CAM NEWSLETTER No.10
Spring 2005
|
From
the Chair
Jim Boote
|
In
January many members went to the Mobility Centre at
Treliske and in the course of a most enjoyable evening
learned a lot about the problems facing some drivers
and how the Centre solves them. Some also learned quite
a bit about themselves as they took part in tests designed
to assess driver capability. The talk by Steve Froud
from the Driving Standards Agency at the John Betjeman
Centre in March was also most entertaining and informative.
Again there was the opportunity to test our knowledge
and skills. Fortunately Paul Basher offered to put his
head on the block and take the hazard perception test,
so we wrinklies could sit back and feel smug. The only
thing missing at this second invaluable talk was a large
audience—perhaps because there was an England
match on TV and Wadebridge is a long way for some people—but
do try to support activities whenever you are able;
an awful lot of work goes into creating a programme
and then arranging the events.
Incidentally if you know of an interesting speaker or
a particular venue that our group could visit, do let
us know so that we can build them into the future programmes.
Spring is now well sprung and we’ve already had
the influx of visitors to our lanes who have every gear
but reverse. They gaze at you with a look that suggests
you shouldn’t be there, or simply says “Help!”
I know it’s frustrating but at least we have the
skill to manoeuvre with some degree of efficiency into
a space designed to allow two bicycles to pass. Actually
“How to be an Advanced Driver” spends little
time on reversing. Page 21 gives useful information
on rear observation and there is a little on Parking
(52) and that’s it. As the statistics now make
clear, there are more deaths on country roads than in
towns, so perhaps we need a Cornish version called “Liskeard
to Land’s End backwards!”
The arrangements for Sunday 21 May 2006 at Flambards,
when the IAM celebrates its 50th birthday, are coming
on well. We already have static displays of vintage
and new cars, motorbikes and so on. If you know of a
group or individual that might make a contribution to
this special day, do let us know. We anticipate IAM
members coming to join us from the South West of England
and even Wales, so it should be a very exciting day
out for all the family.
I asked in the last newsletter for members to be positive
about recruiting. If you believe, as I do, that the
IAM is a positive force for safer driving, which means
lives saved and heartbreaks avoided, then you really
should be evangelistic in persuading relatives and friends
to join. Advertising is expensive and doesn’t
always work—a friendly word at the right time
is should be evangelistic in persuading relatives and
friends to join. Advertising is expensive and doesn’t
always work—a friendly word at the right time
is free and it usually does work. You might be saving
the life of somebody near to you by making him or her
70% less likely to have an accident.
We are pleased and proud that CAM member Tim Soper of
the Motorcycle Group is now the Southwest Region’s
(Region 1) motorcycle adviser reporting to the motorcycle
manager at IAM headquarters.
I’ve just returned from a cruise that took us
to India, Oman, Egypt and Jordan. In India the roads
are horrendous. In most places a strip of “tarmac”,
often pot-holed with craters that could lose a Mini,
is absolutely packed with huge gaudily painted lorries,
buses carrying passengers inside and outside, goats,
elephants, cycles, pedestrians, scooters carrying entire
families, hand carts, buffalo carts and sacred cows
lying where they will. In contrast Oman has some of
the best roads in the Middle East with a handful of
lorries, tourist coaches and some seriously expensive
cars. The difference is like the A30 at 4 am in the
winter and a sunny bank holiday Friday afternoon. Maybe
we’re not so badly off in Cornwall visitors n’all.
Happy motoring and drive your badge with pride.
|
Farewell and thank
you!
Helen Schofield has retired
as the Institute’s Southwest Regional Coordinator.
We thank Helen for her service and particularly for
the support and counsel which she gave to our group
recently.
Her successor is Lona Williams
who, until now, has been the secretary to the Regional
Liaison Forum and a committee member of the Cardiff
Group—we look forward to meeting her soon.
|
Remind
me, please
Speed limits on some of our roads
are being changed and sometimes they surprise us. I
drive regularly between Bodmin and Boscastle. I take
the B3266—a pleasant road with very good visibility
along many stretches. Its speed limit has gone down
to 50 mph between Washaway and Camelford.
