Top tips, places to ride out and safety advicefrom the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership

New Ducati supported campaign rolls out across SussexSee the full story on pages 10-13

HelmetsHelpful advice

on helmet safety

Page 7-8

www.stayahero.co.uk

issue: 01

2011

About the

ssRPThe Sussex Safer Roads Partnership(SSRP) is continuing its work to reduceroad casualties across Sussex throughstructured programs of education andenforcement initiatives.

Every year in the Partnership, we refine anddevelop strategies in these key areas tomake the roads of Sussex safer, buildingsafer communities by sharing theresponsibility and engaging with membersof the public - our greatest asset in thedevelopment of a safer road environment.

We are funded by Government grantthrough the three local highway authorities,East and West Sussex County Councils andBrighton and Hove City Council. Otherpartners are Sussex Police, the Fire andRescue Services from East and WestSussex, the Highways Agency and HMCourts’ Service. We are not funded bymonies from speeding fines, which is acommon misconception – all of this moneygoes directly to the Government.

For more information about the work of theSSRP, please take a look at our website:www.SussexSaferRoads.gov.uk

Safer RoadsSafer CommunitiesSharing the Responsibility

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Introduction

02: About the SSRP03: Introduction04: Who Can Ride What?06: Blood Runners07: Helmets09: Riding Tips10: Stay a Hero -Stay Safe14: Protective Clothing18: Ducati20: Further Training22: Ride Outs

Contents

Sussex is a beautiful place to enjoy on twowheels. However, it’s a sad fact that bothmotorcycles and mopeds are massivelyover-represented in our collision andinjury statistics.

While bikers account for only 1% of allvehicles on the road, nearly a quarter of allindividuals killed and injured in Sussex areon two wheels.

The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership hascreated the ‘Stay A Hero, Stay Safe’campaign (www.stayahero.co.uk) to try andreduce this number. The campaign is meantto be non-judgemental and accessible to all

riders – we’re not interested in ‘pointing thefinger’ or singling out any riders; we simplywant to work with motorcyclists to helpthem get the most out of our county and itsroads safely.

Excitingly, Ducati have come on board andwill be supporting it at their dealershipsthroughout the UK. This is a significantendorsement of our campaign, and we’redelighted to be working with such awell-known and respected manufacturer.

This magazine will give you all of the detailsabout ‘Stay A Hero, Stay Safe’, as well asproviding useful information about protectiveclothing and further training opportunities.We’re also delighted to be promoting thevolunteer ‘Blood Runners’ service on pagesix and have put together a short list ofsome great places to ride out to as well.

We hope that you enjoy this first edition ofSussex Biker – and don’t forget to let usknow what you think of the ‘Stay A Hero,Stay Safe’ campaign by visiting our website:www.stayahero.co.uk.

Neil HopkinsCommunications Manager

Follow us on Twitter (@SussexSRP) and findus on Facebook by searching for “SussexSafer Roads Partnership”

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Who can ride what?The rules on who can ride what motorcycle,moped or scooter aren’t the easiest ofthings to understand.

Hopefully the short guide below will give youenough information to choose your bestroute into life on two wheels.

The course you choose will depend on yourage, the type of machine that you’replanning to ride and how long you’vebeen riding.

All riders

All moped, scooter and motorcycle ridersmust have completed their CompulsoryBasic Training (CBT) as an absoluteminimum before heading out on the road ortaking further training. The CBT only lasts fortwo years – by the end of this period, itmust either be renewed or upgraded to afull motorcycle licence. It is also important toremember that the CBT is not a test butmerely basic training where you have toreach a safe standard before being allowedto ride on a public road. With this in mind,not everyone will be capable of reaching thisstandard in one day as we all learn atdifferent rates (especially those who havenever ridden a motorcycle before).

The CBT training will be a part of all othertypes of motorcycle training.

If youʼre 16:You can only ride a moped (up to 50cc anda maximum speed of 30MPH). You musthave a provisional licence, display L-platesat all times, cannot carry pillion passengersand must not travel on the motorway.(Category P)

If youʼre 17 and older:You have two options. You can either takean A1 or A2 licence. (Category A)The A1 licence is the ‘light motorcycle’licence. You will take the licence on a bike

between 70cc and 120cc. Once you’vepassed the A1 licence, you can ride anymachine up to 125cc.

