Gloucestershire RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders

Cela ne fait que 70 ans que nous savons cela:
"Ajouter des voies pour les voitures dans le but de réduire les embouteillages revient à détendre sa ceinture pour lutter contre l'obésité !"
Lewis Mumford 1955

Gloucestershire 2025 BikeSafe workshops Dates: 13 April, 18 May, 15 June, 13 July, 14 September & 19 October For more information, please visit https://bikesafe.co.uk/gloucestershire/ where you can also book onto a workshop. The workshops take place on Sundays 0830-1630 at: SkillZONE, Tuffley Lane, Gloucester, Glos GL4 0AS N51 50.085 W02 15.970 https://w3w.co/wipe.sooner.until

bikesafe.co.uk/gloucestersh... w3w.co/wipe.sooner....

UK Rider coach: “Talk me through your last overtake please.” UK Rider: “I could see the road was clear ahead so I overtook all three vehicles and pulled back in with plenty of room to spare.” UK Rider coach: “What did you notice as you overtook?” UK Rider: “There was a field entrance and a junction, both on the right towards Nympsfield, which were clear of vehicles so I knew it was safe.” UK Rider coach: “How did you interpret the lead vehicle’s right turn signal?” UK Rider: “Oh.”

Gloucestershire 2025 BikeSafe workshops Dates: 13 April, 18 May, 15 June, 13 July, 14 September & 19 October For more information, please visit https://bikesafe.co.uk/gloucestershire/ where you can also book onto a workshop. The workshops take place on Sundays 0830-1630 at: SkillZONE, Tuffley Lane, Gloucester, Glos GL4 0AS N51 50.085 W02 15.970 https://w3w.co/wipe.sooner.until

bikesafe.co.uk/gloucestersh... w3w.co/wipe.sooner....

A photograph of a large American Truck with five motorcycles parked in the driver's blind spots. None of the five are visible to the driver.

Something not quite right here.

A map of the UK showing changes in numbers of motorcycle thefts which compares January 2025 to December 2024. Green areas show reductions, red areas show increases. Far too many areas are dark red which denotes thefts increasing by more than 20%.

It’s worth re-considering how to protect your motorbike. Disk & steering locks and alarms are useless if used in isolation. Have multiple different anti-theft measures, such as a chain to lock it to immovable street furniture, to deter a thief. All you buy is time but at least they’ll think twice…

This is why you shouldn't ride on the grit line on bends (nobody was injured).

Looks like a great gathering this early in the season.

Two photographs each showing a red cone at the listed total stopping distance and three yellow or blue cones showing where the rider managed to actually stop each time. At 30mph the actual shortest stopping distance was about 9 meters less than the guide of 23 meters. At 40mph the actual shortest stopping distance was about 13 meters less than the guide of 36 meters. A satisfactory result.

The Highway Code total stopping distance at 30mph = 23 meters, at 40mph = 36m. I practised rapid braking in a large car park and was reasonably satisfied. Couldn’t practise at 50mph as there were too many others in the car park. Next time perhaps…

Why it’s vital to ‘Maintain a positive throttle’ when cornering on a motorcycle. Decelerating while cornering creates several dangers: Force limits: tyres can only handle a finite amount of force. Combining turning and decelerating can exceed grip limits, causing slides or crashes. Standing up: decelerating when leaning causes the motorcycle to straighten and run wide, potentially off your intended path into oncoming traffic or off the road. Weight transfer: deceleration shifts weight forward, reducing rear tyre grip when needed most which can lead to rear wheel slides. Suspension changes: deceleration compresses front suspension, altering geometry and handling mid-corner, making the bike less predictable. Traction: available grip is already being used for turning, leaving less for braking, increasing crash risk. Smaller effective wheel: when leaning, your tyre's effective rolling radius decreases. This requires more throttle just to maintain the same speed as the smaller wheel needs more rotations to cover the same distance.

Here are some reasons why motorcyclists are recommended to maintain a slight positive throttle when cornering:

A triple photograph showing what distance a motorcycle can stop within when using rear only, front only or combined brakes. Rear brake only = 11 bike lengths. Front brake only = 5 bike lengths. Both brakes together = 3 bike lengths.

This is why motorcyclists are recommended to use both front and rear brakes in normal conditions.

Source: DriveMag Riders 2017 youtube.com/watch?v=J42ivnmEF98

On bends with continuous white line(s) there's an easy-to-spot clue that can help you decide what speed to select, where the bend ends, when it's safest to move into the overtaking position and when to accelerate. Ever wonder why continuous lines stop at different points on a bend? It's because road engineers determine the 'sight line'. It's the point where you can see if the road is clear.

The SLAP Test model: Safe? Will you put yourself or other road users at risk? Legal? Is what you plan legal and will it comply with the Highway Code? Achieve? What will you gain? Is it advantageous? Is it appropriate? Will you just be showing off? Perception? Is it professional? What might other road users think? Will it make you look like a prat? PS Prat: A person who is incompetent and stupid. Take opportunities NOT risks.