When it is difficult to understand
the reason for some speed limits they are harder to
adhere to. So I , for one, welcome the well-sited reminder
signs along the B3266.
To help others, could we have
a 30mph reminder outside my house in Bodmin please?
Dave’s
Slant – on motoring, Motorsport and the Universe
David Ede
Last year over 118,000 off-road
vehicles (commonly called SUVs in the USA) were sold
in the UK. I wonder how many actually travel off-road,
notwith-standing an occasional kerb hop on the school
run. Is this statistic need or status driven? I must
confess that apart from an off-road driving course,
the only time I have driven this type of vehicle was
2 years ago on the Wales Rally GB when we hired a Land-Rover
Discovery (not really my type of vehicle). Good as it
was, the capability on muddy terrain was governed by
the grip afforded by the knobbly road tyres. Its thirst
was fairly impressive, too!
Travelling out of Newquay the other day along Trevemper
Road, I noticed that the previous national speed limit
section had been replaced by a 40mph limit. This made
me think how long it will take the planners to govern
all main roads. Call me cynical, but I suspect in 5
years or less the only roads still remaining at 60mph
limits will be narrow country side roads, with legislation
dictating that other roads need to be seen to be made
safer…60 is too fast…is it the roads or
drivers at fault? I remember many years ago an Associate
claimed that his “Audi would not go at 30 mph".
He was soon proved wrong!
The demise of MG Rover saddened me, but like other global
car makers, it was losing money to the tune of nearly
£1 million per day. No government could pour money
in indefinitely, so the end was inevitable. The amount
of investment would have been colossal. When I toured
the Vauxhall factory at Luton in 1994, I was told that
the cost of tooling for the Vectra floorpan was £200
million alone! With Fiat recording similar losses, GM
and Ford Europe also in the red, the major players are
all being hurt. Although on a much smaller scale, every
JCB digger is sold as it leaves the factory gates, the
money being transferred at that time.
Best lines heard or seen recently: "Failure is
the new success" Quentin Wilson. Sticker on a new
rally car – Latest gear – no idea! Finally,
did you realise that "desserts" is "stressed"
spelt backwards? Drive carefully out there.
Pam and I are currently
house-changing (who suggested it could be the most stressful
thing you could ever do?) Because of this, I must confess
that my CAM duties have taken a bit of a back seat.
However, I would like to assure the trainee car senior
Observers that I remain committed to the task, and that
also applies to requalifying the established car observers
afterwards. In addition, I hope to commit more time
to my new duties as Motorcycle Associates Organiser.
Hopefully normal service will be resumed soon!
|
Ultimate
recycling
Peter Allen
Take one 2CV that has seen better
days. I paid £150 for a car that was going to
the scrap yard, brought it home, sold the doors, wings,
bonnet and boot for £130. I kept the engine, gear
box, front steering rack, steering wheel and three wheels.
I then cleaned all the mechanical parts, ready to be
assembled. I bought the kit from the only kit car company
in Cornwall, Black Jack of Water-Ma Trout, Helston.
The car is called an Avion.
You get the new chassis first, which you spray to the
colour of your choice. All the front and rear suspension
arms have to have plates welded on for shock absorbers.
Then you receive your fibreglass bodywork; you have
to drill all the holes in the main body for all the
components such as wiring, steering, gear levers and
the bolts to hold it to the chassis. You then send your
body away to be sprayed. I chose Lotus yellow.
When you get your car body back from the spray shop,
you start to build your car. The first thing that goes
on your chassis is the petrol pipe, steering rack, then
the body. The brake pipes have to go through the rear
of the car and the engine goes in, front and rear suspension
goes on and then comes the wiring loom—I must
admit I did have an auto electrician to help me. When
the car parts are assembled, you can get ready to start
the engine and after twelve months it is quite an achievement
to hear the engine running. Now the car is complete,
I have to go to a MSVA test centre at Exeter in this
kit car which hasn’t been driven for twelve months
that can be driven to Exeter with no tax or number plates
on it but it was insured because I am going to the test
centre.
