We are all thinking about how happy we are, how wonderful it is to be here
and how lucky we are to be safe!
Thinking of you at Christmas
Malcolm Stephenson
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Foreign HGV Truck Traffic ‘Cause UK Road Safety Threat’
Foreign HGVs ‘Cause UK Road Safety Threat’
Friday 11th July 2008
Lorries from overseas are causing a potential car insurance threat on UK roads, Liverpool Victoria said today.
According to the car insurance provider, the number of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from elsewhere in the EU has increased by 33 per cent since 2001, and will grow by a further 18 per cent before 2013. This means that, currently, around one lorry in seven being driven in Britain is of foreign origin.
These drivers can prove dangerous due to the heightened possibility that they are unfamiliar with UK road laws, and also because their vehicle’s driving seat is generally placed on the left, rather than the right. This proves a particular problem with lorries, as they will be unable to look in their mirrors down the centre of the road – and might therefore find it harder to spot overtaking vehicles.
Liverpool Victoria’s research also indicated that the foreign lorries – which primarily originate from the Netherlands, Germany and Poland – were also less likely to meet national roadworthiness standards than their UK equivalents.John O’Roarke, managing director at the car insurance provider, said: “Over the last seven years we have seen a significant increase in the number of accidents involving lorries from overseas. Not only is being involved in an accident with a lorry frightening but it can also be very costly and time consuming, as your insurer may have trouble tracing and communicating with the insurer of the vehicle.
“We are calling on the government to bring in legislation to make it compulsory for left-hand drive heavy goods vehicles to be fitted with blind spot mirrors to help avoid these kinds of accidents.”I say …”All Drivers Need to be Re-Trained in Risk Management Techniques and Driving Skills to minimise
the tragic total loss of live, in all RTA’s. When other people say If Only the Foreign HGV Driver had LOOKED into BLIND SPOT MIRROW!”Why Do Experienced Drivers CRASH?
Contact Me: Malcolm Stephenson DSA ADI (Fleet)— malcolm@a19fleet.co.uk
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My Top Ten Tips for Better Driving
My Top Ten Tips for Better Driving
By Malcolm Stephenson DSA ADI Fleet
1. Think Out Loud! Remember that speed limits are not a target!
2. Contact your UK Road Safety Team! Tel: 01642 555 567
3. Say “Brake to Slow…Gear to Go” Think Out Loud!
4. Set realistic journey times. (Set Off In Good Time)
5. If you are driving a commercial vehicle or towing a trailer it is
more likely that you will be subject to a lower speed limit.
Make sure you know what that limit is. (Are You Licensed?)
6. As a passenger you can ask the driver to slow down.
7. Be aware of all other road users! (Pedestrians, children
and the elderly, cyclists, domestic animals and motorcyclists!)
8. Be an ambassador for driving…Remember, if it is a built up area
and if there is street lighting, you are in a 30mph limit unless signs
show otherwise. (Schools…Think Out Loud)
9. Be responsible and check your speedometer and rev counter
as frequently as you would your mirrors – it could save your licence
and significantly save fuel.
10. Choose the right gear to maintain control of your speed!
Malcolm Stephenson DSA ADI Fleet
IAMFleet-SAFED-NDIS
Driving Instructor – Personal Risk Manager
Consultant Driver Trainer-A19Fleet.co.uk
Call me: 01642 555 567
Mobile: 07968 487 897
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Advanced Driving In the UK
Advanced Driving is available in most areas including
the cities and areas listed below:
Cleveland, Durham, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire
and in most major cities including;
Newcastle, Leeds, York, Darlington,Durham, Middlesbrough,
Redcar, Stockton-on-tees, Yarm…and many more,
If you want to buy a Driver Training Course and your
local area isn’t listed here please contact us.
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Hands-free mobile phone law for dummies:
Don’t Smoke, Drink or Talk and drive…
By Malcolm Stephenson
A19Fleet.co.uk
We are all influenced by “Big Brother” Watching us in all that we do
But when it comes down to common sense, why do experienced
drivers crash?
When we think about it with the benefit of hindsight…
“It doesn’t bear thinking about!”
Distraction is a big killer on the roads all around the world!
Truth be told it’s just too distracting to talk on a mobile phone while driving,
and though a hands-free device may help you keep both hands on the wheel,
it does nothing to help keep your mind on traffic rather than on your call.
“Driving at Work” I’m a Risk Manager & Consultant Personal Driver Trainer
Can I offer some Free Advice?
• Tip No. 1: The sight and sound of a ringing phone is to tempting, and you
risk picking it up and talking. So make sure you can’t see or hear it.
That means turning it off. Why?
Because, some blue-chip corporate company’s have a zero tolerance
and will say… “Engine ON…Phone OFF”
• Tip No. 2: Give your conscience a dose of “what-if” a guilt trip if you will,
even if you’ve had no trouble talking and driving in the past.
Say to yourself…”I don’t know if I could live with myself if I caused injury or,
worse yet, someone’s death because I was distracted talking on the phone.”
Not nice…is it!
We’ve all seen the Stupid Driving by People using mobile phones.
· Running Red Stop lights and Signs
· Not driving away when a light turns green
· Only going 40 mph when traffic is moving at 70 mph
· Changing lanes without looking
· Not driving away when expected to on roundabouts
Hands-free devices will help a little, but there’s no doubt just answering
or worse, Texting and Dialling a phone number is going to continue to distract
plenty of so called experienced drivers.
Plenty of reformed mobile phone user “Think about It” after rear-ending
a driver while answering or making that “Business Critical Call” on the company
business issued phone!
Fortunately, no one was injured…But…You might have said,
“But my car was a mess and I felt pretty stupid.”
Talking on the mobile phone is like driving blind.
• Tip No. 3: Duh . . . give the phone to a passenger.
We all know some customers and company colleague’s who call, and call and call again.
“So give the phone to a passenger to answer it for you”.
Sometimes they will be familiar enough with the call that they can answer the question.
“Sometimes you could pull over in a safe place and stop the engine, so you can answer
the question for yourself. But please stop talking on the mobile phone while driving.”
A survey of hands-free car kit users shows 55 % of motorists say mobile phone used
while driving is very dangerous yet 63% admit to yakking behind the wheel – for an
average of an hour a day, and primarily for non-urgent matters.
· What’s for dinner tonight?
· Who is picking up the kids?
· Traffic is bad and I’ll be late!
· Hello, how are you doing?
So . . .
I like to think that my conscious decision to not use a phone has made me more
aware of the challenges on our country roads, motorways, town’s and city streets.
Are my pals at the “Institute of Advanced Motorists” and I shouting at windmills?
We’re a minority, I know that.
I also know there are a lot of folks who work in on-call positions, and need to answer
their phone when it rings, no matter what they’re doing.
That’s Life!
By pulling off the road, to answer client calls. Must be Good Practice.
But, of course, there are even better recommendations: Ask me about…
“Think Out Loud!”
“This may sound strange coming from a guy who is Driving Traffic For Living,
but I believe that’s the best practice advice.”
******************************************
Contact Malcolm Stephenson DSA ADI Fleet at:
malcolm@a19fleet.co.uk
And you can call The London Office:
+44 (0)2030 111 462.
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How you are beating fuel costs ?
”Hypermiling”, which is gaining momentum in America…
So “Obviously” we tried to copy it here in the UK.
We need to do Somthing… Fast!
With hypermiling, you can get say 55mpg out of a car in which
you used to do 35mpg. (That’s Cool)
Yes, the journey to work takes slightly longer but over a full year
we could save lots of money !
For me, my journey takes an extra ten minutes, so what!
But I save lot’s in fuel. Say 30% year on year!
Hypermiling is a set of methods to get more mileage out of your vehicle .
One part of it is… Preparing your car, like removing any tool-box, golf bags
and roof racks because that increases air resistance.
Think about your fuel tank, because a full tank weighs around 80kg, which is
almost the same as having another passenger. You can also save by parking
your car in such a way that you don’t have to do a three-point manoeuvre when
you go out in the mornings when your car is cold and thirsty.
Desperate Measures for Desperate times.
Malcolm Stephenson
DSA ADI Fleet
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(No Fuel Required!).
The Hybrid Traffic
of the Internet…
The Power of VideoConferencing
“Use Video Conferencing to Reduce CO2”
By Malcolm Stephenson
Three public bodies have called for the US Government to encourage
more VideoConferencing.
more VideoConferencing.
· The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC)
· The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
· And the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
All have published reports that said the technology is
vital to reducing business travel.
In summing up the report from the IPPR and SDC,
the government is asked to
· “Reduce business travel…by speeding the uptake of
technology alternatives such as telepresence” -
another term for VideoConferencing.
“For the first time, virtual meetings are a real time
alternative to travelling for many types of meeting,
from board meetings to project team building
and updates, where the individuals already know
each other and working relationships are well
established.”
