Editorial
This edition of the SAM Club newsletter comes out 3 days before the SAM CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY. It’s on the 5th December 2022 starting at 7.30pm. Details in this newsletter. Lots of raffle prizes to be won, so make sure you come along to show you appreciation for all the effort; and, have a great time with all your SAM Club friends.
It’s been a busy week and Anthony Kildare, IAM RoadSmart CEO, has set out an agenda for the future focus of the organisation. These changes are aimed at reducing road deaths to zero. This target was started by Project Edward, a road safety initiative to use evidence-based road safety activities, to inform future road safety campaigns. Just to remind ourselves of the problem. In the UK in 2021 there were 1,558 road deaths (down 11% from 2019) and 27,250 (down 12.1% from 2019) people seriously injured. Motorists drove 297.6bn miles (an 11.9% increase from 2019); and, 1.25 million motorcycles rode 4.4bn miles. Deaths and serious injuries are on the decline and advanced driver and rider training is part of the solution to helping make our roads safer.
As the cost of living escalates out of all proportion to most people’s incomes, motorcycle sales are up 21.9% in 2021 and have continued to rise since. Most bikers are riding 3-5 thousand miles each year, compared to car drivers travelling 10-15 thousand miles each year. The economic advantages of helping people get to work, going shopping, attending health care and other appointments, travel by motorcycle is going to increase in the coming years.
After listening to the 174 IAM Groups, IAM RoadSmart has decided to:
- Roll out a single National Observer qualification across the UK
- Work with academics to assess the impact of new technology on road safety
- Work with the UK Government to reduce harm by helping to produce a safer road network,
- Lobby for more regulation of electric vehicles, autonomous technologies and decarbonisation strategies.
- Opposing the suggestion that novice drivers with a Category B licence should automatically be licenced to drive a Category C1 vehicle. This means that if they passed their driving test in a Mini they would also be licensed to drive a Daf truck!!
To begin, IAM RoadSmart has appointed new Trustees to its Council. Victoria Milford has retail experience in HR and finance. Tom Kelman has 35 years experience at KPMG, not-for-profit and membership organisations. Three Trustees have resigned.
In the rest of your SAM Club newsletter. Piaggio has filed a patent for a 4-wheeled, tilting vehicle, capable of carrying a load of up to 80kg. There is probably already a prototype and it is aimed at the local delivery vehicle market. Motorcycle Live, at the NEC in Birmingham, was a great success with 90,000 visitors. I couldn’t go this year, but reports say there was a brilliant, family-friendly atmosphere, enjoying the bikes, accessories and activities. The packed 5-day event also supports the continued increase in P2W (powered two-wheel) transport.
I didn’t think I would ever be saying that Sadiq Khan was a friend to bikers. However, in extending the ULEZ regulations to all Longon boroughs he may have, inadvertently, helped motorcycle sales. How? Pre-2007 Euro 3 bikes, with a few exceptions, will now have to pay £12.50/day to ride in London or face a hefty fine and seizure of their bikes. So, it’s likely that a lot of bikers will be looking for new bikes to get around London.
Finally, there are a couple of adventure bike stories, a link to an article on how to stay warm on a cold weather ride and lots of other interesting information. Happy reading – see you at the SAM CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!
Ways to stay in touch with your Club!
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Paul Conway
Editor & Webmaster, Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists
