road

MOTORWAY MADNESS

Ever wondered why traffic on motorways suddenly grinds to a halt for absolutely no reason?

The answer is apparently over braking. Rather like a wave gathering momentum, if someone
brakes at the front, the ripples follow on behind as we all over compensate and eventually the
swell increases until those miles behind are forced to stop completely!

Perhaps if people didn't travel so close to one another, this reaction to jump on the brakes simply
because the lights have come on in front of them might be avoided!

KEEP LEFT

And while we're at it, have you ever wondered why we drive on the left when so many other
countries drive on the right?

'Just to be bloody-minded?'

'Because we refuse to change?'

All of the above?

Maybe...but the idea of driving on the left is thought to stem originally from olden times when to
pass another person safely meant keeping your sword between you and him, ready to attack! It
seems like some things don't change so much after all.......Apparently, more drivers drive on the
left than on the right even now...unless you know different?

THE THEORY TEST

Okay, there was no way we were going to leave without a few carefully chosen words on the theory
test, in particular that hazard perception section! Has anyone out there got a good word to say about it?
We are all for it in principle but the way it stands at present, it just ain't working! Hazard Perception is
the the crux of safe motorcycle riding...most of us develop a 6th sense for the unexpected happening
out on the road but the hazard perception test is a joke...it's not hazard perception so much as hazard
reaction. From what we can gather you only really score points when the hazard in question now
requires you to take some form of action...but you should have spotted it long before!

For anyone who doesn't already know, the hazard preception test is the second part to the theory test
that all drivers and riders have to take when adding a new category onto their licence. (Find details
about what's involved back on our Courses page.) Whilst watching a 15 minute video of real road
footage you are required to click your mouse button every time you see a new hazard developing that
may cause you to take some form of action. But most road users are looking well ahead, through gaps
in hedges, round the sides of vehicles and spotting potential hazards well before the computer can log
your responses. It almost seems that the better the driver, the worse the score on this hazard
perception section.

And of course, what exactly is a hazard anyway? On 2 wheels the scope for potential danger is much
greater...a patch of gravel or oil on the road? Leaves? A Volvo driver? Maybe the test would work better
if it was touch screen and people could pinpoint exactly where the perceived hazard was. What do you
think?

Certainly a bit of homework is required before turning up to do the test...there are a couple of good CD-
ROMS on the market at present, which help no end, but if any of you out there have got any views on
improving the way things stand at the moment we'd love to hear your suggestions...or just your gripes!

FUTURE CHANGES

More changes for new motorcyclists are being planned at the moment as regards the practical test,
which is undergoing a bit of a shake up. In September 2003 a new element was added with the Show
me/ Tell me questions asked by the examiner at the start of the practical test. These were questions
such as 'Show me where the oil reservoir is and tell me how you would check that there is sufficient
engine oil.' The idea behind the introduction of these questions was apparently to try and do something
about the number of people breaking down in their ropey old vehicles....but we can't help thinking that a
few questions at the start of the practical test isn't really going to deter those drivers and riders that we
all sail past on the motorway as they are hunched over a steaming bonnet or prostate under an old
'classic'...ahem...

The most drastic changes however are still, thankfully, some way off. Originally scheduled for 2005, it
now looks more likely to be 2008 before the practical test undergoes its most radical change with the
introduction of new manoeuvres such as 'high' speed obstacle avoidance exercises and cornering
exercises as well as the possibility of an emergency stop at a minimum speed of 30mph/50kmh. The
motorcycle training industry has largely been up in arms over many of the DSA's proposed changes
fearing a dramatic increase in the cost of training and the test maybe becoming a two part affair. We'll
keep you informed of what's in store!

IT WASN'T MY FAULT!

The writer George Bernard Shaw once said: "I have a tendency to believe that everyone's driving is
dangerous except my own.", which seems to be a view still shared by many today.

A recent survey in Britain found that 40% of those questioned said that the overall standard of driving on our
roads was poor and yet only 2% of them admitted that their own driving was bad. In fact 75% went as far as
as to claim that they were actually good drivers. Which just goes to prove...it's always someone else's
fault...or is it?

SAFETY FIRST?

We all know that cars have become much safer for their occupants over the last twenty years or so. Drivers
now enjoy air bags, reinforced side impact panels, abs to name just a few of the improvements which now
come as standard on most cars. But what is the price of this for us motorcyclists and other road users?

The chances of being killed or seriously injured for every mile travelled has doubled since the early fifties.
One theory is that the safer the driver feels within that metal box, the more likely he or she is to be involved
in a road accident.

If people perceive themselves to be at risk, evidence appears to show that they take greater care. So
perhaps this is why motorcycle riders generally make better road users than drivers...or is this just us being
biased?

E-mail in and let us know what you think.

CONGESTION CHARGING

Well, it did what it was supposed to do..it thinned out the traffic in central London and got it moving again
but has it almost worked too well? London motorcyclists now find themselves battling with a new
menace...hoards and hoards of mopeds all beating that congestion charge. Although new motorcycle bays
have been allocated and existing ones extended, finding a space for your bike in the city is now more of a
nightmare than ever and whereas once upon a time, not so long ago, new riders were being warned to watch
out for car drivers as their worst enemy, now an equal evil is the car driver turned moped rider, many of
whom have not undertaken any form of training to get them out of the mindset of car driver and into the
frame of mind of a motorcyclist. Consequently, they nip around on their 50cc machines oblivious to the
chaos spewing out around them. Needless to say, the accident rate has risen recently, undoing a little of
the good done by the introduction of CBT training. Our advice? Everybody out there, get yourself some
training-it could save your life!

HATS OFF!

Hats off to 'Hats off' a revolutionary new, yet deceptively simple, emergency helmet removal system. Most
people are probably aware that if you come across a bike involved in an accident, you do not go up and rip
off the helmet of the poor motorcyclist lying unconscious on the road. In general, a helmet should only be
removed if the person is not breathing for fear of risking further spinal injuries. Hats off is an inflatable air bag
which can be inserted into the crown of any helmet and then inflated in the event of an accident, forcing the
helmet upwards and off the head. Unlike a car airbag, it doesn't go off automatically on impact. A tube runs
from the airbag, under the helmet padding and is fastened to the bottom of the inside of the helmet rim. The
tube has a quick release screw fitted which can be released and then the bag inflated with some kind of
pump (such as the inflator pump from a blood pressure kit). Obviously the neck and spine still need to be
supported during the procedure so ideally should only be attempted by trained personnel but what a simple
idea! Wonder if it'll catch on....

December 2003

Well, it's coming up for the end of another year, and it all seems to have
passed in a bit of a blur it's gone so quickly! 2003 has seen record
temperatures in Summer with the hottest CBTs we have ever experienced!
Keeping you guys cool during training took a lot of iced water and cold
drinks but thankfully nobody paffed out with heat exhaustion (mind you,
Simon had to write CBT certificates with his feet in an ice bucket...but that's
just him!) By the same token, we've also had some of the wettest courses ever
(and I refer to the weather again, not the students!) but if you can pass in
these challenging conditions, then you really have nothing to fear!

Yet again, we've met loads of nice people and hopefully helped them
become a little more confident about being motorcyclists and scooter riders
on London's mean streets! A big thank you to all our old customers for
making the job of training people as much fun as it has been: it's great to see
you guys again on your latest super shiny machines! Remember there's
always a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit with your name on it so stay in
touch!

To those of you still thinking about embarking on motorcycle training, all I
can say is come on-it's great fun, and once you do it, you'll never look back.

Merry Xmas to all of you, here's hoping there's everything you've been
wishing for in those Christmas stockings!

Tracey B