Up to 50 lives could be saved each year if motorcyclists wore the safest helmets available to them.

This is why SHARP came into being in 2007, after the Department for Transport found real differences in the safety performance of motorcycle helmets available in the UK. While all helmets have to meet minimum safety standards, research showed that up to 50 lives could be saved each year if motorcyclists wore the safest helmets available to them.

Taking the best bits from current standards around the world, SHARP raises the bar - putting motorcycle helmets through a more rigorous and targeted testing process.

Thanks to a simple five star scoring system, SHARP provides motorcyclists with independent and objective advice, revealing the different safety performances of UK motorcycle helmets.

You can see how helmets are tested by clicking here. We are not sure you would treat your own helmet like that, but it’s good news someone else has done the test for you.

Manufacturers are advised of the SHARP rating before it is published and they are able to lodge an appeal if the measured data does not match what they have seen in development or production testing. This process ensures that the SHARP rating is representative of a helmet’s performance.

The SHARP test involves 32 impact tests on a helmet model before awarding the SHARP star rating. Helmets that offer good levels of protection uniformly around the head rate highly in SHARP. That’s not to say a 1-star helmet won’t protect you. Regardless of its SHARP rating, every helmet on sale in the UK meets at least one recognised standard, ensuring it offers at least a minimum level of protection.

What do you think of the SHARP test and advice? Has SHARP influenced you when buying a motorcycle helmet?

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On the 16 June 2010 the Mayor of London and TfL announced a new Motorcycles in Bus Lanes experimental scheme on the majority of the Capital’s ‘red route’ bus lanes.

The new 18 month scheme has been set up after an independent report into the initial motorcycles in bus lanes trial found that motorcyclists’ journey times improved but increased the risk of collision with cars and vans.

The current trial, which began on 5 January 2008 will finish on 5 July 2010.

The new experimental scheme will aim to improve compliance with speed limits and ensure better road safety awareness for all road users, paying particular attention to motorcycles in bus lanes.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “The chaos that was predicted by some doomsayers has clearly not materialized and, as I suspected would be the case, we have found substantial support for the measure.”

The reports can be read by clicking here.

All we know is that we have members who have been knocked off their bikes by cars turning right across the bus lane, and as ever the driver says he did not see the bike.

Headlights, bold bright colours, eyes looking everywhere, and keep your speed down. Not great riding but good for surviving the 18 months of the next experiment. An eighteen month experiment seems a way of making the system permanent without going through the process.

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11 June 2010
New transport minister Mike Penning - himself a motorcyclist - ordered the review of the motorcycle test after listening to the concerns of motorcycle groups and visiting a test centre to look at the testing procedure.
He wants to hear from riders and the industry to outline how they believe testing could be improved to produce “safe, confident and responsible riders”.
A new two-part test was introduced to meet EU rules in April 2009. Module 1 covers manoeuvres such as braking and “avoidance”; module 2 includes 30 minutes of road riding.
But in March the influential Commons Transport Committee described the Government’s roll-out of “super test centres” as “bungled” and “unjustified” in a hard-hitting report.
It said the operation forced the closure of small convenient local test centres, forcing learners to travel to new Multi-Purpose Test Centres on “fast and dangerous” roads before they had even taken their test.
The Driving Standards Agency had been “slow and dogmatic” in its approach to test centres, failing to listen adequately to the motorcycle industry.
Problems with the new test booking system and opening hours had been “bad for business”, said the report.
Now Mr Penning has promised to investigate manoeuvres carried out in both modules, and whether some could be conducted on-road.
MPs previously said it was “bizarre and confusing” that tests should be conducted at speeds above those allowed in built-up areas.
“Road safety is a top priority and the testing and training on offer is vital in our work to cut the disproportionately high numbers of motorcyclists killed and injured on our roads each year,” said Mr Penning.
“It is clear there are concerns among the motorcycling community about the safety of the off-road module of the test.
“That is why I am today asking riders, safety groups and motorcycle industry representatives to come forward with their ideas for how testing and training can be improved to ensure we produce safe, confident and responsible riders.”
Views should be submitted to the Department for Transport by July 31 - share them with us by commenting below.

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When we talk to riders involved in accidents the usual story is that something or someone came into their path without seeing the motorcycle. The motorcycle has to be stopped quickly. We often hear the rider lost the front wheel when it locked up, and the motorcycle went down.

