Norfolk & Norwich Group of Advanced Motorists E-mail Newsletter - "Torque"
Volume #31 (10th September 2009)
Contents
- Welcome
- Letters
- Young Drivers
- Motorway Lights
- Up And Coming Events
- Those Cameras
- Spread the word (please)
- Advertising
- WELCOME
Welcome to volume 31 Torque. A shorter than normal edition as the committee does not meet in August.
If you have any feedback regarding this issue of Torque then please e-mail me on :steve@minvo.com
- LETTERS
From Pam Austin
re: Speed Limits for Everyone...
"FOR GOODNESS' SAKE REDUCE CAR LIMITS THEN! THE THOUGHT OF LEGALLY OUT OF CONTROL VANS AND LORRIES CAREERING AROUND COUNTRY LANES AT 60 (OR 50) IS HORRENDOUS, PARTICULARLY THROUGH VILLAGES IN 30 LIMITS!"
re: Car Insurance
"AND THE STATE WOULD BE PAYING ME TO DRIVE - AT LEAST FOR 3RD PARTY - HURRAH!"
re: Points on licences
"AND DO WE HAVE A REDUCTION IN OUR INSURANCE PREMIUM FOR GOOD BEHAVIOUR? SO THAT I GET MY COMPREHENSIVE COVER FREE?"
um, no unfortuantely not - otherwise the insurance companies would complain too much.
From Colin Hayman
"I would also like to say thanks to every one on the workshop day had a very good time thanks mark"
- YOUNG DRIVERS
I still have spaces on the remaining course this year....
The course dates are:
Sunday 6th September and the following three Sundays
If you know anyone who might be interested in attending one of the courses then please let me know.
- MOTORWAY LIGHTS
From IAM London:
"The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has welcomed the Highways Agency’s (HA) new policy to switch off motorway lighting as it targets the safest and quietest motorways.
IAM Director of Policy and Research, Neil Greig, said: “We were concerned that a rush to reduce the carbon footprint of motorway lighting might have led to safety taking a back seat. But the HA has struck the right balance by continuing to illuminate junctions and opting for low flow routes with a good road safety record.”
Mr Greig emphasized motorways are our safest roads but collisions are more likely to take place at or near junctions.
The IAM understands the HA has no plans to extend the switch off to ‘A’ class dual and single carriageways where lighting is key to reducing the risks of night time driving."
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
- UP AND COMING EVENTS
NORWICH:
All at Wensum Community Centre, Hotblack Road, Norwich
All on 2nd WEDNESDAY of each month (unless otherwise stated)
No Meeting in August
9th September
St John Ambulance
First Aid for all
14th October
David Kenworthy
IAM Chairman
If you have any questions for the IAM Chairman then please let the group Secretary know by 1st October
KINGS LYNN:
All at the NEW VENUE - The Farmers Arms Inn, Knights Hill Hotel, South Wootton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3HQ
All on 4th MONDAY of each month (unless otherwise stated)
No Meeting in August
28th September
Trevor Howard
East Anglian Defences of the 1940s
This will also include Home Guard information and memorabilia
26th October
Jamie Tink
VOSA
Providing a range of information on licening, testing and enforcement services
with the iam of improving the roadworthiness of vehicles and ensuring the compliance of operators and drivers.
23rd November
PC Garth Coupland
He will be talking about the work of a wildlife crime officer
10th December
Group Christmas Meal
Farmers Arms
7.00pm for 7:30 start.
Booking enquiries to Mark Framingham please.
OBSERVER MEETINGS:
Thursday 16th July 7:30pm
Farmers Arms, Wootton, Kings Lynn
Saturday 26th September 1:30pm
Hotblack Road, Norwich
- THOSE CAMERAS
From IAM London:
"Young people have a more positive attitude to safety cameras than older drivers, according to the latest survey of driver opinions on safety cameras from the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists). The results, published today, show that 17-24 year-olds give the best approval ratings overall while older drivers tend to be the least supportive, with drivers over 45 giving the lowest approval ratings.
Neil Greig, Director of Research and Policy at the IAM, said: “Young people don’t tend to drive as frequently or as far as the average driver, and they have also grown up in a surveillance society, which could explain why they show less objection to safety cameras – older people are more likely to resent being monitored in this way. With this survey we now have 10 years worth of motoring opinion on the most contentious issue on the roads today.
The study also found that women have been consistently more supportive of safety cameras than men, although this support has fluctuated over the years. Support from men has declined from 83 per cent in 2002 to 66 per cent in 2009. “On average, women commit fewer traffic offences than men, so they may see cameras as less of a threat” said Mr Greig.
Very high mileage drivers (those driving over 20 thousand miles a year) were shown to be the least supportive of safety cameras. Mr Greig said: “20,000 miles is an unusually high distance to cover in a year, so the driver would typically be driving on business. Time is money for these drivers, they are more likely to be in a rush so more likely to get caught by safety cameras or be late because of them. They may blame the cameras for being late, rather than their unrealistic schedules”
The data, collected over 10 years, includes opinions on developments in safety camera policy and operations and acceptability of safety cameras.
Safety cameras had a 75% approval rating in 2009, compared with a 92% approval rating in 1999. “Support has declined gradually but consistently over the last 10 years, but overall speed cameras have maintained a good level of approval among the motoring public” added Mr Greig.
“However the firm belief remains that safety cameras are primarily for raising revenue. Until that link is broken it will remain very difficult to convince all drivers that safety cameras really do deliver fewer deaths and serious injuries”
Note to editors:
The IAM collated data from 6 opinion polls conducted by NOP for the AA about attitudes to speed cameras and associated issues.
The polls cover the years 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009"
- 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 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.