The A2 licence is the ‘standard motorcycle’licence. The test will be taken on a machinebetween 120cc and 125cc and capable ofat least 100 Kmh (62 MPH). On passing thestandard bike licence, you will be restrictedas to the bikes you can ride. While youcould buy a big, powerful bike, you arerestricted by law to 25kW (33 BHP) poweroutput. This will mean a restrictor needs tobe fitted.

The standard motorcycle licence is valid fortwo years, after which time it automaticallyupgrades to an unrestricted licence (whereyou can ride any size/power of motorcycle).This means that, if you took a standardlicence at 17, you could ride an unrestrictedmotorbike at age 19.

If youʼre 21 and older:At this age, you can enter the two-wheeledworld by taking any of the courses alreadymentioned, or you can take the DirectAccess Course (DAS). (Category A)

The DAS Course is taken on a motorcyclethat outputs 35kW/47bhp and is usually a500cc or 600cc machine.

Once you have passed the DAS Course,there is no restriction on the size or power ofbike that you can own and ride. You canalso carry pillion passengers and travel onthe motorway.

Motorcycle Theory test

The theory test must be taken before anyfull licence test can be taken, but it does notneed to be taken if you just want to ride a50cc/125cc on L-plates, but is highlyadvisable to practice before your CBT aswell as reading the Highway Code.

Returning to riding?If you passed your full car licence beforeFebruary 1st 2001, then you’re allowed toride a 50cc moped only, you do not needL-plates and you may carry passengers, butriding on motorways is not allowed.

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However, we recommend that all those whoare returning to riding – or taking up ridingfor the first time in later life – take anapproved motorcycle test. Bikes and roadrules have changed a great deal in the last20 years and, by taking a full motorcycletest appropriate for the bike you want, youstand a much greater chance of staying safeon the roads.

Return to biking training

If you passed your test a while back,whether you have ridden recently or not,and if you want your riding checked, thereare a number of schemes to ensure that thisis done safely.

The government introduced a register for allprofessional post licence trainers in 2008,The RPMT (Register of Post LicenceMotorcycle Trainers) trainers who are on thisregister are:• Experienced• Have demonstrated they have the skills

to provide quality training• Are checked regularly to make sure they

maintain a high standard• Fully insured to deliver training

For more info see;http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/RidingMotorcyclesAnd-Mopeds/DG_4022666

There are also local riders groups thatbelong to either RoSPA (Royal Society forthe Prevention of Accidents) or the IAM(The Institute of Advanced Motorists) whomay also be on the RPMT and who are ableto offer advice on post licence training.

http://www.roadar.org/riders/test/index.htm

http://www.iam.org.uk/the_advanced_pro-gramme/theadvancedprogrammeaskillfor-life.html

Thanks to Steve Manning at ARTMotorcycle Training for advice regardingthis article.(www.artmotorcycletraining.co.uk)

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In the dead of night there are bikersnavigating the roads of Sussex. They are theBlood Runners or Service by EmergencyRider Volunteers (SERV). They’re dedicatedto making sure medical supplies can reachthe people who need them. SERV transportemergency blood, blood products, X-rays,patient notes, laboratory samples andhuman breast milk to hospitals and medicalfacilities at night. The National Blood Service(NBS) doesn’t provide a standard deliveryservice for blood and samples between thehours of 7pm and 6am, at weekends or onnational holidays. Hospitals can rarelyafford the luxury of using couriers for longdistance journeys.

The volunteer service responds toapproximately 3,000 calls per year saving inexcess of £300,000 per annum. This allowsre-deployment of much-needed funds forimproved patient care and other essentialfacilities within the NHS.

Volunteer bike riders work on a rota,generally working one night in fourteen,waiting to respond to emergency callsrelayed via their county controller. SERVvolunteers usually use their own machinesand pay for the petrol themselves. Ridersare on stand-by in many areas across thecountry, including: Hertfordshire, Surrey,Sussex, Hampshire and London.

The counties work in partnership to ensurean efficient system delivery network to getthe medical supplies to where it is neededas quickly as possible. The riders alwaysfollow a set route to reduce any delays or incase of any breakdowns.

