Statutory signage.

Last year we had a quiz during on of our social evenings and part of the quiz related to the legality of various speed restriction signage.  There are specific sign standards to ensure consistency throughout the country etc. that have to be specifically adhered to by the authorities.

It was with interest that I spotted this article in the paper today, following a similar theme but focusing on the typeface used on the variable speed limit signs.


Thousands of motorists who have had points on their licences for speeding could have their convictions overturned after it emerged that the warning signs on a motorway featured the ‘wrong-shaped numbers’.
Police halted all prosecutions involving the speed signs between junctions seven and nine of the M42 near Birmingham.
They found the numbers showing the speed limits appeared ‘stretched’ on the electronic signs, contravening Department of Transport guidelines.

Now the Highways Agency has admitted that the same type of signs have been operating on other motorways for several years. This could mean hundreds of thousands of drivers are able to get their fines, points and even bans overturned.
The problem was discovered by solicitor Matt Reynolds. Puzzled why prosecutions for speeding on the M42 were being dropped without explanation, he used the Freedom of Information Act.

Warwickshire police then revealed that Advanced Motorway Indicators (AMIs), introduced on the M42 between 2006 and 2009, were technically illegal because the font used to display variable speed limits did not match those prescribed by the Department of Transport. 
It was decided to scrap all pending prosecutions, and also let off drivers caught after November 8 this year, when the issue came to light.

Only when the Secretary of State issued an ‘authorisation’ on November 27, which allowed a rule change to ensure the signs were legal, did prosecutions begin again.
Mr Reynolds, of Just Motor Law, said it was unfair that some motorists will have escaped prosecution simply because of the timing of when they were caught and that it was only proper that all convictions were now overturned.
The rogue signs were used on stretches of the M42, M40, M6, M1, M20 and M25.

Letter of thanks from the Great North Air Ambulance.

Bill received this letter from the GNAA thanking you all for your contributions.

Please remember that the club committee is open to suggestions for a charity for the club support.

From BikeWise Mini Biker to DAM Advanced Rider

PRAISE FOR MINI BIKE CLUB'S

FIRST 'GRADUATE'

A pioneering club for young bikers in County Durham has seen its first 'graduate' reach the highest level possible for his expertise on two wheels.

Dale Clement, 18 was one of the original members of the Mini Bike Club started in 2007 by members of Durham Constabulary's motorcycle section.

With assistance from a number of other organisations  including Durham County Council and the Durham Agency Against Crime the club has taught hundreds of young riders the basics of motorcycling techniques and safety, and provided them with a safe and secure way of pursuing their interest in 'mini-moto's'.

At the end of October Dale, who lives in Sherburn village passed his Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) motorcycle test – the highest standard a civilian motorcyclist can attain. And last week he came to police headquarters in Durham to be presented formally with his award.

Dale joined the mini bike club when he was just twelve years old and took to the roads with his first bike, a moped in June 2010. He used the bike to travel to and from college for a year before progressing onto his current Honda CBR 400, on which he passed his motorcycle test earlier this year.

Now studying IT at the University of Sunderland, Dale regularly uses his Honda bike to travel to his lectures and back.

Dale undertoook a day's 'BikeWise' training before joining the Durham Advanced Motorcyclists group, and completed his training with a test conducted by retired motorcycle sergeant and IAM examiner, Bob Brown.

His achievement with the IAM follows an honour in May this year, when Dale was asked to accept the Durham County Council 'Chairman's Medal' on behalf of the mini bike club.

The Chairman's medal is the council's highest honour and is presented to individuals, groups and organisations throughout the county to recognise significant achievement and outstanding effort in all walks of life..

"I am really proud of what Dale has achieved in such a short time. When we first started the Mini Bike Club in 2007 he was just a young boy who came along to our first meeting with his grandparents," said Bob Brown.

"Dale and his grandad, Dave, have attended virtually every meeting of the club to date and it has been a pleasure to watch him grow into a fine motorcyclist.

"The dream when we started the club was to give young local riders the opportunity to ride bikes lawfully and watch them progress onto the roads of County Durham. Dale has now attained the highest standards a civilian motorcyclist can achieve and he is only 18. Hopefully he will be the first of many from the club to progress to this level."

The group photo shows (left to right) PC John Bowman (force motorcycle section), Dale Clement, temp CC Mike Barton and Dave Clement (Dale's granddad).

Observation in New Zealand.

New Zealand Advanced Riding, the "MegaRider Organisation" publish a pdf book specifically about Observation.

Have a read and see what you think.

Those of you who "Facebook", call in at the DAM Facebook page Facebook and post some comments.

