The reason everyone should be trained as much as possible.

Most accidents on Britain's roads last year were the driver's fault.

According to the latest government figures,  four of the five most commonly reported reasons for a crash involved driver or rider error or reaction, the Department for Transport said.

"Failed to look properly" was the biggest reason of all, reported in 42% of all accidents.

In June, figures showed that 1,901 people were killed and 23,122 were seriously injured on the roads in 2011.

The new report, Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain, tells us why those crashes happened.

For example, 15% of those who lost their life were killed in drink-drive accidents and speeding was a factor 5% of the time.

Cycle safety
Cyclist safety has been a huge issue recently, especially since the Times newspaper launched its campaign to improve conditions for pedal bikes on the roads, but it was actually pedestrians who suffered the biggest rise in deaths last year, up 12% to 453.
More were seriously hurt too, up from 5,200 in 2010 to 5,454 last year.
"Pedestrian failed to look properly" was a factor in 59% of those accidents, and is easily the biggest single reason why pedestrians got hurt.
Parked vehicles blocking the view helped cause 16% of those injuries, and for 824 people who got hurt (about 4% of the total), "wearing dark clothes at night" played a part.
Some 11% were also "impaired by alcohol".

'Dazzling sun'
It looks like cyclists who commute to work or school are suffering the most, with 57% of their injuries happening at the beginning or the end of the day, mainly during the week. That has gone up by 10% on last year.
A quarter of accidents involving a pedal bike had "failed to look properly" as a contributory factor. Just 1% were because they disobeyed a Stop or Give Way sign or markings, and 51 cyclists crashed because of a "dazzling sun".

"Distraction in vehicle" was a factor in 2% of all car accidents. "Dazzling sun" played a part in 2,233 car crashes (1% of the total), but yet again, "failed to look properly" was the biggest factor, influencing a quarter of all crashes for cars.

Some 11% of HGV crashes were down to "poor turn or manoeuvre".

Meanwhile motorcyclists are among the most vigilant on the roads. Just 16% of crashes were because they did not look properly, although it was still the biggest factor alongside "loss of control".   The report also highlights that Motorcycle fatalities fell by 10%.

"Sudden braking" was the biggest single factor in coach and bus crashes, playing a part 17% of the time.

Weather impact
Interestingly, the government has also put a price on road accidents. Preventing them could save the economy £15.6bn every year.
The number of people killed on Britain's roads went up last year, for the first time since 2003, and that has put the government under pressure.

The coalition abandoned national safety targets when it came to power, and asked councils to take more responsibility for road safety despite cutting their budgets.
The government says last year's rise in deaths was, in part, down to the weather. There was a lot of snow in 2010 and that meant fewer journeys, and people driving more slowly.
Still, apart from last year, Britain's roads are safer than they have ever been.

In fact, according to the international comparison chart in the report, Britain has the safest roads in the world.

September Social Meet

Our first Tuesday evening social meeting of the 2012 Autumn was held at Bowburn Hall Hotel on the 25th September.

Considering the foul conditions (heavy rain and flooding) we had a good turn out to listen to an interesting talk from biking solicitor Mark Hipkin regarding recent case decisions regarding filtering incidents.

Mark writes:

Re: DAM Biker Legal Talk: 25th September 2012

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to the Members on a wet,windswept and flooded Tuesday night. 

I enjoyed our discussion and I hoped that everyone also enjoyed it.  The Law in relation to filtering and overtaking changes all of the time but I felt that everyone understood the major importance of defining the facts at the scene and how much can rest on what appear to be unremarkable facts at the time. 

As always, I am here if anyone wants to raise any points either from that discussion or any other legal points that they may have.  I don’t charge for telephone advice (!) and I would rather hear from someone and if I cannot help them I will point them in the right direction.

As I also said at the meeting, I have a “nose” for working out whether cases can succeed or not and apart from my legal experience in Biking Law, I have many years experience of dealing with most general legal topics as I qualified as long ago as 1982! In sending this my 30^th anniversary of practising as a Solicitor (I am not perfect yet!) is Monday 15th October 2012.  I may have a small beer.

Now for the good news - the winner of the prize for the person who is closest to the Judges final determination of liability in the 5 cases I showed everyone on the night is - Donald Russell who wins the prize of the Havana Club Rum. 