For more information about the charity, or ifyou would like to volunteer go towww.serv.org.uk

The Emergency Night Riders

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Helmets

Collision statistics showthat 18% of injuriessustained by a rider will beto the head area. In relationto a pillion, that figure risesa little, to some 22%.Since 1973, when wearing a helmetbecame compulsory, technology hasadvanced in leaps and bounds. Helmetsare primarily designed to protect the brainfirst, with skull and facial injury preventioncoming a close second.

There are three principle sections within ahelmet that helps it keep riders safe:

The outer shell: This is designed to resistpenetration and abrasion. This section istypically made from either polycarbonateplastic, fibreglass or Kevlar.

The inner shell: The helmet’s impactabsorbing liner is specifically designed toslowly collapse under the force of anyimpact, spread the force throughout thematerial and away from the rider’s head.This section is made from expandedpolystyrene or polypropylene ‘EPS’ foam.

The inner lining: The function of the softfoam and cloth liner next to your head helpsto keep you comfortable and keep thehelmet fitting snugly around your head.

Legal requirements - HelmetThe helmet you wear must be marked withan approved, recognised, standard.You should look for:• ECE 22.05 – these can be identified by a

capital ‘E’ within a circle along with a sixfigure approval number, starting ‘05’

• British Standard 6658, A or B – thesehave a conspicuous sticker applied tothe helmet shell indicating compliance.

The approval marks may be located insidethe helmet – either on a sticker underneaththe lining or sewn onto the strap.

Legal requirements - visorWhether you wear a visor or goggles (‘EyeProtector’), your eye protection must alsoconform to specific standards. You shouldlook for any of the following:• British Standard approval marks

(4110-X, XA, YA or ZA)• Council Directive 89/686/EEC as

amended (goggles)• ECE Regulation 22.05 (Motor Cycle Eye

Protectors) Regulations 1999 & ThePersonal Protective Equipment(EC Directive) Regulations 2002.)

The ‘Eye Protector’ will be designed so thatit doesn’t shatter into fragments if fractured,and will be marked ‘shatterproof’.

The ‘Eye Protector’ also needs to let morethan 50% of visible light transmissionthrough to be legal for road use. AdrianShort, Forensic Collision Investigator forSussex Police, and a committedmotorcyclist, comments:“In relation to iridium or dark visors, you willnot know without having it tested whether itmeets such a standard. In my experience oftesting visors following collisions, it isunlikely that an iridium or dark tinted visorwill pass such a test and therefore it is verylikely to be marked ’not for road use’.”

Helmet Care

It is most important that the crash helmet iscleaned and stored according to themanufacturer’s instructions. Most come witha storage bag in which to keep the helmet.Store it in a cool darkish place when not inuse, never store near to a heat source, norin direct sunlight. A crash helmet will have alife span of 3 to 5 years, depending uponhow regularly it is used. The intrusion ofsweat into the lining and shock absorbingmaterial will gradually degrade thosematerials, thereby reducing the protectionperformance of the helmet.

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Visor Care

In order to be truly effective, a visor needs tobe kept clean, free from dust (which can beabrasive) and scratches which can impairyour ability to see, especially at night or inthe rain.

Adrian suggests using a clean, soft clothand warm soapy water to get rid of mostsurface filth, ensuring that the visor is rinsedfirst to remove any loose debris.

Non-silicone polish also works well to keepthe visor in top condition after washing.

Helmet checklist :• It bears a clearly visible label indicating

ECE type approval• It covers rider’s forehead and brow

• It doesn’t move, slip over rider’s eyes orput pressure on the rider’s forehead

• Rider’s peripheral vision should notbe obstructed

• The helmet mustn’t cause pressure orimpede vision to riders wearing glasses

• Most importantly, it must be comfortableand be correctly fastened

• Visit www.sharp.direct.gov.uk for a usefulguide to fitting yourself with acomfortable, legal, helmet with thehighest standard of impact rating

Thanks to Adrian Short, forensic collisioninvestigator for Sussex Police, for creatingthis article.

Riding Tips

Motorcycle ConditionA bike that is serviced regularly and is ingood condition can improve the enjoyment ofyour ride. If you have an annoying rattle fromsomewhere near the engine, it becomes adistraction from the road ahead.

Pre-Ride ChecksPetrol…Oil….Water…Electrics….Rubber(tyres – tread depth and pressures). If eitherof these is missing from your bike when youset off, your day will be a little shorter thanyou planned.