The car failed the test on five counts: seat belt needed
strengthening, mph to be marked on the speedometer,
mudguards not over the wheel enough, petrol cap not
rounded enough and had no rubber seal, and too high
on HC emissions. Four of the problems were easily solved.
The seat belt strengthening was more difficult; I made
up two steel plates to fit behind the seat belt mounts
which I attached to the chassis, and hoped that would
be sufficient.
I took the Avion back up to Exeter four weeks later
to be re-tested. We were there for only an hour and
it PASSED! I was presented with a certificate which
looked like an MOT, and was told to take it back to
Truro DVLA to get my number plate from the donor car;
to keep the registration from the donor car you have
to get a ‘points’ system—engine, gearbox,
steering column, front brakes, rear brakes—and
if you get enough points you can keep the donor registration
number.
If you should see me on the road, I will be driving
a bright yellow three-wheeled
Black Jack Avion
|
Slow signs and
Illumination of traffic signs
a letter from Adrian Roberts
Cornwall County Council Traffic and Safety
Engineer
In response to your question in CAM News (Winter 2005),
yes, there are traffic engineers out here, at least two of
whom were intrigued by the opinion on how SLOW road markings
and sign illumination was justified (p.10)
The use of the SLOW road marking is covered by advice in
the Department for Transport's Traffic Signs Manual. The
marking should rarely be used on its own; it is most effective
when provided adjacent to a warning sign so that drivers
are told why they need to slow down. Its provision is dependent
upon the individual circumstances rather than automatic.
For example, a SLOW might be provided on approach to a sharp
bend following a long, fast straight, but not on approach
to another similar bend if the speeds are lower.
Although SLOW markings are often used
to treat accident sites, there is no requirement to provide
SLOW markings at locations of serious accidents, or limit
them to this use. Indeed, one of the problems facing traffic
engineers is preventing them from being marked at unnecessary
locations as an easy response to public concerns-their
impact is reduced if they proliferate.
The illumination of signs is governed by a number of factors.
The basic requirements are set out in a Statutory Instrument,
The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002:
think of it as a 450-page version of the sign section in
the back of the Highway Code. Every sign that may be used
on a public road is included, along with schedules detailing
such things as the sizes used, regulations they give force
to and, of interest here, illumination needs. This is a national
standard, so there is limited opportunity for discretion.
Warning and regulatory signs, broadly
speaking, must be illuminated in street lit areas (there
are exceptions, before everyone starts writing with examples),
but are not illuminated in rural areas. There are two main
reasons for this. The first is that it would be ruinously
expensive to run endless miles of cable to connect isolated
signs in remote areas. The second is that it is just not
necessary to light signs in areas without street lights-the
reflective materials from which signs are made are so good
that car headlights are more than sufficient to illuminate
them from a long distance. In contrast, for urban areas
with high ambient light levels and many competing light
sources, these same signs need to be directly lit to ensure
they can be seen.
The principle exception to this is when a sign is placed
in a position where headlights cannot illuminate it. Overhead
gantry signs on motorways, for example, are nearly always
illuminated as headlights cast too little light upward to
reflect back to the driver, even on dark stretches of read.
The placement of smaller signs is rarely problematic though
and I cannot recall any warning sign situated in an unlit
part of Cornwall which has been illuminated.
In summary, while a warning sign may indeed be provided
in response to a serious accident, the question of its illumination
is dictated almost solely by the presence of street lights
and the level of ambient lighting.
I hope this has been illuminating
and an email from Russell
Jackson
In reply to your query re SLOW painted on the road surface.
Re the article by PH. CAM News No 9. SLOW is usually painted
on the road surface where there is a hidden hazard such as
a minor junction hazard after a bend and very exceptionally
a brow. In my experience there are very few exceptions to
this rule. Regards.
|
Testing times
We sent an email to the DSA about
driving test examiners-they
replied:
Please find the information you requested regarding the
examiners. This figure was at the 23.02.2005. It includes
all staff with a current warrant card, regardless of grade
within the agency.
Total Staff 1625 Male 1365 Female 260
Has this imbalance any bearing on pass and failure rates
|
Peter and Polly's Puzzle Pages
1 In what year was the requirement to give hand signals
dropped from the driving test?