The box of chocolates I have decided to award to Malcolm Lonsdale for the next most correct set of answers.  

Legal bit: the Judges decision is final (both in this case and in the cases I referred to in the discussion!).  

Yours sincerely

Mark Hipkin

For Hipkin & Co

******************************************************
Hipkin & Co Solicitors
130/132 Park View, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 3QN
Tel (0191 2533509) or outside UK: +44 (0)191 2533509
Fax (0191 2970269) or outside UK: +44 (0)191 2970269

Side stand fails.....

My GS once rolled off the side stand when I stopped to open a gate on a downhill slope, bruised ego was the only damage.....

How about this list of other possible reasons!

1. Putting your foot into a hole when stopping.

2. Putting your foot down on something slippery when stopping (gravel, dog dookey, etc).

3. Locking the front wheel during over enthusiastic braking.

4. Missing the driveway and sliding on the grass.

5. Not putting the kickstand down when getting off.

6. Make a turn from stop in gravel or sand at high throttle.

7. Not putting a board under the kickstand on asphalt on a hot day.

8. Letting over enthusiastic people sit on your bike who have never been on a bike.

9. Forgetting the bike's in gear when you jump on the kickstarter.

10. Revving the engine, releasing clutch, and putting feet on pegs when the light turns green, but the bike's in neutral.

11. Not putting your foot down when stopping on red light.

12. Losing balance when putting it on the centerstand.

13. Take an hour ride in 30 degree weather with no gloves, stop at a stop sign and pop the clutch when you start cause you've lost feeling in your hands.

14. Putting your foot down at a toll booth on the thick layer of grease that builds up when cars stop.

15. Using too much power when you pull out of a greasy toll booth.

16. Ignoring the sand that builds up in the spring at the side of the road in places that sand and salt roads in winter.

17. Kicking your kickstand in a cool fashion and having it bounce back up instead of staying down.

18. Getting off your bike while it is running and forgetting that is in gear.

19. Trying to kickstart your first bike over and over 'cause you didn't realize that it was really out of fuel, and getting the goofy metal ring on the side of your boot caught in the kickstarter, causing you (and the bike) to go over on the right side.

20. Starting your brand-new electric-start trail-bike, riding around an ornamental shrub on full left lock, throwing it to the right and accelerating to wheelie over the curb onto the street and then discovering that you hadn't unlocked the steering-lock...

21. On same bike, getting the dual-range lever caught inside your jeans as you come to a stop...

22. Having your boot/jeans catch the gear-lever and putting your running bike into first gear while reaching for the side-stand (which is why I now automatically pull in the clutch whenever deploying or retracting the stand).

23. Having "green" racing linings which have much higher coefficient of friction on the slight rust that forms on the polished drum when you've not ridden for a few hours, and lose the front-end holding the brakes on against the throttle to wear off the rust, with your brother on the back...

24. Having a three-cylinder two-stroke that's so smooth you think you're in second when you're actually in first, so you spin out when the undercarriage touches down in a tight corner passing a car and you think, "just a bit more throttle will help here..."

25. Revving bike in impressive fashion at red light, thinking it's in neutral; dropping clutch and standing in place while bike wheelies and backflips into intersection.

26. Having your fat brother lean way over to the side to look at something on the ground while at a stop sign.

27. Wife gets foot caught in saddlebag while getting on before you.

28. Rebuild carbs and treat bike like it still needs full gas away from a stop.

29. Add bald tires, and a smattering of rain to 28.

30. Look at the sand at the edge of the exit ramp rather than through the turn.

31. Not putting the pin that holds the center stand all the way in and then trying to put the bike on the center stand.

32. Trying to hold the bike upright before deploying the center stand only to find your knees are too weak from riding.

33. Park behind friend's mom's minivan figuring "If anybody goes anywhere, they'll surely see it," especially since there'll be 5 of them getting into the van. Why can't at LEAST ONE OF THEM LOOK AND SEE THE MOTORCYCLE SO PLAINLY IN VIEW BEHIND THEM?" "Damn."

34. After getting fuel at gas station and holding the bike level with your legs in order to fill it completely, jumping off forgetting that your legs were holding it upright not the kickstand.

