The Western Region Action Group
|
October 2004 |
Due to the Waggon & horses closing down, Bristol MAG is now
meeting at The Mardyke, 128 Hotwells Road, Hotwells, Bristol.
This a
temporary venue until they arrange a new permanent meeting place.
On the 10th October Bristol MAG are running their annual Soup Run.
The run is to the Julian Trust, Portland Square Bristol.
The usual
fodder plus blankets, new socks, shaving gear and soap is useful. Meet
Burrington Combe at 10.30 for 11.00 leave.
Well it’s that time of year again, and once again we will be manning the motorcycle and helmet park on the beach lawns on Weston sea front. So if you are free over the 23rd-24th October we will need marshals both to help park and tag the bikes and in the helmet park tent. Please contact the Weston & North Somerset Rep Andy Watton on 01934 512 338 if you can help.
Western Region MAG will be holding their AGM on Sunday the 23rd January 2005 at The PIG INN THE CITY, Westgate Street Gloucester. This is a change from the original venue at Weston and North Somerset MAG; at Glos MAG’s request to tie in with an event they are holding the same weekend. Watch this space for further information.
A Government study has suggested that drivers who knock down a child should be liable to pay compensation even if they were not at fault, even obeying the speed limit would not be enough as the study says that drivers should be aware that a child may run out into the road. The study points out that Sweden, Netherlands and Germany have such a law and have the lowest child pedestrian death rates in Europe.
North Somerset Council have plans to install an HOV on the Long
Ashton Bypass (A370) from Flax Bourton to the Yanley Viaduct for the
rush hour traffic entering Bristol between 7am and 9:30am.
But local
Councillors are against the idea saying it will throw traffic onto other
routes to avoid the inevitable delays on the Bypass.
The Advertising Standards Authority has said that the London Safety
Camera Partnership’s claim was misleading and could not be
justified by fatal accident statistics.
The Partnership had claimed
in a pamphlet that: ‘Speeding causes over a Quarter of all deaths
on London’s roads’.
The following extract is from a Fema press release.
French
Transport Ministry recommends Daytime Running Lights (DRL) for all
vehicles, with a national try-out to be held from 30th October 2004 to
27th March 2005. FEMA expresses its reservations regarding this measure,
as well as on the method used in a study undertaken by research
institutes Swov and TNO at the request of the European Commission.
The French government has decided to recommend DRL for all vehicles
during the six months of the winter season, and to evaluate its effects
on road safety and eventually introduce measures in the future. FEMA
supports the actions undertaken by its French affiliate FFMC (Federation
Francaise des Motards en Colere) underlining the potential dangers of
this measure for powered two-wheelers users, presently the main DRL
users in France.
The following is an extract from the DfT road safety policy
update.
It is hoped that technological solutions may provide the best
way forward, and standards bodies have been urged to encourage their
development so that in the longer term visor designs lend themselves
equally to both day and night time use.
Although the Department has
begun new research, this will not include dark visors. The purpose of
the work is to bring forward the manufacture and use of better helmets
to help minimise motorcycle fatalities. Having said that, the research
is due to include standardisation work on light reactive materials and
an evaluation of any promising visor technologies.
The Crime Seminar was great. Really informative and the venue superb
except for the lack of anywhere to get something to eat but sadly MAG
members were outnumbered by non-MAG with a total of 47 Mag and non-MAG
attending.
Though the Stats, on the admission of the presenter, were
boring, as stats always are, if it proved anything to us from Western,
it confirmed our faith in the secure parking we've had installed through
out and that there is no substitute for a big **** off hardened chain
& equivalent lock secure to something cemented into the
tarmac.
Presentations were given by officers from the Metropolitan
Police, which were extremely interesting and told you what to look out
for if buying a second hand machine.
A reward was given, under MAG's
reward scheme, to a guy called Keith from Birkenhead who helped secure
the custody of an organised bike thief gang and who has since been
threatened and intimidated for doing so.
An excellent inaugural
Seminar, which outlined the intentions of the
Western had over its quota of 5 per Region if you count Ian as
Chairman but it is a real shame that other MAG Regions didn't send
candidates and let's hope word spreads about the success of this one and
encourages more to participate in future such events.
Our own
regional Administrator supplied this item. Thanks Aine.
The Motorcycle Action Group accepts no responsibility for the content of this publication and the views expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor or MAG.
Blat & Splat suppliers of top quality cudgels, clubs and coshes to the dedicated sportsman, have sponsored this issue.