the longer a driver has been driving, the less likely they feel the need for driver training.

Simon Best, IAM chief executive, said,”Young male drivers suffer from a lethal combination of overconfidence and inexperience. They don’t need curfews and other restrictions on their driving; they need to practice and gain driving experience safely”.

Mr Best went onto say,”There are many paying thousands of pounds a year in insurance and killing themselves. The solution to this problem is to link driver training and insurance discounts”.

Sounds like a good idea from the IAM?

Drivers across England are set to benefit from Government funding of 3D laser scanning technology which aims to reduce the time motorways are closed due to crashes. The Department of Transport has provided 27 police forces across England with a total of £2.7m funding, which combined with a National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) contribution, will enable 37 3D scanners to be purchased.

The new technology allows crash investigators to use 3D to see a whole image of the crash site, rather than having to painstakingly survey multiple sections of a scene. The digital image can then be viewed on a computer screen remotely, allowing police investigators to take measurements and assess where vehicles are in relation to each other.

The roll-out of the scanners is part of the Government’s “CLEAR” initiative, which is delivering an action plan to reduce delays for motorists, caused by any incidents, and to keep traffic flowing.

Mike Penning, Roads Minister, said,”There is nothing more frustrating than being stuck in a traffic jam for hours on end. But even worse than that is the shocking £1 billion cost of those lost hours for our economy. That is why we are determined to improve the clear-up of accidents so we can get our motorways re-opened as quickly as possible”.

Mr Penning went onto say,”Today’s £2.7 million DfT funding award will see 3D laser scanners rolled out quickly where they are needed most. This will benefit drivers by reducing incident clear up times by 39 minutes on average”.   

IAM (Insitute of Advanced Motorists) director of policy and research Neil Greig commented as follows: “This is a long lasting Christmas present for all those drivers who have ever been stuck for hours while the police sort out the aftermath of crashes. The frustration caused by delays leads to erratic driving, so as well as improving journey times this will also serve to make our motorways safer.”

The Institute of Advanced Motorists has reduced its Skill for Life advanced driving and riding training programmes by 10% this Christmas, with prices down from £139 to £125, as part of a special Christmas gift voucher scheme. The Skill for Life course consists of regular coaching sessions with one of 200 regional volunteer groups and when you are ready, you are put forward for the advanced test, which has an eighty per cent pass rate “first time”.

There are many other driving and riding courses on offer, including track “Skill Days”, “Momentum” courses for younger drivers and even a cycling course as well. Further information can be found at the IAM website through the following link;  www.iam.org.uk/xmas

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) latest poll has concluded that the proposed European MOT rules represent a road safety danger issue, with 60 per cent of motorists saying the first MOT should continue to be carried out after three years.

The new European Union directive is proposing we move to a minimum of four years for the first test and then every two years thereafter, rather than the annual MOT test in the UK. In Europe this is known as the four-two cycle.

In the UK, according to data released by the IAM, 27 per cent of all three year-year old cars fail their first MOT however in France, the failure rate for the first MOT (after 4 years) is only 6 per cent. The survey also found that most motorists are comfortable with the current UK MOT test procedure with 63 per cent believing the test will always pick up potential dangers.

IAM chief executive, Simon Best, said,”In a time when people are struggling financially, the MOT seems to be one cost they are happy to pay. The IAM is wary of abandoning our well-established and accepted cycle of MOT testing. The poll suggest that most motorists are happy with it”.

Foggy conditions

The Institute of Advanced Motorists, driver training specialist, IAM Drive & Survive, has been providing some great driving tips for driving this winter and the latest advice is around driving in foggy conditions.

Simon Elstow, head of training at the IAM, said,”Don’t underestimate the effect fog has on your perception of speed. Adjusting your driving to the weather conditions will help you to become a better driver”.

Here are the tips for driving through fog.