An example cited in the report was of a
financial company that avoided approximately
200 transatlantic flights and 60 European
flights by using such a system for 158 meetings,
saving nearly £1.8m and 450 tonnes of
C02 emissions in the process.
The WWF report said two thirds of FTSE 350 companies
were in favour of proposals for the government to
introduce an Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme
for organisations investing in telepresence technology.
Yes just another term for VideoConferencing.
Link to report :Click Here!
>>> Special Message <<<
From Global Leader Malcolm Stephenson from the UK
“With MyVideoTalk we are Bringing the World Closer Together!”
MyVideoWebMeeting helps save CO2, while helping to save time
and save money.
An Amazing Product to Reduce Your
Carbon Footprints!
With Many Global Markets Hit Hard!
The cost of gasoline in the US has nearly hit $5 U.S. a gallon
and the price of jet fuel is skyrocketing as well.
In Europe it is so much higher than that.
(£130.9p Per Litre at the time of writing this)
“You Do The Math”
This puts any small & medium business alongside large
companies today in a very vulnerable position.
The cost to do business today is growing at such an alarming rate.
Can you believe it…
There is a company out there that can save
business owners and companies all around the globe
from this fiasco?
That company is MyVideoTalk, a global leader in video
streaming technology for the Internet.
MyVideoTalk offers live video WebConferencing
via the Internet.
100% secure private WebConference rooms that are available
to you & me 24/7 and cost less than a us gallon of gas per day!
You will be able to lower your cost of doing business and increase
productivity with your employees!
productivity with your employees!
Don’t be dependant on gas to drive your business;
you can drive your businesson the
“Super Information Highway”
of the Internet with
MyVideoTalk,
you can drive your businesson the
“Super Information Highway”
of the Internet with
MyVideoTalk,
The Hybrid Traffic of the Internet
(No gas required!).
ACOST…Untrained drivers costing fleets dearly
Untrained company car drivers are causing thousands of breakdowns
a year because they are failing to carry out basic vehicle maintenance
and are not fully briefed on the vehicle they are driving!
Most could be avoided if drivers conducted simple maintenance checks
and undertook driver development training.
One of the top call outs is for punctures, although this has more to do with
health and safety policies than poor driver education.
As Malcolm Stephenson, Consultant Risk Manager for IAM Fleet, explained.
“The days of anyone driving at work on company business trying to change
a tyre at the road side are over, it’s part of any driving health and safety policy
that a breakdown service must be called to repair a puncture.”
As well as education regarding their vehicles, fleet managers must continue
to ensure their drivers improve their road craft & driving skills.
Data reveilles fleet drivers are twice as likely to be involved in a collision as a
private motorist.
“If all fleet drivers adhered to rules of the road, took adequate breaks to avoid
fatigue, considered undergoing training to improve personal driving skills,
the number of fleet call outs to a collision could be reduced by as much as 50%.”
Top 10 Fleet (Emergency Service & Recovery ) Call Outs !
1 Road traffic collision (High & Low Speed Manoeuvring)
2 Puncture – Blow Out or NO Serviceable Spare
3 Battery flat – external lights Left ON
4 Lockout – key in seating area or boot self-locking trunk
5 Fuel contaminated
6 Sensors – coolant temperature
7 Engine – NO Oil
8 ECU – engine management (combined)
9 Battery flat – Interior Lights – Mobile Communication Devices Chargers
10 Starter motor
Malcolm Stephenson
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A19Fleet.co.uk News: Lifelong learning for at-work drivers
The Government has announced plans to introduce major reforms
to the way people learn to drive, how they are tested and how motorists
especially those who drive at work!We will be expected to embrace a culture of lifelong learning.
“Changes include the basics of car control, driving in difficult
weather and at night and enhancing driver risk awareness to
help novice drivers predict the intentions of other road users.”A vital component of this ‘skill for life’ concept will be the development, of
vocational qualifications for all at-work drivers, particularly van drivers.“Employers and insurers should have greater confidence in the driving abilities
of those who have undertaken further training, and so we will work with them
to develop proposals for post-test courses and qualifications that produce
safer drivers, and that they are prepared to reward,”
said transport minister Ruth Kelly.“Examples of this could include a new advanced training qualification, a course
in motorway driving or vocational qualifications such as for van drivers.”A19 Fleet Driving Road Safety welcomed the news.
Its director, Malcolm Stephenson, said:“Whether driving company cars, vans or
their own vehicles on business, employees who drive as part of their job undertake
daily one of the most dangerous tasks they will ever be asked to undertake in
their working life.
www.A19Fleet.co.uk Support the Lifelong learning for at-work drivers!
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