35. Entering a DR ("decreasing radius") turn at too high of a speed... This is especially dangerous when making a right turn where if you attempt to straighten up and brake, you'll plow into oncoming traffic...

36. Trying to countersteer (or wheelie) your shaft driven bike?

37. Getting your boot/shoelace caught on the gearshift.

38. Attempting to kick start a cantankerous '84 CR500, hile standing on a picnic table bench, and she *kicks* back!

39. Getting pissed off for dropping it in the first place, yanking it vigorously off the ground, only to have it dropped on the other side.

40. Pulling out the swingarm stand, and forgetting to put the sidestand down first.

41. Backing down an inclined driveway, turning to either side with a full tank of gas.

42. Taking the bike off the centerstand and forgetting the sidestand.

43. Riding on wet grass with street tires (almost as bad as ice!!)

44. Riding on wet asphalt with dirt tires (almost as bad as ice!!)

45. *Thinking* the kick stand was down when it wasn't.

46. Kick stand slowly burying itself in hot asphalt.

47. Kick stand slowly burying itself in soft ground.

48. Backing up perpendicular to a steeply sloped driveway and attempting to put your foot down on the downhill side while on a large bike with a high seat. (By the time your foot reaches the ground the bike is so far off center balance you won't be able to hold it up.)

49. Backing your bike down a plank, by yourself, from the bed of a pickup truck. Works great as long as you remember that once you start moving stopping for any correction is out of the question. Get two people to stand on each side of you and the bike.

50. Losing your balance when coming to a stop because of fatigue from a long trip. The wind and the buzz of the bike induces an unexpected case of vertigo. Stop often and rest.

51. Riding beyond your limits while trying to keep up with someone who is probably riding beyond their own. Always a temptation. The best riders/racers understand and use discipline when riding.

52. Not paying attention. Always strive to anticipate what could possibly go wrong and be planning what your going to do when it happens, eventually it will - and you'll be ready, instead of surprised when your much more likely to do something stupid and reactionary.

53. Assuming that all wet roads are created equal. They are much more slippery when it first starts to rain - until the oil and dirt are washed away.

54. Assuming that the condition of a blind corner is the same as it was the last time you rode it. Instead you find sticks, road kill, oil, rain wash, stones, pot holes, garbage etc.

55. Not understanding how to get set-up for a corner when pushing the limits. In most cases the bike could have made the corner but the rider decided it couldn't and while in a panic attempted to correct the situation with the brake. WRONG! MSF course will discuss this at length. 

56. Riding without all of the protective equipment because I forgot to bring it and after all it was just this one time. Turned out to be the wrong time! I forgot my MX boots and fell on a steeply banked corner and the foot peg attempted to drill into the back of my right calf. On crutches for 3 weeks with a deep bruise.

57. Using a little too much power turning the first corner after you've put on new tires (with that nice slippery release compound on them).

58. Being to short for the bike you are riding, and coming to a stop sign.

59. Your rider hops on before you are ready.

60. Pushing your bike into the garage and letting it get leaned just a little away from you, pulling you on top of it to the ground.

61. Pulling off both fork caps while the bike is on its centerstand.

62. Park pointing downhill, don't leave it in gear.

63. Park with sidestand facing up hill, sidestand is too long (Yamaha Radian 600).

64. Allow friend to ride bike that has either no riding experience, or only tiny dirtbike riding experience (they will wheelie out of control, fly straight at the nearest object, or drop it attempting to stop suddenly.)

65. Pulling into Dairy Queen and slipping on a spilt chocolate malt.

66. Sitting on your bike on an inclined driveway talking to a very pretty girl, forgetting where in the hell your mind is and then noticing that it's already too close to the ground to stop.

67. Change rear-end oil on a shaft drive bike, spill 90w on tire, don't clean it up and then make a really sharp turn out of the driveway. *Splat* 68. Parking your bike so that it stands upright w/the kick stand down and then having a slow leak in the rear tire which causes the kick stand to push the bike over.

69. Running into a bus after a 120mph+ high speed chase where there is helicopter pursuit and you are being taped by 5 local news stations.

70. Spending 3 hours washing and waxing your bike and then stepping back to admire it with some buddies and then watch it fall right off its side stand while it was warming up.