2 You are travelling on a single carriageway road at the
national speed limit. Another vehicle is approaching you
at the same speed.
By how many feet per second is the gap between you closing?
3 In the range of MG sports cars what do the initials MG
stand for?
4 In the Christmas carol Good King
Wenceslas there is the phrase.
Sire he lives a good league hence. How
far is a league?
5 How many penalty points would you get on your licence
for not having a valid MOT certificate?
6 Learner drivers must display L-plates in England. What
is the alternative in Wales?
7 Sir William Lyons of Jaguar fame started out making what
in Blackpool?
8 What is the speed limit on motorways for a goods vehicle
under 7.5 tonnes if it is articulated?
9 In what year did cats' eyes first come into use on British
roads?
10 There are double white lines in the centre of the road.
You are approaching a cyclist who is travelling at 15 mph.
Are you allowed to cross the double white lines to overtake
the cyclist?
|
The Motorcycle Pages
Easter ride 2005 Dave Mooney
The weather gods smiled on the five who turned up to ride
on Saturday 26 March. Present were: Mark Charlesworth,
Jamie and Ivan Cullum, David Mooney and Mark Tucker. We
couldn't believe our luck as the forecast had been for
rain so we didn't complain and hit the road. The group
met at Victoria at 10 am as planned and set off to Windy
Ridge to pick up the rest of the crowd who were conspicuous
by their absence. Apart from a brief visit from Pete Smith
that was it. The run down to Torpoint was absolutely brilliant
with nothing in front to hinder our progress through those
gorgeous sweepers. Plymouth was as expected on Easter Saturday
so I shall move on.
The ride to Kingsbridge was steady with little traffic;
the scenery in that part of Devon is stunning. I think
we all agreed that the run from Kingsbridge up to Dartmouth
had the strangest speed limits ever seen. I have never
before been from 30 mph down to 20, up to 30, 40, 60 and
back down to 20 all in the space of one mile. It was interesting
to say the least and says a lot about the local council.
Lunch in Dartmouth was taken by the harbour in bright sunshine
and we soon left refreshed and ready for the ride home.
The traffic had started to build by now but some excellent
planned overtakes were watched by myself now at the back
as I was unnerved by 4 sets of advanced eyes boring into
my back on the way there.
Social Event
There was a social meet on Friday 1 April at Ladock which
went very well with an interesting talk given by Chris
Sully about his round the world motorcycle tour. The evening
was also used to launch an events questionnaire which has
provided valuable feedback for the Events Co-ordinators.
The Questionnaire
64% of
those attending completed the events questionnaire
so we feel confident to act on your responses.
You told us that
60% of you want to participate in a monthly ride out
both in the Summer and Winter seasons; 64% want to
go to a monthly pub meet. See below for the outline
programme for the rest of the year.
52% want to be able
to go en mass to organised events such as the Westpoint
Bike show; 32% are interested in going abroad as a
group, to this end we are proposing a second trip this
year in the Autumn to Normandy and the D-Day Beaches
for 5 nights in the week September 23-30. Please contact
Mark if you are interested to go. And as a date for
your diary another trip in the last week of April 2006!
40% would
like to undertake weekend trips away and were equally
split between camping and staying in hotels - so
what we need now are your recommendations for events
and places to go to, please.
Well over
a quarter of you want to show others your favourite
ride and are also prepared to lead it - we know where
you are! And will be contacting you to organise these.
Thanks for the support.
Mark Charlesworth
came up with a not to be missed "see the bits the emmets
don't" tour of Goonhilly and a whacking 90% wanted
to go. As you read this, Mark is making contact to
arrange days and times. Mark is prepared to extend
this offer for a limited period to those unable to
make the Ladock evening so if you want to have a look
see please contact Ivan or Mark... but be warned there's
a lot of clambering about involved so you do need to
be reasonably fit and agile! As Mark is doing all of
this in his own time the offer is open to a limited
number til the end of May.
Summer
calendar
All
weekend social rides start at 1000 on Saturdays
and 1030 on Sundays unless otherwise stated.
