Norfolk & Norwich Group of Advanced Motorists E-mail Newsletter - "Torque"
Volume #37 (7th April 2010)
Contents
- Welcome
- Up And Coming Events
- IAM Manifesto
- Minvo's Manifesto
- Drifting / Rallying
- Young Driver Dates
- Ride Outs
- Spread the word (please)
- Advertising
- WELCOME
Welcome to volume 37 of Torque.
If you have any feedback regarding this issue of Torque then please e-mail me on mailto:steve@minvo.com
- UP AND COMING EVENTS
NORWICH:
All at Wensum Community Centre, Hotblack Road, Norwich
All on 2nd WEDNESDAY of each month (unless otherwise stated) @ 7:30pm
14 April
Simon Best
Simon is the former IAM Managing Director and now CEO of IAM who will be dropping in to talk to members. (subject to confirmation)
12 May
Howard Scotter
Howard will talk about the Vulcan XH558 Bomber
9 June 2010
Guide Dogs for the Blind.
14 July 2010
PC Garth Coupland
PC Coupland will be talking about the work of a wildlife crimes officer. He is the only dedicated wildlife crimes officer in Norfolk Constabulary and a leading authority in the country.
Please visit the website http://www.nnam.org/norwich.html for up-to-date amendments to this information.
Sunday 27th June
Foxton Locks
A day out Driving or Riding to Foxton Locks
More information closer to the date.
KINGS LYNN:
All at the Farmers Arms Inn, Knights Hill Hotel, South Wootton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3HQ
All on 4th MONDAY of each month (unless otherwise stated) @ 7:30pm
26 April 2010
Patrick Thompson
Catering the Royal Way.
Patrick will talk about his life in the Royal Household.
24 May 2010
Rosemary from Queenies Sweet Shop.
Rosemarie from Queenies, a small family run sweet shop, in King's Lynn give a history of Confectionary with links to Herbalism and Witchcraft.
28 June 2010
TBA
26 July 2010
Trevor Burlingham
Exploring the towns and villages of Norfolk
Trevor makes a return to the Kings Lynn Meeting Venue after his talk in September on East Anglian Defences. This time Trevors slide show is entitled 'Exploring the towns and villages of Norfolk'
No meeting in August
27 September 2010
SARDA Can Tech.
The Search and Rescue Dog Association will give a talk about the work the dogs and their handlers perform.
25 October 2010
Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) from Norfolk Constabulary.
A very rare opportunity to listen to a talk by the Crime Scene Examiners from Norfolk Constabulary about forensic work and scientific processes involved in Crime Scene Investigations.
Learn To Drive! with Pams Academy of Motoring
Lessons starting from £19 per hour
Motorway / Refresher courses / Pass Plus Scheme / Nervous people welcome
Based in Potter Heigham, and covering all areas between Wroxham, North Walsham & Yarmouth
Please ring 07772 189210 or Visit our web site www.pamsdriving.co.uk for further details
IAM MANIFESTO
From IAM London
"The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has today published its Road Safety Manifesto for the upcoming election, calling for urgent support from all political parties to promote driver and rider improvement on UK roads.
Two of the more radical ideas in the IAM manifesto, which is designed to cut the unacceptable number of road deaths and injuries every year, are new incentives for Chief Constables to provide high profile policing, and tax breaks for companies offering their staff drivers further driver training.
"A lifelong approach to learning, delivered through advanced training, is the single biggest factor that can benefit road safety," said Simon Best, IAM Chief Executive.
"Human error is the biggest cause of crashes, so improving driver ability is the best way to deliver real reductions in road deaths and injuries: better driver behaviour must be the key road safety priority for the next ten years.
"Young drivers, older drivers, motorcyclists and business drivers are the groups that would benefit the most from further training, and the IAM has solutions that could potentially improve their safety record," added Mr Best.
The IAM calls for Government to play its part by providing simple incentives for those considering further training such as tax breaks and VED (Vehicle Excise Duty) discounts, with any cost to the exchequer being redeemed through savings from fewer crashes.
The IAM considers visible policing to be a much overlooked deterrent to reckless driving. More police on the road will encourage good driver behaviour and deny the use of the of the road to a reckless minority."
