Camping and Caravanning Club joins forces with Treasure Houses of England

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by Joe Jeffrey

Club teams up with stately homes organisation to offer camping and caravanning with a twist

The Camping and Caravanning Club hastened up with the Treasure Houses of England as its official camping accommodation partner for the next three years.

The Treasure Houses of England is a collection of ten stately homes, castles and palaces, representing the very best of British houses in the country, fitting nicely into The Camping and Caravanning Club’s ethos of providing more than 100 high quality camping and caravan sites across the UK.

The new partnership looks set to help promote the Treasure Houses of England to Club members and other campers and caravanners who enjoy the Club’s Sites, while the stately homes will provide for perfect day-trip destinations, offering some great reasons for keen campers to tour the country and immerse themselves in awareness of the historic buildings and their British heritage.

Treasure Houses chairperson, Miranda Rock said: “We are pleased to welcome our new partners, The Camping and Caravanning Club. Without the support of our sponsors we would be less able to achieve our objectives and promote the great houses of England, each of which is an architectural masterpiece offering a living history.”

“The Treasure Houses of England house some of the most important art collections in the world with famous works from artists such as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. The connoisseur of fine furniture, porcelain and china will find priceless examples of Chippendale, Wedgwood and Meissen. We strive to make available to visitors these exquisite and priceless examples of our heritage.”

The Camping and Caravanning Club’s chairperson, Anne Dearling said of the initiative: “We are thrilled to be working with The Treasure Houses of England. Each of the 10 houses offer a fantastic visitor experience and have acres of wonderful parks and gardens and we are pleased to actively promote this to our members, giving them even more reasons to enjoy holidays at our Club Sites around the country.”

Many of the Treasure Houses of England are still homes to the great families who have owned them for generations. Others keep their heritage alive by re-creating scenes and events that have dominated and shaped England from the ninth century to the present day. For a full listing of all Camping and Caravanning Club Sites local to the ten Treasure Houses of England, click here.

Bailey expands sales operations following company growth

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by Joe Jeffrey

New appointments announced as company growth is highlighted

Bailey of Bristol has expanded its field sales operation following the company’s diversification into new product sectors and sustained retail sales growth.

With the company now firmly established in both the caravan and motorhome markets, the Bailey Retailer network currently consists of over one hundred outlets creating the largest network for a single leisure vehicle brand. In order to provide effective business support to this number of retailers Bailey has strengthened its field sales operation with the appointment of Richard Wescott as national sales manager and Ben Pointon as business development manager for the Northern Caravan Network. Existing roles have also been redefined with Mash Vanstone fulfilling the same role as Ben for the southern caravan network while Alan Freeman becomes the dedicated business development manager for the motorhome network to reflect the importance of this sector to the company as a whole. This new injection of man-power will allow Bailey to gain a greater understanding of individual retailer business requirements and as result provide them with a more personalised and valuable service.

The appointments, Bailey say, have been made during a very dynamic period in the company’s history as the changes implemented to the business as part of the Aurora Programme start to take effect.

Considered by many to be the industry’s leading innovators, eighteen months ago Bailey began a corporate re-structuring programme – code named Aurora. The aim has been to introduce a modern business approach to the soon-to-be 70 year old family owned leisure vehicle manufacturing company whilst at the same time maintaining the key cultural characteristics that have made it such a long term success.

The project is now nearing its conclusion and Bailey has already started to see the benefits of the changes made. The adoption of modern manufacturing principals and the re-configuration of the main vehicle assembly line has led to a 20 per cent increase in annual production calendar year to date. Improvement in supply volumes have led to subsequent increases in caravan and motorhome retail sales over the same period, by ten per cent and 26 per cent respectively, thus strengthening of the company’s position in both markets and re-affirming Bailey as the UK’s number one leisure vehicle brand.   
      
Commenting on these new appointments Bailey sales director, Ian Rawlings, said: “We are delighted to be able to welcome Richard and Ben to our new look field sales team. With their arrival our recently expanded operation will now be able to work more closely with our retail partners to provide an enhanced service for both existing and potential new Bailey customers”

IAM RoadSmart responds to Department of Transport over 2015 road casualties

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by Jeanned’Arc Sanbar

Road safety charity calls on government to show more leadership

Independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has responded to the Department for Transport’s reported road casualties in Great Britain 2015.