The SLAP Test; a good way to assess if a planned manoeuvre is viable when motorcycling or driving.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IN CASE OF ICE: CONOCE TUS DERECHOS EN CASO DE ENCUENTRO CON ICE:

DO NOT OPEN YOUR DOOR. ICE cannot enter your home without a warrant signed by a judge. Tell the agents to show you the warrant by sliding it under the door. NO ABRAS TU PUERTA. ICE no puede entrar a tu casa sin una orden firmada por un juez. Diles a los agentes que te muestren la orden deslizándola debajo de la puerta.

ASK THEM TO LEAVE. If ICE doesn't have a warrant, tell them you do not consent for them to enter your home and ask them to leave. At work, ICE cannot enter employee-only areas without permission. 2 PÍDALES QUE SE VAYAN. Si ICE no tiene una orden judicial, diles que no das tu consentimiento para que entren a tu casa y pídeles que se vayan. En el trabajo, ICE no puede ingresar a áreas exclusivas para empleados sin permiso.

REMAIN SILENT. You have the right to remain silent. If the agents ask you questions, tell them, "I wish to remain silent." PERMANECE EN SILENCIO. Tienes derecho a permanecer en silencio. Si los agentes te hacen preguntas, diles: "Deseo permanecer en silencio".

It is perfectly legal to know your rights and to educate others about them, too.

EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.

Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)

That's an amazing photo. Very well done.

Hi, my name is [NAME], I'm a constituent in [ZIP CODE]. I'm calling because I saw that [TERRIBLE THING] is happening. I think this is appalling. [PERSONAL STORY, if you have one.] I want you to do everything you can to stop this. I will remember your actions when I cast my next vote. Thank you.

Here is a script you can use for any issue. Find your reps' # at reps.fyi or 5calls.org. Every time you see a news story that horrifies you: call, or something else about it. It matters to say what you believe. You are setting a norm.

The top part of a newsletter for an advanced drivers and riders group in UK. It shows a map of Gloucestershire county, the group's logo, a partial index and the first paragraph of our Chair's Introduction. The full newsletter text is available at https://ymlp.com/zJlJkJ

The latest Gloucestershire RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders' newsletter with a special mention about our BlueSky page.

ymlp.com/zJlJkJ

Mega SUVs leave too little space for other road users Average new car width: 180cm (200cm with mirrors) 180cm Parking 180cm Mega SUV width: 200cm (220cm with mirrors) 200cm Parking 180cm 130cm 730cm Parking 180cm 70cm Parking 180cm TRANSPORT & IE ENVIRONMENT CleanCities Source: T&E 2024. Notes: Image shows a residential street with cycling in both directions, one way for all other traffic, and parking for vehicles on both sides. A 730 cm width is frequently used for such streets in Europe.

Cars are getting 1 cm wider every two years Average width of new cars in EU and UK since 2001 185 180 Spain Germany UK France 175 EU 27+UK Average width (cm) Italy 170 165 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 TRANSPORT & ENVIRONMENT transportenvironment.org Source: ICCT pocketbook, data for France adjusted based on Aurélien Bigo's analysis of L'Argus car registration data. Figure 1: Average width of new cars in the EU and UK

It is quite nuts how bad the problem of widening cars is getting. I can't help but see every single net zero / climate pledge from these car companies in the context of them actively making their products more harmful and more dangerous for us.

www.transportenvironment.org/discover/car...

BikeSafe in Norfolk - BikeSafe Northumbria BikeSafe - book your BikeSafe workshop with Northumbria Police - a day with police graded riders for a rider skills uplift

bikesafe.co.uk/norfolk-2/

The cartoon character Charlie Brown is being hugged by his dog Snoopy. There's a small red heart in the air beside Snoopy to denote love and care. The caption says: Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.

Motorcycle Insurance Renewal. Swinton increased my insurance by 78%, offered by Aviva, for no apparent reason. I always use comparison sites and happy to change company although I always offer the current insurer a chance to match a lower quote. Swinton couldn’t (or wouldn’t). Great result! I’m now insured with Express Insurance, unbelievably also offered by Aviva, for 11% less than last year’s premium! I’d never suggest that Swinton are price gouging but as I am still with the same underwriter it does make me wonder… Always check you’re getting the best deal folks. You know it makes sense. Stephen (Editor)

You're all bonkers. Love it.

That's a superb photo. Well done.

NEW: The Chairperson for the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency has sent a letter to the OPP advising they consult White House Counsel on the legality of ousting 17 inspectors general. 👀

A badge of the British Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents with the words 'RoSPA Gold Award' below a laurel wreath.

Well done Tony. Great news.

This week's Internet winner goes to...

We did it!

A new OECD report confirms that US road safety is an abject failure.

Americans are far more likely to die in a crash than those living in other rich countries. US per capita crash death rates are at least 3x higher than Ireland, Norway, UK, Germany, or Japan.

www.itf-oecd.org/road-safety-...