285 June 2018 - Gryffe Advertizer

June 2018 t: 01505 613340 e: info@advertizer.co.uk
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CarFest 2018
Saturday 16th June, 10am to 4pm in Paisley Town Centre
This year’s event aims to be bigger and better after the success of last year.
Introducing all manner of vehicles no matter how old, how big or how many
wheels. Loads for the whole family to do with stalls, games and music.
Everything from Mini’s to Muscle.
This is a fundraising event for St Vincent’s Hospice in Howwood. Proudly
organised by MaxSafe. Training and sponsored by Paisley First. Keep an
eye out on www.carfest.net for further info.
Drive Deer Aware this Spring
Drivers across South West Scotland are being advised to look out for deer
wandering onto our trunk roads and motorways.
Vehicle accidents involving deer peak at this time of year, as young deer
disperse and increasingly cross major roads to look for their own territories.
Scotland TranServ has identified hot spots on the M77 at Pollok Estate, the
M74 between Hamilton and Douglas, the A77 between Ayr and Kilmarnock
and wooded areas of the A75.
Dr Jochen Langbein who oversees the Deer Vehicle Collisions Project added:
“In Scotland, as in the rest of the UK and many other European countries, wild
deer numbers have risen significantly over recent decades. Many people think
most accidents with deer and vehicles occur on more remote Highland roads,
but in Scotland at least 40 percent occur on A-class trunk roads or motorways,
including across much of South West Scotland’s road network.”
There is no system for the central collation of road traffic accidents involving
deer in the UK, however figures collated from a number of studies suggest
that while it is safe to say 40,000 deer are killed in vehicle strikes every
year, this figure could be as high as 70,000 across Britain as a whole. And,
conservative estimates of 400 injuries to vehicle passengers related to these
collisions could well be nearer 1000 annually.
It is estimated that in Scotland the figure could be as high as 9,000 collisions
per year, resulting in anywhere between 50 and 100 human injuries, with the
total cost of material damage and injury thought to be around £9.5million.
http://www.scotlandtranserv.co.uk/drive-deer-aware-this-spring/
Important dates for our July ‘18 Issue
Deadline: 15th JUNE Delivery: 26th JUNE
Learner Drivers on motorways from June
From Monday 4 June 2018, learner drivers will be able to take driving
lessons on motorways in England, Scotland and Wales. This will help to
make sure more drivers know how to use motorways safely.
At the moment, you can only have motorway lessons after you’ve passed
your driving test. Some newly-qualified drivers take lessons through the
voluntary Pass Plus scheme. Learner drivers will need to be accompanied
by an approved driving instructor and driving a car fitted with dual controls.
Any motorways lessons will be voluntary. It will be up to the driving instructor
to decide when the learner driver is competent enough for them. The
change only applies to learner drivers of cars. Learner motorcyclists won’t
be allowed on motorways. Trainee driving instructors won’t be allowed to
take learner drivers on the motorway.
Driving near learner drivers on the motorway
As with any vehicle on the motorway, keep a safe distance from a learner
driver in front of you. Increase the gap on wet or icy roads, or in fog. You
should always be patient with learner drivers. They may not be so skilful at
anticipating and responding to events.
Driving instructor vehicles and training
Driving instructors can decide if they want to use a driving school rooftop
box during motorway lessons, based on its instructions. The car will need to
display L plates on the front and rear if the rooftop box is removed.
Preparing drivers for a lifetime of safe driving
The changes are being made to allow learner drivers to:
• get broader driving experience before taking their driving test
• get training on how to join and leave the motorway, overtake and use
lanes correctly
• practise driving at higher speeds
• understand motorway specific traffic signs
• understand what to do if a vehicle breaks down on a motorway
• improve their confidence to drive on the motorway unsupervised after
passing their driving test
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