The 2015 figures show there were 1,732 reported road deaths which is two per cent fewer than 2014. According to the DfT this is the second lowest annual total after 2013. Also the number of people seriously injured in reported road traffic accidents also saw a decrease by 3 percent in 2015.

But the latest figure for motorbikes reveals 365 motorcyclists were killed during 2015 an 8 per cent from 2014.

IAM RoadSmart’s director of policy and research , Neil Greig, said: “Five years of flat lining on road deaths is unacceptable. Whilst 2015 was a relatively good year the huge gains in road safety made in the past now seem a distant memory.

“The government must show more leadership to really drive down road deaths in the future. Key trends still show the increasing risk to vulnerable road users, particularly motorcyclists, and big increases in fatal crashes involving vans and lorries. The rise in goods vehicle related deaths is worrying and is probably linked to the surge in van sales and use on Britain’s roads. IAM RoadSmart supports police campaigns to crack down on those driving for business, but we also need more firms to step up the plate and take occupational road safety more seriously.”

What do you think could be done to reduce road causalities across the country?

Elddis announces 2017 season Open Weekend

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by Joe Jeffrey

Dates announced for annual Elddis spectacular

Elddis has released details on its 2017 season open weekend, set to take place at the company’s headquarters in County Durham on the weekend of 17 and 18 September 2016.

Similar to other years, the Open Weekend event will see Elddis open its doors to the public to offer a unique insight into the design and production of its multi-award-winning caravan and motorhome ranges. The Open Weekend will also not only give the opportunity to see how and where Elddis, Compass, Xplore and Buccaneer models are built, but will also enable visitors to gain an exclusive view of the all-new 2017 season ranges, whilst offering some excellent deals on the day for those on the lookout for a new caravan or motorhome, including a special event package worth up to £1,195.

Aside from allowing you to gain a sneak peek at Elddis’ 2017 ranges, a series of events are also lined up for the Open Weekend, including an exclusive factory tour and the opportunity to meet families who have recently started caravanning and motorhoming for the first time, as well as representatives of the UK’s two largest membership organisations, The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club. If towing or manoeuvring isn’t your thing, experts will also be on hand to put you through your paces and alleviate any issues you might have too!

Entry to the Elddis Open Weekend is free, but places must be booked online. To secure your place now, click here.

Holiday park owner claims investment is key for increase in staycations

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by Jeanned’Arc Sanbar

Overseas Vacation turns into a staycation

If you think travelling out of the country is the way to go, think again. The owner of a holiday park organisation in North Devon is saying more families are taking vacations closer to home than ever before.

Managing director of Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks , Rudi Lancaster, told the Cambs Times : “UK holidays have continued to grow in popularity, with more and more families choosing to take more short breaks or holidays closer to home without the inconvenience of airport and ferry port delays.”

Lancaster also stressed the importance of reinvesting money into parks in order to attract more visitors and enable more UK residents to feel like they want to holiday at home – a result of which has seen a £4m investment at his Woolacombe Bay park, including the installation of a top-of the-range entertainment complex, cinema, and all-day café bar featuring a sea view terrace. He continued: “This is why re-investing in our parks is so important – offering new venues, activities and accommodation generates repeat business and new customers.”

Marketing manager Linda Brothers said of the reinvestment: “It’s been amazing to see the transformation and the amount of people using the facilities – even when it’s glorious weather and people would normally go down to the beach.

“And local people are more than welcome to come up and have a look around.”

Now it’s your turn. What makes you want to holiday at home rather than hop on a plane? And does investment play a great part? Let us know what you prefer about getting away from it all in your caravan or motorhome in the comments below.

NCC speaks out on European Union referendum outcome

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by Joe Jeffrey

Caravan body weighs in on effects of Brexit on caravan industry

Trade body for the UK caravan industry, the National Caravan Council (NCC), has spoken to highlight the significant and fundamental impact the UK’s decision to leave the European Union will have on the UK caravan industry.

