Tips and Blogs

Temperatures across the UK have soared to over 30 degrees this week, and more people are heading out on the roads to enjoy it. We may consider ourselves to be a nation of dog lovers, but it seems we’re still putting our four-legged friends at risk when it comes to travelling in warmer weather.

Who doesn’t love the idea of hopping into the car and taking to the open road to kick-off our holiday, or for a carefree, weekend trip away. However, with schools about to break-up for the summer and August bank holiday weekend just around the corner, you’re unlikely to be the only person planning at least one weekend of driving over the coming weeks, so thinking ahead is a must.

Whether you’re staying in the UK, or driving to the airport, before taking your car onto the roads this summer, IAM RoadSmart’s Head of Driving & Riding Standards Richard Gladman, has a few top tips to ensuring your journey is a smooth one.

Warm, sunny weather and long days make summer an ideal time for motorcycling. But with parts of the UK already seeing temperatures of over 30 degrees, IAM RoadSmart is warning motorcyclists to be prepared before setting off on those summer rides and know how to keep your cool this summer.

It’s that time of year again when we say goodbye to our winter coats and start digging out our summer wardrobe –many of us might start wearing our comfy flip flops once again.

In this week’s blog ‘Taking the Rural Road or Route’, IAM RoadSmart member Denis Cartmel, who has made his career from teaching others to drive tractors safely, offers his insight into the world of driving agricultural vehicles and some of the key aspects other road users should be aware of.

Back in February 2020, as a soon-to-be first-time mum and a member of IAM RoadSmart, I had so many fears going through my mind as my due date crept around the corner. “What if I go into labour in the car?...What if I’m screaming in the car on the way to hospital and it distracts my other half from the road?"

We all share the same road space. We all need to coordinate our journey with those around us. But sometimes, when someone pulls out or fails to indicate, it annoys us. It tests our patience. We forget to share.

How could anyone doubt my driving ability? I had driven hundreds of high-performance cars, road tested for Autocar, and presented Top Gear for years. I had even held a Class One HGV and a PSV double decker bus licence. And yet, and yet.

Tony Greenidge’s appointment as IAM RoadSmart’s CEO follows several years of change within the organisation, not least in 2020, which has brought some of the most significant challenges we have ever faced. In this blog Tony tells us a little more about his background, his career at IAM RoadSmart so far, and his vision for the future as we enter 2021.