71. Pushing it over.

72. Covering it with a windsail (aka canvas cover) and letting the wind push it over.

73. Unbolting too many components from the back so that the bike falls off the jack.

74. Having an internally rusted CX500 centre stand come apart whilst putting the bike onto it.

75. Discovering when you stop and try to put your foot down that the kickstart lever is up your pantleg.

76. Letting your wife or hubby drive the bike and having her stall it on an inclined driveway while in a 45 degree angle to the incline.

77. Entering a banked freeway onramp with a stoplight at the end, and realizing a little too late that the downside is just a little steeper than you thought.

78. Whacking the throttle open on the highway when you think there's no cop around then slowing to normal speed again only to realize that a trooper has been trying to catch up with you for two miles and he's pissed so he decides to run you off the road because he thinks you were trying to run away from him, even though you explain to him that if you were trying to run that he wouldn't have caught you then getting out of any tickets because the *@!!$#, uh I mean cop, felt bad even though he never said "I'm sorry".

79. While pushing your bike in an attempt to start it by compression, jumping on side-saddle with excessive vigor.

80. Successfully compression starting your bike while running alongside, only to find out that you'd held a BIT too much throttle!

81. Deploying the centre-stand without noticing that the ground falls away on the other side.

82. Taking someone on a ride on your brand new, first bike in 20+ years and making a slow, tight, turn on gravel.

83. Riding in stilettos and getting stuck on the footrest.

84. Swinging your legs too enthusiastically over the bike with tight trousers on and kicking it over.

85. Dismounting while trying not to wet yourself (cold weather).

86. Riding short distances side-saddle fashion.

87. Pulling off with a blood alcohol level exceeding the stated limit.

88. reaching down to pick up your gloves/keys/glasses.

89. paying too much attention to the tiltometer on your valkarie.

90. Dropping your dirtbike on the side of a steep hill covered in pine humus, then while getting it righted go over the down side because it's too far of an angle to get a foot down.

91. Trying to ride away on the side of a steep hill covered in pine humus which is slipperier than sand.

92. kill the bike while leaned over trying to make a slow, sharp turn in a parking lot.

93. Forgetting to remove the disc lock and taking off from the curb with haste.... Tends to break front caliper too.

94. Falling asleep.

95. Getting help from a neighbor in pushing your 750 up a steep ramp into a moving truck. Though he might assure you that he used to ride a motorcycle, it turns out it was a 125 in Bombay. He gets 2/3 of the way up the ramp, looks panicked, and his knees buckle. Crunch.

96. looking at the pretty curb to your left on a right- hand bank.

97. Trying to get a wasp out of your jacket while sitting on the bike.

98. Trying to start out in a quick turn (leaning in anticipation of giving it throttle) and stalling it out because the engine hasn't warmed yet - it's a nice, slow drop.

99. Forgetting to put in oil after an oil change. Starting 'er up, and wondering why the low oil pressure dummy light doesn't turn off.

100. After a brake job, forgetting to pump the lever/pedal a few times, and taking off, wondering why there's no brakes as you're coming up on the intersection.

101. Having a mechanical gate close on you as you're trying to ride through.

A Friday Pass.

Congratulations to Adam Moss who passed his Advanced Test on Friday (14th Sept)

Catching up with the test passes.

Sunday 2nd September was a busy morning at Bowburn, 

with Observed Rides and IAM Tests happening in the late summer sunshine.

Congratulations to Vince Miller and his Observer Andy Duckworth

and to Denise Curren and her Observer Tim Gorman.

August meeting & end of Summer run out.

Six recent test passes were formally recognised at the August ride out with the Certificate presentations to new members.

Left to right:

Michael Bamford, Dennis Coleman, Yvonne Golightly, Mark Richardson, Simon Heritage & Alan Burberry

As in previous years, the end of the Summer evening ruin out was celebrated by a buffet at the conclusion of the run.

Members new & old enjoyed a Chicken Curry after a run around some of the great County Durham back roads, led by Bill McReady.

We then retired to the Bay Horse for Curry & Banter.

Bill rattled the plate to collect some loose change for the GNAA, the total collected was over £80 - a fantastic effort!