The rides are open to all paid up members and to
associates if invited by their observers. The rides
will follow the IAM guidance for "Group Organised Rides";
copies of this will be available at each ride. The
CAM Group Committee has the right to exclude any
participant from the ride at any time.
The pub meets are planned
to run from 1930 on each of the evenings listed and
are open to all. The event weekends would
involve camping so will interested parties please contact
the Co-ordinators at least six weeks before the event
to register their interest. These events are open to
all but may require membership of organisations other
than IAM and CAM. The
Events Co-ordinators will be pleased to assist any
would-be leaders to set up their rides.
We will
be amending the program to take account of your views
and offers, so watch this space and the website, www.cornwalladvanced.co.uk,
for breaking news and details. Thanks for all your
comments and support
Mark (mark.tucker@cornwalladvanced.co.uk
01726 823291) and
Ivan (ivan.cullum@btinternet.com
01726 71199)
Summer calendar
April 27
to 2 May Brittany
May
18th Pub
meet at Plume of Feathers,Mitchell
29th Mystery
run!
June
12th IAM
event at Sammy Miller's
15th Pub
meet at The Cheesewring, Minions, Liskeard
26th Ride
to Weymouth
Date to
be advised: talk by Robin Derges of Devon and Cornwall
Police Motorcycle Division
July
9th Barnstaple
via Exeter
13th Pub
meet at the Bottleneck, Sourton, Okehampton
30th Castle
Combe Superbike Grand National weekend event
August
10th Pub
meet Watermill, Lelant Downs
14th North
Cornwall Coast Ride
28th Westpoint
Show Exhibition Centre Exeter
29th Joint
Ride with TVAM Land's End
We
will be amending the program
to take account of your views and offers, so watch
this space and the website-www.cornwalladvanced.co.uk-for
breaking news and details. Thanks
for all your comments and support, Mark and Ivan. Mark.tucker@cornwalladvanced.co.uk
01726 823291 Ivan.cullum@btinternet.com
01726 71199
|
The
big yellow school bus .
Eleanor Hoover
When I was 16 and first had a driver's
permit, I helped my dad drive a new school bus from Indiana
to Quakerdale Boys Home at New Providence, Iowa-some 500
miles. I never thought I'd be doing that for a living some
day.
In 1966 my girls came home from school on the bus and mentioned
to me that they were scared to ride the bus anymore as the
driver wasn't stopping at stop signs and would drive out
in front of people.* That got me worried, so I went to the
bus transportation director. He told me, why don't you drive?
To drive a school bus you have to
take a written test, called CDL and also a driving test.
Also during the year, a 12-hour instruction refresher course
is required. Need two licenses in your wallet-a bus state
permit and a chauffeur's license. Our school buses have
amber and red lights. When amber are flashing, cars are
to slow down. When red are flashing, they must come to
a complete stop in front of the bus and behind. All school
buses in Iowa that I know of are yellow.
I drove for seven years until I moved
to Dodgeville, Wisconsin; but I loved the driving so much
and being with the kids that I kept calling back to see
if they would save a route for me because I would move
back sometime. When I did move back I didn't stop driving
until 1991, when I retired after 23 years. I drove three-
and four-year-olds to their class, then out into the country
to pick up kindergarten to 12th grade children. Once two
boys got into a fight and were in the aisle. I got up and
put my coat around one's head and they sat back down. Once
a farm tractor ran into me (my big yellow bus was so much
bigger than his tractor) but I was able to get back to
town. One sweet thing at Christmas time-the
students would secretly collect quarters on the bus to buy
a gift for me. I would just pretend I didn't know what they
were doing. On the last day of school, I would always let
the kids bring water containers on the bus to have a big
water fight. The only rule was-don't hit the driver!
One of my favorite routes was picking up children with disabilities.
Every day was enjoyable, but there were some challenges,
like a child having seizures, a child taking off his clothes,
and my having to use the manual lift for wheelchairs.
I really didn't want to retire, but when I was 54 I decided
to quit and let someone younger take over. Now, at 78, I
still enjoy going to the year-end potluck suppers at the
bus barn.
* There are no roundabouts in Iowa, but all vehicles
must stop at intersections, first to arrive is first off
again. Ed |
|
|
|