Check the weatherWhilst riding is a pleasurable experience, adownpour when you are furthest from homecan mean a bleak ride back, if you haven’tpacked a waterproof layer.

When was the last time you rode?If it has been a little while since you last timeyou rode, give yourself time to get used toyour bike and the roads.

Safe Stopping DistanceFollow the following golden rule: “Always beable to stop on your side of the road in thedistance that you can see to be clear”. If youround a corner to find a large farmyardanimal sat in the middle of the road, it is somuch more reassuring to know that you willstop before you reach it.

Group ridingRiding with your mates is a good way toshare the experience. When you are in yourgroups and following others, base yourmanoeuvres on what you can see. If they

overtake, wait till they are clear of the vehicleand then go if it is safe.

Stay LegalRespect the solid white lines. They havebeen put there for a reason and normallymean that what you think you can see is notalways the whole picture. e.g hidden dipsand local hazards.

FatigueRiding makes a number of demands on thebiker which are either physical or mental.Over the course of a day you will becomeincreasingly tired. This will subsequentlymean a drop in your capabilities as reactionsslow. Include suitable rest stops on yourroute to give you time to recover and talkthrough the last ride.

Additional trainingHaving successfully passed your motorcycletest, the law permits you to ride until thatlicence expires. Sometimes an incident willoccur which dents the confidence of a rider.There are a number of training providers thatwill help build back your confidence andincrease your skill level. e.g: RoSPA, IAMand Enhanced Rider Scheme.

EnjoymentPeople volunteer to sit astride a poweredtwo wheeler, mainly because it makes themsmile. Sussex consists of a network ofroads which the biker can experience. Besafe and enjoy the ride.

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'Stay A Hero, Stay Safe'on the roads of SussexTake beautiful open roads.

Add in stunning scenery.

You’ve got a recipe for the perfectmotorbike ride.

All of that makes Sussex an attractivelocation for riders of all ages and abilities.

However, there is a darker side –motorcyclists, while making up just 1% ofthe traffic on the road (according to theDepartment For Transport), account for 25%of all those killed or seriously injured on theroads in Sussex – a massive

over-representation. While there areundeniably instances where car driversdon’t see bikers, other casualties comewhen bikers make errors of judgement.

“We know that the vast majority of Sussexbikers aren’t risk-taking thrill seekers,” NeilHopkins, Communications Manager of theSussex Safer Roads Partnership says, “andare highly responsible road users.

“However, as with any other road usergroup, errors of judgement can creep in.And on a motorcycle, these momentaryerrors can have dire consequences.”

The SSRP approached Daniel Cox(Writer/Director of the award-winning‘Embrace Life’ seatbelt campaign) andProducer Sarah Alexander of Alexander

www.stayahero.co.uk

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Commercials to create a positive and freshcampaign made for motorcyclists that aimsto drive down injuries in Sussex.

‘Stay A Hero, Stay Safe’ is a celebration ofmotorcycling which shows how bikers areinspirational role models.

The story follows a young boy as heemulates his biker dad’s love for riding. Thefresh, positive approach to the film avoidsthe shock-tactics of campaigns past,focusing instead on the joy motorcycling.“Some bikers have felt that authorities, suchas the SSRP, have victimised them in thepast. Our new campaign is designed to be

the complete opposite of this approach,”Neil continues.

“We want to be a part of the motorcyclingcommunity, seen as an organisation whichaims to help bikers get the most out of ourcounty, while remaining safe at the sametime. We’re hoping that ‘Stay A Hero, StaySafe’ will carry that message out into thecommunity and help to save lives onour roads.”

Producer Sarah Alexander commented:"There are very few adverts out which speakdirectly to bikers, we are hoping that 'Stay aHero' might fill in some of that gap. Rather

www.stayahero.co.uk

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than using fear and gore tactics we havetried to remind bikers of how great it is toride while at the same time reminding themwho they are going home to and why theyneed to stay safe. We are hoping the mes-sage will save lives.”

Daniel Cox, the writer and creator of ‘Stay AHero, Stay Safe’, added: "The film looks to

remind bikers to ride safely for boththemselves and their loved ones, and thatthey can inspire the next generation to rideskilfully and safely. Coming from a family ofbike riders I hope the film illustrates theimportant contribution bikers make as rolemodels and how their actions and approachto riding can directly influence those wholook up to them.”