Someone's Son & Operation Achilles

 Someone's Son is a campaign in the Yorkshire & Humberside area to promote the "humanisation" of riders and educate both the riders and drivers.  There are some simple, but powerful, messages delivered in their material.  Have a look at www.someones-son.co.uk

Within this area, the local Police have also been running a high profile enforcement campaign called Operation Achilles, involving the high profile policing of popular bike routes with both marked and unmarked vehicles.  In the words for Chief Inspector Mike Dring of Humberside Police 
"This reduced KSI’s by 37% over 2 years and continues to attract the attention of the motorcycling community throughout the Yorkshire region. They know about it, they don't like it but it does impact on rider behaviour as a result of its existence."

Are these two opposite approaches to the same problem?  
Probably not, the Someone's Son approach is very much aimed at vehicle to vehicle incidents, whereas the Achilles approach is targeting high speed and inappropriate riding on the rural roads of East Yorkshire.

The interesting issue for us as Advanced Riders is the subtly different approaches taken by many of the forces across the country, all trying to achieve the same aim (either by carrot or stick) of reduced 2 wheel KSI's.

Drink Drive Campaigns & Limits

The current annual end of year drink drive campaign is focusing on the morning after the night before as evidence has suggested that this is an ever growing problem.

Since the change in the licensing laws people are now drinking later into the evening and then finding themselves over the limit when it is time to start work the following morning. Added to this is the growing tendency to drink at home rather than going out which is leading to a greater intake.

The Association of Industrial Road Safety Officers (AIRSO) (AIRSO Website) is of the view that we need to do a great deal more to educate the public about the effects of alcohol which manifests itself in so many areas with drastic consequences of which drink driving is only one.

In 2011 there were 280 road deaths as a result of alcohol but the fall out in other areas such as violent crime, cancers and other illnesses are in fact far worse.

Call for the Drink Drive Limit to be Lowered

RoSPA is urging the Government in England and Wales to consider lowering the drink drive limit now that Scotland are consulting of doing just that!

It is understood that the Welsh Government would also support a lowering of the limit but this is a matter for Westminster.

Assuming that Scotland does go ahead it will leave only England and Wales plus Malta with a limit of 80 within the EU

The Scottish Government's consultation paper suggests that a lower limit could save 17 lives a year on Scotland’s roads and it has been estimated that a 50mg limit would save between 77 and 168 lives each year in England and Wales.

The consultation paper also suggests that drivers who have alcohol levels between 50mg and 80mg are two to two-and-a-half times more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers with no alcohol - and up to six times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.

AIRSO has always adopted a position that it would not oppose the lowering of the limit.

DAM 2012 AGM

An excellent turnout of members old and new were in attendance at the Bowburn Hall hotel on Tuesday 27th November for the DAM Annual General Meeting.

DAM took the opportunity of the AGM to present a cheque to the Great North Air Ambulance for £900 collected by members over the past couple of years.  Kirsty Harris-Parker (the DAM Charity co-ordinator) was persuaded to stand in front of the camera and have her picture taken with Sharon from GNAA.

Sharon thanked the DAM membership for the donation, confirming that the money would directly help fund the GNAA operations.

Whilst DAM were in a giving mood, we confirmed again in 2012 our support to the Bikewise Minibike Club by making a modest £150 donation to assist with the running of the club rounds.
Bob Brown happily accepted the cheque from Richard Clement.

The meeting then proceeded with the constructional matters for the year, the committee being largely unchanged for the coming year.  On notable exception is the retirement from Observation and Committee Membership by Pat Young.  Pat was one of the founding members of DAM and has been a long term Observer.  In recognition of his efforts, DAM presented Pat with a small thank you gift and wished him well for the future.

During the reports to the membership, Durham Police confirmed their continued (and much appreciated) support to DAM with a cheque for £500 from the Bikewise funds.  This financial donation goes a long way towards DAM keeping the membership fees low and enabling us to continue with our training and social activities.

DAM Treasurer, Don Russell, very gratefully accepted the donation from Ali Bonar.

DAM Committee was pleased to report to the membership a total of 23 new associates joining so far this year and a 100% test pass rate (again), with 22 associates passing their tests this year.

During the AGM membership certificates were presented by Tony Richmond to Dave Burns, Tony Martin, Keith Lippett, Adam Moss and Charlie Dickinson.

During the presentations from Committee Officers, Durham Police and Bob Brown (as our IAM Examiner) all speakers thanked all of the Committee and DAM Members for their efforts throughout the year.

The committee would also like to invite suggestions from the members for the charity that DAM should support over the next year or two.  If you have any suggestions, please let any of the committee know so that we can consider the nominations in the new year.

Thanks to all involved in DAM for another very successful year, happy holidays!!