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Dates For Your Diary
Monday 9th June
7:15pm for 7:45
Meeting: Stuart McMillan, RoADAR's Chief Examiner, will be attending.
Saturday 28th June
9:00am - 5:00pm
Strawberries and Steam Festival, Lotmead Farm, Wanborough, Swindon
Monday 14th July
7:15pm for 7:45
Meeting: Sorry, the previously advertised speaker is no longer available. A new speaker will be announced soon!
Saturday 26th July
8:00am - 5:00pm
Calne Bike Meet
Monthly Ride-Outs
Remember that monthly Bike Ride-Outs take place on the 3rd Saturday of every month.
Monthly meetings are all held at Liddington Village Hall opposite the church.
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Do you have a topic you would like discussed, or know of an interesting speaker? Please contact Monica!
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Welcome to the following members who have all joined the group recently:
Clive Bailey (Car)
Dan Ford (Bike)
Gary Bruce (Car)
Geoff Tookey (Car)
Lesley Holdship (Car)
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Congratulations to Jed Dine who recently passed his bike test with a Silver grade. His Tutor was Andrew Wilcox.
Congratulations also to Greg Scawen who recently passed his car test with a Gold grade. His Tutor was Monica Graham.
Well done also to both Pete Kempshall and Chris Gleed who have both recently passed their Advanced Tutor re-tests, Pete on his Bike and Chris in his car.
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Don’t forget that we have a range of clothing available to purchase. We also offer a range of books, such as Roadcraft, Motorcycle Roadcraft and the Highway Code, and these are available at discounted prices.
For more information visit the Merchandise page of our web site at www.wiltshireroadar.co.uk.
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We are always looking for more articles, ideas and news for the newsletter. Have you been somewhere interesting recently that would make a good story? If you attend any group events then take a camera and send us your pictures!
Please forward all contributions to newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk |
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Remember that Stuart McMillan, RoADAR's Chief Examiner, will be speaking at our meeting on the 9th June. If you have a question you would like Stuart to answer please send them to Monica beforehand.
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On Saturday 26th July we have booked our stand at Calne Bike Event in order to promote the group. Monica will not be around for this event so we desperately need some help manning the stand. In particular, we need someone to take responsibility for collecting and returning all the equipment. If you can help please let Monica know as soon as possible, otherwise we will not be able to attend.
We would also appreciate some more help on the 28th June, when we will be attending the Strawberries and Steam festival in Wanborough. Again, please let Monica know if you can help out.
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The Under 17 Car Club have announced details of their Pathfinder scheme, a five day intensive programme for pre-licence drivers. This is open to 15 & 16 year olds. You will get a 10% discount if you mention you are a member of Wiltshire RoADAR. For more information email admin@under17driver.co.uk. |
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As the weather is improving you might be thinking about adding to your summer wardrobe. If that's the case, may we suggest that you consider purchasing one of our smart new Wiltshire RoADAR Polo Shirts. These are available in RoSPA red with a gold embroidered logo for just £7.50. If you would like one (and why wouldn't you?) then pick one up at any of our meetings or speak to Monica.
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May Meeting Report: Julie Garbutt, British Horse Society
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My first attendance at a monthly RoADAR meeting and my first report!
Julie opened by giving a brief overview of the British Horse Society (BHS) membership and its responsibilities which include: horse welfare, training, exams, school and other equine centre approvals. Focussing this talk on road safety she likened cars and motorcycles to bullets (high speed metal objects) whereas horses are unpredictable, highly reactive and likely to explode in any direction! Along with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, horse riders are vulnerable road users; but do we see them as such?
The BHS is very much concerned with training horse riders including the use of safety equipment and hi viz clothing which, for example, can result in riders being seen by other road users some three seconds earlier.
Given the increase in horse ownership along with increases in car and other vehicle usage along with an increasingly fragmented bridleway network the risk of conflict between horse riders and other traffic is also rising. The answer to this is for all to be more tolerant and patient around horses and give them the space they need.
Worryingly a recent AA survey suggests that one in ten drivers don’t know how to pass a horse on the road! Wide and slow (less than 15mph), watch for and react to any signals from the rider (they may be aware of something we can’t see or hear) and, if in doubt, stop.
For the twenty or so members gathered at the meeting, Julie provided an informative and interesting talk that perhaps challenged a few misconceptions and illustrated how gaining an understanding of another’s situation can help us all improve road safety for everyone.
Jed Dine
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Thanks to all who came along, eleven in all a great turn out.
It was nice to see some faces who we haven't seen for a while (I nearly said old faces) and some new, or at least people I hadn't previously met.
Mrs Hyde excelled at providing bacon rolls and cups of tea before we set off for sunny Dorset and it was sunny! Unfortunately Mrs Hyde was on duty for Wessex Serv so was unable to join in even though we were Sans Snot Gobblers!
Briefly the route was mainly B Roads and minor A roads, the sort that have three digits. We rode through Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton on our way to Cerne Abbas, where we enjoyed the usual Wiltshire RoADAR diversions caused by Wessex Water. Brief stop for oil at Dorchester before heading over to the Kings Arms at Portesham. A superb pub garden and a great lunch for some; I had salmon on brown bread, honest. Some had chips! Three of the group had to leave at this point. They hadn't been naughty but had suitable excuses so we bade them farewell.
Next was West Bay via the stunning coastal road with views of Chesil beach and Helmet City for a browse or, in my case, new summer boots. It is where Broadchurch was set and partially filmed.
Unfortunately time ran away with us and we missed out on my planned stop at the Udder Farm Restaurant. Instead we availed ourselves of teas and coffee at the Virginia Ash Hotel in Henstridge. We then continued along the A30 to Shaftesbury where the Northerners turned off on the A350 and the Salisbury lot continued.
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Under EU Rules, ongoing from October 2015, motorists may require a black box (telematics), device fitted to their vehicle or face increased insurance premiums. This will allow insurers to monitor how fast customers drive, how they brake, and how they travel, etc. It will also be easier for emergency vehicles to locate vehicles after a crash.
Insurers predict that by 2020 half of all cars, including used vehicles will be fitted with the technology. Many young drivers already have them.
Tom Ellis of Gocompare said: “In ten years there will still be people who prefer not to have a telematics device installed, but it will be an opt-out situation, rather than opt-in…there will be reasons why people opt out, but they will have to pay higher premiums”.
There are lots of ‘Why’s and Wherefores’ to be discussed yet but the Department of Transport spokesman said, “We want to see how effectively it improves behaviour and reduces risks”.
I for one, have no problem with that, I have nothing to hide and I drive to proper advanced/defensive driving principles as best as I can for every journey I take. I can’t switch on and off! I look forward to the fact that I am re-tested every three years so that someone can give me an appraisal of my driving standard, attitude and ability, at the time.
Whether it will reduce your ‘Good Driver’ premium dramatically as the data becomes effective to the insurers, I don’t know. We wait and see. Will my wife know where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to???? Well at the age of 73 by then…I tend not to worry!!!!!
Food for thought!
Chris Gleed
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