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What do you think?The SSRP would love to hear your opinions on ‘Stay A Hero, Stay Safe’.Does it hit the spot with you? Who first inspired you to ride?

How would you like to see the number of motorcycle casualties driven down on our roads?

Let us know either by contributing to the Facebook community page or by email –staysafe@stayahero.co.uk

View, share and comment on ‘Stay A Hero, Stay Safe’ by visiting: www.stayahero.co.uk

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Protective Clothing

Wearing the right protective clothing whilst riding is just as important aswearing the correct crash helmet.Good quality, well maintained clothing can help to substantially reduce the risk of injury in anycollision – and may help to save the rider’s life.

Protective equipment has two basic functions: protection and comfort. Whilst offering theformer function, it should also keep the rider/pillion comfortable in hot, cold or wet weather andto some degree help to make them visible to other road users. Protective equipment coversjacket, trousers/jeans, gloves and boots. Additional equipment covered, if it is not an integralpart of the clothing itself, includes body armour, spine/back protectors and kidney belts.

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The Law

Under European and UK law, all protectiveequipment must be approved (and markedas such) by the Personal ProtectiveEquipment Directive, in a similar fashion tocrash helmets.

The EC directive states:"As a general rule, the clothes used bymotorcyclists (which include gloves, boots,shoes, etc.) are for private use to protectagainst the weather: rain, heat and cold.They should therefore be excluded from thescope of the PPE Directive (89/686/EEC)(Annex 1, point 3) However, if themanufacturer specifically claims, or impliesin sales literature or advertising, thatbecause of particular additional features(e.g. elbow pads, knee pads and the like)this clothing offers special protection, theseadditional features alone shall be classed asPPE and must therefore comply with theprovisions of the Directive.If the manufacturer claims, or implies insales literature or advertising, that the wholegarment provides special protection inaddition to that offered by individualprotectors, the whole garment must complywith all the essential requirements ofDirective 89/686/EEC."

This Directive was brought into mandatorylegislation for every country in the EuropeanCommunity in 1995, by which time it hadalready been implemented into UK law as aStatutory Instrument (No 3139) in 1992.

This means that all protective products haveto be tested and approved to the EuropeanImpact Protector Standards EN1621-4/1997 and prEN1621-2.

Additionally, protective equipment should bemarked with the ‘CE’ mark – this is gainedonce the item has been tested, andapproved, by an independent Governmentapproved test house.

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special products for cleaning waterproofclothing, camping shops tend to sell suchproducts.

LeathersLeathers are easier to keep clean, butspecial care should be taken with thestitching. Dirt and grime can eventually cutthrough the stitching holding the seamtogether, if not regularly cleaned off.

Rider fatigue

The type of clothing that you choose canhave a dramatic effect on how long you’reable to ride safely.

The famed British weather can producesignificant differences in temperature, rainand comfort even during a single ride.This can be compounded by constant windnoise/blast and riding into the evening orduring the night.

Even in relatively warm weather, moving airis cooler and constant exposure to windwhen riding may cause a chilling effect thatleads to hypothermia (a condition ofsubnormal body temperature which cancause loss of concentration, slowedreactions, and loss of smooth, precisemuscle movement).

Such a condition could result in a riderlosing his/her ability to concentrate andreact to changing traffic conditions.Therefore, the clothing has to work

Be Seen

Wearing the right clothing can also helpriders to be seen on the roads – a vitalconsideration especially on busy urbanroutes. High-visibility clothing is oftenreferred to as either fluorescent or reflective– but there is a key difference: reflectivematerials only work at night when theyreflect light, and fluorescent ones only workin the daytime. Where possible, try toensure that your clothing contains both,helping you to be seen on the roads atall times.

Materials

Motorcyclists often wear leather because itis durable and abrasion resistant, givinggood protection against injury. Manymodern fabrics, such as Cordura® andballistic nylon, are also abrasion and/or windresistant, waterproof or havehigh-visibility properties.

Make sure that whichever type of materialyou choose, it fits properly and is comfortable.A flap of material over the zip of a jacket willgive additional protection against the wind.Jackets with sleeves tapering to fitted cuffsand waists are recommended to help keepwind from blowing into the garment.