There is advice about emergency braking, and we set out a few examples below. The theme seems to be practice and training, as stopping is not as natural as accelerating and changing gear. You have to have the necessary skills, and deal with the inevitable panic.

Some worthwhile thoughts can be found at :

• Motorcycle training blog
• Lazy motorbike
• eHow
• Web bike world
• about.com has a useful video
• monkeysee.com has a video, if you have time!

All interesting stuff, but the advice is not consistent. We often find ourselves recommending training, the Advanced Riding test with the IAM looking a good bet.

Is ABS the answer?

Let us know what you think, and what works best for you.

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By QMI Agency

Don’t text while you drive. Don’t shave while you drive. And definitely don’t shave your privates while you drive. That’s the lesson learned by a Florida woman who was charged in a crash that police say happened because she was giving herself a bikini trim while driving.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 37-year-old woman was rushing to meet her boyfriend in Key West and wanted to be ready for the visit.

Police say her ex-husband took the wheel from the passenger seat so the woman driver could finish shaving.

That’s when her car slammed into the back of a pickup. Two people in the pickup suffered minor injuries. The woman and her ex in the car were uninjured.

“If I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Trooper Gary Dunick told the local newspaper, The Citizen.

Police told the newspaper the woman had been convicted of drunk driving the day before and she had her licence suspended and her car was ordered impounded.

She was charged with driving with a revoked licence, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a wreck with injuries and driving with no insurance.

Source:

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2010/03/09/13167146-qmi.html

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This is a warning if you are going to ride a bike during February.

The Department of Transport produces a report each year called the Compendium of Motorcycling Statistics. There are lots of facts and figures, telling you how many bikes are taxed each year, engine size, and even the best sellers.

What caught our eye were the accident statistics. Most accidents occur in June, July, and February. When you look at the average miles travelled in each month you will find February is the most dangerous. There are fewer bikes out in February, but more accidents when compared to distance travelled.

So what are the reasons?:

• Short period of daylight?
• Poor road conditions?
• Insulated and warmed drivers not paying attention?
• Cold and uncomfortable riders?

You know the answers, so please let us know and pass on your wisdom.

From the riders we help, not being seen is the usual explanation from the driver at fault. We keep saying it, but here goes again; please be colourful. Black leather is cool, but it does not help you stand out on the road. There is a lot of good hi-vis gear available, so a good resolution this year is to be seen. You might look silly in the pub, but you will get there.

We are always ready to help in the event of any accident on 0330 022 5210 or 0800 0114114.
For a reminder of the benefits and services of YourKey please click here.
Good luck for the New Year and take care from the YourKey team.

The Report tells us “The distance driven by motorcycles is highly seasonal. Distance driven for the months of April through to September was considerably above the year average while the winter months, especially January, February and March, were significantly lower.”

Then we are told “The highest rate of motorcycle casualties occurred during February and the summer months of June and July.”

Think about it.

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Black ice is lethal. You don’t see it until its too late. If there is an answer to staying upright please please let us know.

The road surface just has to be below freezing, and if water gets on it you have ice. It might be dry weather, but water has come onto a road from a drain. It might be the road surface is colder in the shade, or under a bridge. You just cannot assume a road is clear. The technical weather stuff can be read by clicking here.

We are often asked by members about insurance, and if the highway authority can be blamed. Black ice or snow on the road is looked at very much like pot-holes. The highway authority has a duty to keep the road in reasonable condition, but not A1 at all times. There is no duty to grit a road every time there is a warning of frost, in the same way that a pot-hole need not be repaired almost instantly.

There are some very sad cases. look at this one reported recently in The Telegraph. It is not an unusual story of someone seriously injured because there was ice on the road. Witnesses are being sought in the hope of showing the road was in a dangerous condition for an unreasonably long time, and that the dangerous condition had already been brought to the attention of the highway authority.

There are no clear rules as to what is reasonable, but in recent years the Courts have shown them unwilling to hold local authorities to be in breach of their duties. There are some cases which can succeed. You have legal cover with YourKey, so do not hesitate to ask us to put you in touch with one of the specialist solicitors we use.