View the full IAM Manifesto here -> http://www.iam.org.uk/images/stories/Policy_Research/IAM_Charity_Election_Manifesto_final_23_03_10.pdf
MINVO'S MANIFESTO
What a great idea (above) from the IAM in London.
Here are the changes I would make if I was elected (which will be a miracle as I am not standing).
1, Scrap the 12 points system and give people 100 points to start with. Then each driving offence has a range of points deducted from your licence. A judge can then give a 30 point deduction for travelling 40 in a 30mph zone, or just 5 points for doing 35 in a 30mph zone (for example). Having the 3 points or nothing is a little harsh for those who are just over the limit. Fines can be fixed to the amount of points making them fairer for the 'just overs'.
2, Insurance companies should have a set rule for charging drivers (and riders) an extra percentage on their insurance for each point on their licence.
3, Paint the "white lines" in the middle of the road a different colour depending on the speed limit. Red for 20mph, Orange for 30mph, Yellow for 40mph, and white for national speed limit. I know that those unfortunate to be colour blind may not benefit from this but the vast majority of the population would no longer need to wait for the next repeater sign before knowing the limit.
4, Scrap the speed humps and replace them with daily visits by a patrol car. With the amount of money we would save on the cost of replacing the tyres (because they wear on the inside) we could pay for the policeman to patrol the 20mph zone.
5, Make 20mph zones compulsory to be reverted to 30mph or 40mph when the hazard (eg school) is closed.
6, Make it a road traffic offence to cycle on the road when a perfectly usable cycle path is available.
7, Clamp down on cyclists who ignore red lights. Compound the cycle and get them to walk - give a release fee before they can collect it.
Please send me your ideas or if you hear of a national party incorporating either the IAM's or my ideas then please let me know ASAP.
- DRIFTING / RALLYING
Anyone interested in a Rallying or Drifting with Shaun Taylor Racing?
I am thinking of running a NNAM visit to their "runway" for a afternoon bit of fun during the summer.
I have sent a request for possible dates to Theresa - I will let you all know once I have a date.
- YOUNG DRIVER DATES
Please spread the word. I have dates scheduled in for Young Driver courses for 2010.
Course 2: Starting Tuesday 18th May @ 7pm. Subsequent dates are 25th May, 1st and 8th June.
Course 3: Starting Tuesday 20th July @ 7pm. Subsequent dates are 27th July, 3rd and 10th August.
Course 3: Starting Sunday 24th October @ 10am. Subsequent dates are 31st October, 7th & 14th November.
All held at Wensum Community Centre, Hotblack Road, Norwich NR2 4HG
The courses are designed for 17-25 year olds who have just passed their driving test (17 test).
Courses contain topics on Bend Assessment, Speed Awareness, Overtaking, Advanced Car Control.
Each course also has a demo drive from a Class 1 (police) driver and an assessment from the same.
For more information please contact me on 01603 814035 or e-mail youngdrivers@nnam.org
RIDE OUTS:
April 11th
Barton Mills
Meet at Little Chef West Lynn at 09:00
April 12th
Chip Run
Meet at Chequers Wimbotsham at 19:30
April 25th
Rutland Water
Meet at Little Chef West Lynn at 09:00
May 9th
Sizewell Beach
Meet at Little Chef West Lynn at 09:00
May 10th
Chip Run
Meet at Chequers Wimbotsham at 19:30
May 23rd
Skegness
Meet at Little Chef West Lynn at 09:00
June 27th
Foxton Locks (http://www.foxtonlocks.com/)
More information on Ride-Outs on the WebSite at http://www.nnam.org/rideout.html
- SPREAD THE WORD
To be able to receive this newsletter you must:
* Have an e-mail address
* Have a computer to receive the e-mail
* And most importantly I must know what your e-mail address is.
So, spread the word. If you know someone who might appreciate a copy of this newsletter then please get them to send me an e-mail ( mailto:steve@minvo.com ) or call me at home on 01603 814035. If you know someone that doesn't have an e-mail address then simply print this e-mail and give it to them.
- ADVERTISING
If you (or you know of someone) who might want to sponsor our newsletter then please let me know. The added advantage of having an e-mail newsletter is being able to have hyperlinks straight to an advertisement on a web page.