CleaningA few hints on how to get the most out ofyour protective clothing:

Waterproof clothingWaterproof clothing will not work efficiently ifthe textile material is clogged with dirt. Donot use detergent to wash waterprooftextiles. Detergent works by attracting water,and so will work against the waterproofingmaterials such as Gore-tex and Hydro-dry.Use either ‘old fashioned’ soap flakes or the

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efficiently to keep you either warm or cool. Ifthe clothing does not achieve either, riderfatigue can easily set in, whether you areriding over a long or short period of time.‘Multi-layers’ worn beneath your outerprotective clothing, tend to work far betterthan wearing big bulky layers. The sportstype base layers [summer & winter type],tend to be less expensive than the‘motorcycle’ produced layers and workjust as well.

Further information

The following websites provide furtherinformation to assist you.

www.direct.gov.ukPublic Services Directory

www.sharp.direct.gov.ukSharp Helmet Safety Scheme

www.mcia.co.ukMotor CycleIndustry Association

www.planet-knox.comKnox Protective Equipment

www.thermahelm.comThermaHelm Halo Helmets

www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/920.htmlDownloadable pdf guide

www.haloleathers.comHalo Leathers

Thanks to Adrian Short, forensiccollision investigator for Sussex Police,for creating this article.

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The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership isdelighted that Ducati UK have decided toput their weight behind the ‘Stay A Hero’campaign. Over the coming months, notonly will the video be viewable through theirwebsite, but it will also be playing in everysingle Ducati dealer in the UK!

The company have a long history in helpingmotorcyclists to stay safe whilst getting themost out of their riding experience. For tenyears now, Ducati has organised the DucatiRiding Experience in Italy. Providing ridingcourses for every level, the main aim is toteach participants how to maintain bettercontrol over the bike in extreme conditionsand how to avoid potentially dangeroussituations which come up every day.

Common road and track riding situations aretaken into consideration, concentrating onhow to tackle them and putting into practicespecific riding techniques, all under thesupervision of expert Ducati instructors.

All sorts of new features have beenintroduced for the new year, the mostexciting being that Troy Bayliss, an icon ofDucati motorcycle racing, will be among theDRE instructors. Troy's presence will in factbe major, thanks to a specific, dedicatedcourse - the Troy Bayliss Academy, duringwhich riders will use a Ducati 1198 SP.

That's not the only new feature this year. AtDRE 2011 participants will be able toexperience the new 848EVO in the Track Iand II Courses as well as the 1198SP in theMaster Course - taught by the former WorldChampion Marco Lucchinelli, oozingpersonality and now a DRE mainstay.

Many more champions will be there, too, tomake your experience at DRE 2011 trulyunforgettable. Among them, AlessandroPolita, Ducati's Italian SBK champion 2010and World Superstock champion 2006.Dario Marchetti, will continue in his roleas technical supervisor of the Ducatiriding school.

Ducati also reached an important agreementwith the Italian Motorcycling Federation(FMI), aimed at offering course participantsan ever-fuller training programme andtransmitting high quality riding techniques.

To further promote all aspects of safety ontwo wheels, Ducati has undertaken majorinitiatives over the years, such as thecampaign held throughout 2009 whichoffered a back protector to everyone whopurchased a new Ducati and distributedtens of thousands of back protectors allover Europe.

In 2011 Ducati UK will be launching a DucatiRider Training programme where you canlearn to ride on a Ducati, further committingto their efforts to keep Ducati riders safe onthe road. Keep an eye onwww.Ducatiuk.com for launch details

It’s this type of partnership with majorplayers in the motorcycle community whichthe SSRP hopes will take the ‘Stay A Hero’message direct into the hearts and minds ofmotorcyclists in Sussex and beyond.

For more information about the DucatiRiding Experience – and indeed thecompany’s commitment to safety – visit theirwebsite: www.Ducatiuk.com

Ducati put their weight behind

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Gaining your motorcycle licence is just thestart of life on the road, and we recommendthat all riders consider topping up theirtraining over time. There are a number ofexcellent local and national coursesdesigned to do just that, helpingmotorcyclists of all ages and skill levels finetune their riding so that they can stay safeon the roads at all times.

Many of these courses also allowparticipants to claim discounts on theirinsurance with leading companies.

Bike Safe‘BikeSafe’ is a national course, delivered inSussex by professional motorcyclists fromSussex Police and otherSSRP Partners.

