Thames Valley Regional Motorcycle Action Group Website

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Last updated on 07/07/2008

Safety Stuff

Thames Valley Police Safer Rider, lots of very usefull information well worth a good look it might save you time, money or your pride and joy!

FAST FACTS FOR YOU

FAST FACTS FOR YOUR ROAD GOING BIKE

FAST FACTS KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Pillion Law

Leathers!

"Throwing it down," "laying it over," and "putting it sideways"

Accident stats, is it really Volvo drivers?

Drivers Against Daytime Running Lights - UK

Thames Valley Police is launching a major new initiative, called Safer Rider, to reduce the growing number of deaths and serious injuries of motorcyclists on the roads of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. From April 2002 to March 2003, 37 motorcyclists were killed and 300 were seriously injured on the roads of Thames Valley. The death toll is rising every year. The Thames Valley Roads Policing department is launching a programme of education and enforcement to halt this trend, and this is one of the first initiatives of its kind in the country. Red or yellow cards will be given to motorcyclists who are stopped by police. The yellow card is for minor offences that warrant advice from police, but not prosecution. Like a yellow card in football, it is a verbal warning. This would usually be given for manoeuvers in which the rider could get into danger, but with guidance could amend their behavior and remain safe. The aim of the yellow card is to encourage riders to seek further training through approved training bodies.

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Extracts from the 1999 Highway Code

90. Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights in an attempt to intimidate other road users.  [DRLs exclude courtesy signals between drivers]

94. You MUST NOT

use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users

use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users.

Law RVLR reg 27

201. You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights (in addition to headlights) but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves (see rule 211).
Law RVLR regs 25 & 27

211. You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see rule 201) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.
Law RVLR regs 25 & 27

Other rules which DRL’s violate:-

180. The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. It is particularly important to be aware of children, elderly and disabled people, and learner and inexperienced drivers and riders.

181. In urban areas there is a risk of pedestrians, especially children, stepping unexpectedly into the road. You should drive with the safety of children in mind at a speed suitable for the conditions.

191. Horse riders. Be particularly careful of horses and riders, especially when overtaking. Always pass wide and slow. Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse rider. Look out for horse riders' signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Treat all horses as a potential hazard and take great care.

125. Be considerate. Be careful of and considerate towards other road users.

[Drivers using DRL's are totally inconsiderate towards other road users - their aggressive attitude portrays GET OUT OF MY ROAD I'm barging through]

126. Safe driving needs concentration. Avoid distractions when driving …

[it is harder to concentrate on hazards when blinded by DRL’s]

The Thames Valley Police has joined forces with the 9 Highway authorities in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, the Highways Agency, The Crown Prosecution Service and the Thames Valley Magistrates Courts' Service to take action. Through the Safer Roads Partnership, the Police, Councils and courts are permitted to use some of the money from safety camera fines to fund the enforcement process and to educate drivers about the dangers and risks involved with speeding. So now the offender pays for this to be done - not the local taxpayer. The Thames Valley was one of the first areas in the Country to operate Speed and red light cameras known collectively as "safety cameras" and they have been in use for over 10 years. Over that period they have helped to reduce speed and casualties on our roads. The new funding arrangements will now allow more resources to help drive down speed and reduce injuries. In particular our mobile enforcement teams will be targetting casualty hot-spots and high risk routes. The main aim of the Safer Roads Partnership is to work together to reduce casualties on Thames Valley's roads by deterring speeding and promoting safety - not to prosecute drivers. REMEMBER - SAFETY CAMERAS ARE WORKING IN THAMES VALLEY

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Road Safety:


Think
www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk


The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM)
www.iam.org.uk

Helping L Drivers & Riders
www.helpingldrivers.com


Diesel Spills Kill
www.killspills.org.uk

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)
www.rospa.com

Handle It Or Lose It
www.handleitorloseit.com


The Association of British Drivers
www.abd.org.uk


Bikesafe
www.bikesafe.co.uk

Brake
www.brake.org.uk


Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety
www.pacts.org.uk


RoadSafe
www.roadsafe.com

Road Safety Council of
Northern Ireland
www.roadsafetycouncil.com

Road Safety Council of Wales
www.roscow.org.uk

Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk


Scottish Road Safety Campaign
www.srsc.org.uk

Transport Research Laboratory
www.trl.co.uk


This website is maintained by Reading & Windsor MAG Groups
Any comments or contributions will be gratefully received - please email: HarleyIan@yahoo.com Ian Newnham or peter@wadmag.org.uk Peter Smithson

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