News

Go-ahead for Junction 11 Makeover

A £60M package of improvements to relieve congestion and improve access to the M4 for Reading and Wokingham has been given the go-ahead. The package comprises a large scale reconstruction of the junction 11 gyratory and the A33 south of the junction, together with better facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and buses. Junction 11 of the M4 is the main point of access to the centre of Reading from London and for local communities in Wokingham via the A33, providing an important strategic link for many nationally-important businesses.

The M4 Junction 11 and Mereoak Junction improvements, local transport major scheme is being jointly developed by Reading Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council, with Reading acting as the lead promoter for the scheme.

The announcement gives the Final Approval with the Department for Transport providing a total funding contribution of £62.05m towards the £65.50m total cost of the scheme. Reading Borough Council is expected to commence main construction on the scheme in May 2008 with the scheme to be completed in spring 2010.
[20080326]

Speed cameras adjusted

Our spies tell us that all speed cameras on stretches the M25 subject to the national speed limit have been   altered to trigger at 79mph instead of 93mph. But of course that won't affect you, will it?
[20080210]

Skill for Life Price Hike Deferred

The price increase for SFL has been put back from 1st February to 1st April. On that date the price will be increased to a pound short of £100 with a £20 discount for under-26s. The group associate renewal fee for associates who don't pass their tests within the first year will be increased from £29 to £31 on the same date.
[20080124]

New Roadcraft Published

The new edition of Roadcraft, the Police Drivers' Manual, is now available from the Group Shop, price £11.00.
[20080124]

Ted Clements Dies

We are all extremely sad to hear of the death, on 11th December, of the IAM's former Chief Examiner Ted Clements. Ted was often heard on the radio and seen on tv as the voice of the IAM on road safety issues and was a regular and very popular speaker at local group meetings. He was last our guest in 2006. You can read his obituary here.
[2007-12-14]

Christopher Bullock Dies

We regret to report the sudden and untimely death of IAM Chief Executive Christopher Bullock on 18th November. Until a new appointment is made, IAM Chairman, David Kenworthy is taking over as acting Chief Executive and Vice-chairman Alastair Cheyne is taking over the Chairman's responsibilities.
[2007-11-26]

Latest Releases from the DfT

New Penalties for Illegal Mobile Phone Use

22nd January: Motorists face tough new penalties for breaking the law by using hand-held mobile phones while driving from February 27th 2007. From that date, the fixed penalty will for the first time include the award of three penalty points as well as doubling the fine to £60.

A campaign to raise awareness of both the change in penalties and the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving begins today and will include radio, press and online activity. This educational approach goes hand in hand with continued enforcement activity by the police. Home Office figures for 2004 show that nearly 74,000 fixed penalty notices were issued for illegal use of a mobile phone while driving.

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said "Research shows that talking on a mobile phone while driving affects your concentration and ability to react to dangerous situations. It's quite simple - it's impossible to do two things at once and do them well. That is why in December 2003 we introduced new laws preventing motorists from driving while using a hand-held mobile." He didn't explain why holding a conversation on a hand-held mobile phone was any more distracting than one on a hands-free phone.

MOT Fees Increase

20th October: the maximum MOT test fees are to go up on 7th November, following the "consultation" reported earlier. For cars the new maximum will be £50.35, up £6.25 from the previous limit. However testing stations are free to offer lower fees if they wish.

New Charges for Dartford Crossing

19th October: Plans for a new system of charges for the Dartford River Crossing,, which will encourage the use of the electronic Dart-Tag were announced by Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman. A consultation to be launched in December will propose scrapping night time charges and increasing day time charges for cash paying motorists.

The proposed new charges for cars are £1.50 cash or £1.00 with the pre-pay Dart-Tag between 06:00 and 22:00. It is expected that the new régime will start in January 2008.

Highways Agency

Traffic Officers Give Cold Shoulder to Hard Shoulder

Highways Agency Traffic Officers are reminding motorists in the East Midlands that the hard shoulder is not a place to use a mobile phone, check a map or go to the toilet.

Last year, on England's motorways, there were 12 fatal hard shoulder accidents and 28 serious accidents. These are accidents where at least one vehicle involved was entering or leaving the hard shoulder.

As a result of these accidents, 15 people died and 42 were seriously injured. In total there were 127 hard shoulder accidents in 2005 and 7,677 accidents in total on England's motorway network that year.

As well as the most common incidents, there has been a trend of people using the hard shoulder as a place to have a break, or even a meal inside their cars or lorries instead of pulling into a service area to stop in safety.

In the last month, there have been two incidents in Northamptonshire where Traffic Officers have found a lorry driver cooking his lunch on the hard shoulder.

Highways Agency Traffic Officers patrol the motorways 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They help manage incidents and keep traffic moving by assisting the police with motorway accidents, removing damaged and abandoned vehicles, clearing debris from the road, undertaking high visibility patrols, providing mobile / temporary road closures and supporting the police in their duties.

If you do break down and have to use the hard shoulder, make sure that you put on your hazard warning lights and get everyone out of the vehicle using the left-hand-side furthest away from the moving traffic and stand in a place of safety - over the barrier if it is safe to do so, or on the verge, whilst waiting.