• Before setting off, clean your windows and windscreen and ensure all your lights are working correctly. 
• Let others know you are likely to be delayed due to the fog.
• When you’re ready to leave, switch on your dipped headlights. Only use your front and rear fog lights where visibility is less than 100 metres.
• Use your windscreen wipers on an intermittent setting to clear the fine mist that collects on the windscreen.
• Slow down and keep enough distance between yourself and the vehicle in front. Make sure you can stop safely within the distance you can see clearly ahead of you.
• Avoid relying on the vehicle in front as a guide to any hazards ahead. Fog makes it much more difficult to judge how hard vehicles are braking and they might be slow to react.
• Brake gently but earlier than usual so your brake lights warn other drivers behind.
• At junctions, wind the window down and listen for oncoming traffic.
• Take high-visibility clothing in case you have to leave the car for some reason.

The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has endorsed the plan to scrap the infamous M4 bus lane on a trial basis. The M4 has always had a large amount of traffic and the “empty” lane has always been unpopular with many motorists.

Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research, said,”The key failing of the M4 bus lane was always that were no obvious links to the bus services available. Drivers did not know where to park-and-ride so just had to sit in the queues. However, no bus lanes should be removed without a full review of their congestion busting potential of the overall safety of drivers on the route. The M4 bus lane has worked well from a safety perspective so its replacement must be closely monitored in the months ahead.”

The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has found, following a recent online poll, that 73 per cent of people would report elderly friends or relatives if they had any concerns at all about their driving standards. The poll was conducted from 1,628 IAM members and also found that 68% believe mandatory re-testing of drivers over the age of 70 should also be introduced, to improve road safety.

Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research said,”The IAM believes we need to reassure the public that older drivers do not represent a disproportionate risk. Eight per cent of drivers are over 70 and they are involved in around four per cent of injury crashes. But 15 per cent of drivers are in their teens and 20s and they are involved in 34 per cent of injury crashes- a far higher number.

The IAM 2010 report on Older Drivers: Safe or Unsafe? can be found at their website.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has warned drivers about getting complacent about car theft. Peter Rodger, IAM Chief Examiner, said, “It seems obvious but we’d still remind drivers, where possible, to park in a well lit, busy area with valuables out of view – and make sure your car has both an alarm and an immobiliser”.

Other top car security tips

1. If you have a garage then use it.
2. Don’t leave car keys on view by the door as thieves may use a long pole to steal them.
3. Try to use a car park with the “ParkMark” logo which means it has achieved basic standards of security.
4. Car thieves may try and break into your home to steal your keys so make sure your property is secure.
5. Don’t leave your keys in the ignition if filling up at a petrol station or popping into your property, if warming the vehicle up.
6. Don’t leave a satnav fitting on show and rub off any ring-mark left on the windscreen by the suction pad.
7. Never store your car’s documents in the car.
8. Also consider fitting a vehicle tracking device to help find your car if it gets stolen.

The 10 most dangerous places for theft were as follows; 

1. Hull
2. Nottingham
3. Bradford
4. Manchester
5. Doncaster
6. London
7. Northampton
8. Sheffield
9. Oldham
10. Reading

Source: Endleigh Insurance

The Institute of Advanced Motorists has commented on the latest figures on mobile phone use, from the Department of Transport, which shows that drivers are still risking their lives.

Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research, said,”It is clear that, despite wide publicity on the risks, people are still choosing to ignore advice and use their phones in their cars. Along with consistent and high profile policing, drivers need to be educated about how and why driving on the phone is so dangerous”.

Mr Greig went onto say,”Deaths and injuries linked to mobile phone use wreck lives and are completely unavoidable. The majority of road users deserve to be protected from an irresponsible and selfish minority and enforcement is, in our view, the key weapon against them”. 

The headline DFT statistics are as follows; 

• Since the survey was last conducted in September 2008, the proportion of car drivers using hand-held mobile phones increased from 1.1% to 1.4% and from 2.2% to 2.6% for van and lorry drivers.
• For hands-free mobile phones the figures were 0.5% to 1.4% for car drivers and 1.1% to 2.4% for van and lorry drivers.