The ‘BikeSafe’ strategy is to engage withpost-test riders in a conflict free environmentto consider and analyse why motorcyclecrashes are happening, includingattitude and motivation. There are fewercauses than you might imagine with fivestrong themes emerging throughout thecountry. They are filtering, junctions,cornering, overtaking and group riding arethe problem areas. Really obvious thingsseem to be placing everyday riders in lifethreatening scenarios.

In the classroom, ‘BikeSafe’ can offer

Further training

opportunities

potential solutions to the most prevalentcrash causes and thereafter, following anobserved ride element, prepare an individualrider development report which can betaken to a post-test training provider.‘BikeSafe’ is about ‘Bridging the Gap’ intoaccredited training.

For more information, visit:www.bikesafe.co.ukor call: 0845 60 70 999

DSA - EnhancedRider SchemeThe Driving Standards Agency andMotorcycle Insurance Industry Association isdesigned for fully licensed motorcyclists andis ideal for those who have just passed theirtest, are upgrading to a more powerful bike,are returning to life on two wheels or riderswho simply want a ‘health check’ ontheir riding.

Trainers have had to prove to the DSA thatthey have the necessary skills andexperience to provide quality training tomotorcyclists. The trainers also undergoregular quality checks to ensure that they’remaintaining the high standards.

A list of trainers can be found by loggingonto: www.direct.gov.uk/ERSor by calling: 0115 936 6546.

IAM - Skill for LifeRecognising that the majority of collisionsare caused by driver or rider error, theInstitute of Advanced Motorists’ (IAM)original Advanced Driving Test wasintroduced in 1956 with the specificobjective of significantly improving drivingstandards. By 1976 the number ofmotorcyclists in the UK had risendramatically, so the IAM launched theAdvanced Riding test to help make bikerssafer too. The tests are accredited by theDriving Standards Agency (DSA).The Advanced Riding Test is not exclusively

“A well run day. Excellent value for money.All course content very well delivered. Allinstructors passionate about bike safety,more importantly, enjoyment. definitely(sic) recommend.”

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about safety, but encourages the rider tofeel confident on the road, to make goodprogress, and to get greater enjoyment fromthe experience.

More information can be found on the IAM’swebsite: www.iam.org.uk

Local Advanced

Motorcyclist

GroupsBoth East and West Sussex have activeAdvanced Motorcyclist Groups. Each offersobserved rides and access into the IAM, aswell as active social scenes.

WSAM’s website: www.wsam.co.ukESAM’s website: www.es-am.org.uk

RoSPAAdvanced RidersThe RoSPA (Royal Society for thePrevention of Accidents) Advanced Driversand Riders aim is to reduce road accidentsby encouraging an interest in road safetyand by improving driving and ridingstandards, knowledge and skill. In order todo this, RoSPA Advanced Drivers andRiders have over 50 local groups that willprovide free training to help you improveyour riding skills and help you train tobecome an advanced rider.

The RoSPA website holds all of theinformation that you’ll need to find out aboutthis course:http://www.roada.org.uk/riders/index.htm

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Ride Outs

Here are just a few of the popular bikerfriendly places to meet up in Sussex.

DestinationTriumph

Washington,West SussexRH20 4AJ

WhitewaysCafe

Bury Hill, Houghton,Arundel,

West SussexBN18 9FD

P&HMotorcycles

61-63 Gatwick RoadCrawley,

West SussexRH10 9RD

The Chalet CafeHenfield RdCowfold,HorshamRH13 8DU

Riverside Cafeand Bistro

Houghton Bridge,Amberley,

West SussexBN18 9LP

Alf's Motorcycles100 Dominion Road

WorthingWest SussexBN14 8JP

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Willow CafeLower Dicker,East Sussex,HailshamBN27 4BT

ShawsHarley Davidson

( on a Saturday )

Holmes Hill HouseHolmes Hill,East SussexBN8 6JA

©kentsussexbikers.com

The StrandQuay Cafe30 Wish St,

Rye,East SussexTN31 7DA

Wessons CafeHigh St

Heathfield, EastSussex

TN21 0ER

TheMadeira Cafe

on Brighton Seafront15-16 Madeira Drive

BrightonBN2 1PS

The Six BellsChiddingly,Lewes,

East SussexBN8 6HT