Monthly Archives: April 2010

Motorcycle Training, News

Think Bike !

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TV & Radio Campaign.

I’m sure by now you have become aware of the current ‘Think Bike – Think Biker’ campaign running on TV & Radio in the UK.

For some time ‘bikers’ have been deemed anonymous by other road users, often hidden behind dark visors or blaring headlights.  The current campaign serves to give each biker a personality and therefore an identity.  The radio ads include a short pen picture of the rider before asking us to watch out for him or her.

The TV ads depict the riders and bikes surrounded by large flashing neon signs showing their name and character traits. ie. ‘Andy- Shy Retiring Type’.

This £3.5m campaign launched by Transport Minister Paul Clark shows a radical change to the normal ‘Think Bike’ campaigns of the past, after research showed that drivers are more likely to notice riders on the road if they know them personally.

The ads seek to put the motorcyclist at the centre of the campaign in a bid to encourage drivers to see the person behind the visor.  Motorcyclists only account for 1% of road users but make up 19% of road deaths.

At 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff we support this campaign and I believe that to give the otherwise anonymous rider a character and a personality will help drivers acknowledge and be more aware of our presence, hopefully without the need for us to wear or names on our jackets and carry large flashing neon signs.

Also in the pipeline is a further campaign aimed at new riders.  The ‘Be alive on the Road’ campaign is aimed at encouraging new riders to wear protective clothing and to take further training.

Motorcycle Training

Bike Insurance

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Cheap Insurance for Advanced Riders.

For some years I have used ‘Bike Team’ Brokers for my Bike Insurance.  This gives me cover for my Private use and for use in connection with my business at very reasonable rates.

But now any of  RoSPA’s Advanced Riders can access highly competitive motorcycle insurance through the safety charity’s official alliance with the specialist brokers, Bike Team.

There are over 3000 motorcyclists who are members of the RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders groups who will now qualify for premium discounts of up to 25% !

Bike Team also pledges to price match quotes and offer renewal freezes for RoSPA qualified advanced riders.

Bike Team offer a range of attractive policy add ons such as including cover for riding in the EU for up to 90 days and free ‘no claims discount’ protection.

For a quote give them a call on 0800 917 5429  or visit www.biketeam.co.uk  They have worked for me.

Advice, Motorcycles, News

Filter at your peril in Norway!

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When you read this item from FEMA (Federation of European M0torcycle Associations), it seems that if a car driver hits something as big as, or bigger than itself then he may be prosecuted, but anything smaller and less significant on the road then it’s ok and he’ll get away with it.  In this case it was a small motorcycle but could just as easily been a pedal cyclist or pedestrian!  Worrying indeed.

Most motorcycle safety campaigns put the onus on us to make ourselves visible (ride with lights on even though we don’t need them, wear yellow high viz clothing etc) and we suffer the consequences if we don’t, when I have always been a believer that the onus is on the ‘car driver’ to exercise due care and to make sure they check for other road users as neccessary – and not only those dressed in dayglo.  This court ruling goes against that belief .

This Report is reproduced from a FEMA circulation.  Read this!

”  No penalty for running over a motorcyclist

A Norway court cleared a driver from responsibility for overlooking and seriously injuring a motorcyclist.

The 16 year-old rider rode his red colored bike in the middle of his lane in a queue of cars at around 60 km/h when he got hit by a car. The driver stated in court that she did not see the motorcycle due to its narrow shape, and that its silhouette was obscured by a signpost in the intersection.

The accident seems to be the classic example of a motorcycle just being overlooked by a motorist. However, two out of three judges in the Tønsberg District Court acquitted the driver. Norwegian riders interpret the judgment as equivalent to “overlooking riders will be exempted from punishment”. In effect, the driver would have been held responsible if she had collided with another car.
FEMA member NMCU, the Norwegian Motorcyclists’ Union, explains: “the court is basing its stance on the claim that the car driver did all she could to take due care, and that the accident happened because a motorcycle is harder to spot than a car. With this, the majority of the court is actually claiming that the Road Traffic Act’s requirement for taking due care may be graded”.

The rider had his ankle crushed, his elbow broken and sustained a number of wounds after the car hit him. He was hospitalized for 13 days and was placed on sick leave for two months. NMCU has asked the Prosecutor and State Attorney to appeal the verdict.

NMCU has been fighting for years to raise awareness and visibility of motorcyclists. One of their most popular campaigns, “Bugs”, reminds car drivers to not mistake motorcyclists for bugs. Unfortunately, lots of work still remains to be done.  “
Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Direct Access, Motorcycle Training, News

Booking your Motorcycle Test

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DSA Motorcycle Test Booking System is ‘Down’.

Another blow to the struggling Motorcycle Training Industry Testing System.  With only a small amount of  Motorcycle Testing Sites striving to serve the UK the DSA announced yesterday (31st of  March -at least it wasn’t an April Fools Day announcement) that due to a BT Fire the DSA payments system is ‘down’.

This means that you can not book motorcycle tests via the telephone system or online as the DSA can not process the payments for the tests.  The DSA recorded announcement states that it is unlikely to be rectified ‘within the week’.

This is a huge blow and a great inconvenience to clients and trainers alike.  With Motorcycle Training already hit by a reported 62% drop since the introduction of the New Motorcycle Test this is another major setback.

What does this mean for you if you are looking for Direct Access Training or CBT in Cardiff.  We are pleased to announce that CBT bookings are not affected and we can continue to serve you with the delivery of CBT courses.

Direct Access Training can still go ahead in preparation for your test but we are currently unable to book your test or fix a date.

The DSA booking centre staff can only advise us of any vacancies for tests but they can not be booked or even reserved.  They state that it would simply be a question of a free for all when the lines are repaired and the system is back up and running, as Training Schools fight to get available tests to clear their back log of waiting students.  That’s reassuring then!

This throws the whole system into disarray.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you but it is completely beyond our control.

CBTs are unaffected.

The DSA Booking line number is 0300 200 1122.   Our Direct Booking Line is; 0845 467 0165.