If you know of an area where water gets onto the road and freezes, please tell your local highway authority. They may not know about it, and may not understand life on two wheels. A recent report on the www.fixmystreet.com site went like this:

Reported in the Roads/highways category by Nick Jones at 12:01, Thursday 12 February 2009
Sent to West Sussex County Council 4 minutes later

I was travelling south on the B20208 into Lindfield this morning at about 0740. There is visible surface ice around the 30mph boundary. However, at the top of the hill by the junction to Old Place Farm there is black ice on which my scooter skidded. I was thrown over the handlebars. Fortunately I was only doing 20mph. No injuries. Can you do something about running water that frequently cross the carriageway on this hill please. Empty drains so they can receive water, clean ditches to stop water flowing into the carriageway. Put new drains in. All this also applies to the Hortsted Keynes to Lindfield road that has tonnes of running water on it despite the recent works near the waterworks.

Reporting my seem a pain, but it will save someone else from a spill.

Take care, and let us have any tips.

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Really worth watching. Turn up your sound to listen to the commentary.

The Devon Country Mile Cornering Clinic -Glenn Julian demonstrates cornering techniques on the new GSX-R1000 K9 on the A377 in Devon. Items covered are forward planning, positioning, braking, gears, throttle control, anticipating and planning for other road users.

We learnt alot, did you? Let us know.

See more at www.corneringclinic.com

Tags: cornering with Glenn Julian Devon Country Mile
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Devon Country Mile Cornering Clinic -Glenn Julian demonstrates cornering techniques on the new GSX-R1000 K9 on the A377 in Devon. Items covered are forward planning, positioning, braking, gears, throttle control, anticipating and planning for other road users.

Tags: motorcycle cornering clinic
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Looking to improve your riding skills. Came across this on the IAM website, and thought it might be of interest.

The page can be viewed at this link. IAM say:

View Full Size

“RideCheck is a short Assessment aimed at everyone who is interested in safer Motorbike Riding, but who doesn’t feel they are (yet) ready to take the IAM Advanced Test.

RideCheck applicants are put in touch with their local IAM Group, who will in turn arrange a mutually convenient time for the assessment to take place.

It takes about an hour comprising an initial introduction (document check etc.), followed by a 35-40-minute ride with the Group observer, followed by a feedback session, at which the candidate will be presented with a written feedback form.

RideCheck candidates then become an Associate of the IAM, for a period of 12 months.

RideCheck is NOT available for existing IAM Members, who instead should have a Members Riding Assessment.

The normal cost of RideCheck will be £40.00, but as an introductory offer, the price is discounted to £30.00.”

Let us know if you have used this assessment, or have joined IAM.

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Calls to our 08000 114 114 number are most frequent on Friday afternoon and evening. There is a great rush to get away from work and into the weekend. Drivers do not always see riders, but drivers in a hurry are even less likely to see you. Use all of your roadcraft, take it easy, and be seen.

Colourful and flashy clothing may not look cool, but it might be the difference between being seen, and calling 08000 114 114 after an accident.

Take care and be seen.

Mark for Your Key

Image:www.freeimages.co.uk

Tags: accident, accident call 08000 114 114, be seen, bike clothing, relective clothing, traffic
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Pillion passenger onboard

Like passing your test, taking your first pillion is a ride you’ll never forget.

But before we ride off into the sunset it’s a good idea to consider what to expect when carrying a pillion. The handling and performance of a motorcycle is different when carrying a pillion. The steering may become lighter, it will take longer to slow down or accelerate, and cornering will not be quite as sharp. With this in mind it’s vital to give yourself some extra space and time when riding two-up.

If at all possible it’s a great idea to practice taking a new pillion in an empty car park, it can help you get accustomed to riding with a pillion and it will also allow your pillion to gain in confidence more quickly.

Here are our top tips:

1. Make sure you both have proper riding gear.
2. Explain which parts of the motorcycle get hot and ensure that loose clothing or luggage will not interfere with the rear wheel, drive belt or other moving parts.
3. Make sure your motorcycle is equipped with a suitable pillion seat, footpegs and ideally a suitable backrest.
4. Don’t allow them to get on until you are on and have both feet on the ground.
5. Show them where to hold on and where to place their feet.
6. Pillions should not stand or make sudden moves. Tell them to copy your actions and movements, especially when cornering.
7. You must ride as smoothly as possible, avoiding abrupt acceleration, harsh gear changes and late and heavy braking.

Posted in riding tips | 8 Comments »