Advanced Driving Hub

IAM Roadsmart needs members for survival because most of its income comes from membership subscriptions. While there are undoubtedly more car members, I doubt this membership category will grow significantly. But I bet bikers offer more potential growth for the IAM because motorcycling is growing. Unfortunately, oversimplistic “speed kills” messaging will massively deter potential motorcycle members from joining.

Motorcycling as a whole is on the up, and IAM Roadsmart would be foolish to ignore a growing pool of potential members.

Last month, Motorcycle News reported that “it might be hard to fathom but 2021 was one of the strongest years for biking in well over a decade, with new bike sales on the increase and more people joining the two-wheeled fold. Anecdotal evidence from training schools up and down the country was of a huge surge of people wanting to get into motorcycling and now the latest stats confirm it.”

MCN wrote:June to September of 2021 were standout months for bike tests, with nearly 28,000 examinations taken during the summer alone. The last time the numbers of bike tests even came close was in November and December 2012, with a huge rush of young riders getting tests completed ahead of the January 2013 adoption of the 3rd European Licence Directive and the changes to A2 licensing.

Unlike 2013 though, these stats don’t look like a blip, with consistently high numbers throughout the year with 7034, 7116, 6641 and 6897 tests taken during each month from June.

It can’t all be put down to be pent-up demand from lockdown either, as car tests have settled back to pre-pandemic levels.

I have found that new riders can often be the most open to joining. However, most bikers will be turned off by messages like “80 mph is as bad a drink or drug driving” and “1 mph over the speed limit increases your crash risk by 5%”.

Strangely Brown wrote:In the future all cars will come with a mandatory dog in the passenger seat. The Driver will only be there to feed the dog. The dog is there to bite the driver should they attempt to touch the controls.

[stolen from old cockpit joke]

It's happening already. All the new houses round here appear to have resident dogs. In fact I firmly believe that House Developers are giving away free dogs as some sort of incentive

Ohlins wrote:Last month, Motorcycle News reported that “it might be hard to fathom but 2021 was one of the strongest years for biking in well over a decade ...”

As other forms of transport become more regulated, and more boring, ... it's not hard to fathom at all. A last hurrah for freedom and an open road.

Gareth wrote:

Ohlins wrote:Last month, Motorcycle News reported that “it might be hard to fathom but 2021 was one of the strongest years for biking in well over a decade ...”

As other forms of transport become more regulated, and more boring, ... it's not hard to fathom at all. A last hurrah for freedom and an open road.

Indeed. 'Social distancing' and fresh air can hardly be easier than on a PTW, especially compared to buses and trains. So not surprising, then, that DVSA stopped all PTW training and testing for covid safety!

Just found this little gem from the1988 book IAM Motorway Driving, under speed "Where the 70 mph limit is concerned, something of an anomaly exists. The Institute of Advanced Motorists, along with other motoring organisations, has been pressing for years for the maximum to be raised to 80 mph. The figure of 70 was introduced more than 20 years ago, when that was a reasonable maximum for many cars in view of the standards of road holding, braking and steering of the day"

The IAM of today is not the same organisation. Not even a third rate imitation.

And roads of the 1980s are not what they used to be either.

Have people changed? Eyesight and reflexes etc won't have evolved in 40 years.

Horse wrote:And roads of the 1980s are not what they used to be either.

Have people changed? Eyesight and reflexes etc won't have evolved in 40 years.

So what are you saying? Reduce speed limits!
Those europeans have faster motorway limits; you don't hear them complaining.

I was just on a trip and utilised that M40. What a nice motorway - good scenery, fast flowing. The only people going a bit fast were in nice cars that deserved to be driven like that. No drama.

I quite like the French 120 dry / 110 wet system. It does seem to be adhered to fairly well. You always get the odd 140 plus who zip past but it's a reasonable compromise. Oh yes, and the M40 is quite a pleasant drive. Except when it's not.

Latest Facebook post is to promote this site http://www.eliteriderhub.co.uk

Seems an odd thing to do. Promote your 'competitors'