A statement released by the NCC began: “The decision will clearly have implications for the UK caravan industry. However, given so much uncertainty and the fact that extraction negotiations with the EU are expected to be protracted, it is almost impossible to predict the threats and opportunities at this early stage.”

The NCC subsequently went on to highlight the expected issues a move out of the EU would have on the caravan industry as a whole, including:

– Standards and legislation, such as European Whole Vehicle Type Approval
– Inbound and outbound tourism
– Exporting and importing
– The supply of components and labour from the EU for use in both manufacturing and park operations”

However, with the above said, it is not yet clear what impact, if any, will be seen as the NCC went on to state.

“Of course, things will become clearer over the coming weeks and months, which will hopefully provide some clarity on the impact of the exit decision on the UK caravan industry and ongoing trading with remaining EU member countries.

“The referendum result was always for the British people to decide,” the NCC continued. “Accordingly, the NCC did not take a position and remained neutral in this debate. We represent a wide and diverse industry supply chain across four product sectors – from large corporates to sole traders. We always speak up in the interests of our members and our primary function will continue to be serving and representing the interests of all our members.”

What do you think of the NCC’s statement and what the impact of a Brexit will have across the caravanning industry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Dolphin Motorhomes’ Shamba Summer Spectacular this weekend

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by Joe Jeffrey

Over 80 new and used motorhomes, family entertainment and more on offer this weekend

Dolphin Motorhomes is preparing to host its annual summer spectacular event at Shamba Holiday Park in St Leonards this weekend (1 to 3 July), set to offer attendees a whole host of family fun and entertainment, as well as the opportunity to view the dealership’s full range of over 80 new and used motorhomes.

The Shamba Summer Spectacular, now in its fifth year, will also be hosting some very special offers on all new and used motorhomes across the weekend, while entertainment will come courtesy of live music, popular gameshow spinoffs including Play Your Cards Right and Catchphrase, and loads of entertainment for the kids. There will also be the opportunity to ask motorhome experts anything, and manufacturers will be on hand to offer demonstrations, test drives and support on the day plus much more.

The event will be open to members of the public between 9am to 6pm on Friday 1 July, 9am to 5pm on Saturday 2 July, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday 3 July, respectively. For further information, visit Dolphin Motorhomes’ official website here now.

Guide to towing a caravan for first timers

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by Ingeborg Holba

If the prospect of towing a caravan for the first time is what’s stopping you from buying one, fear not, CaravanTimes is here to help! Here are our top ten tips for towing

With caravan season in full swing, as well as various caravan manufacturers starting to reveal their latest models, we certainly expect to see more caravans taking to the road before the year is through. For those wishing to take the plunge, however, and invest in a new home on wheels, towing can be one of the main bugbears when it comes to deciding whether to invest in one or not. As daunting as towing sounds, it’s isn’t – as long as you know what you’re doing.

CaravanTimes has, therefore, compiled the following top ten towing tips to get you moving.

Driving licence

If you passed your driving test before 1 January 1997, then you will already be authorised to drive vehicles up to a combined Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of 8.25 tonnes. That’s a lot of caravan! If you passed your test after this date, you’re restricted to driving a B category vehicle, limiting your vehicle and caravan’s total weight to 3.5 tonnes.

If you’re unsure, your current driving licence will show the categories of vehicles you are permitted to drive.

Don’t sweat, though. Lots of caravan manufacturers have compensated for this change in law and now produce caravans meeting the said requirements, but it’s always imperative to check before you make the plunge and part with your cold hard cash.

Towing weight

When it comes to towing a caravan keeping the weight down is key. Keep the caravan as light as possible, and try to store your heavier items low down and close to the axle – never overload.

Why? Well, the weight of the loaded caravan must be within the car’s towing ability, and the combined weight of both the loaded car – including passengers – and caravan must be below the maximum train weight of the car.

Experts recommend that the weight of the loaded caravan should be no more than 85 per cent of the car’s kerb weight (you can find this in your car’s handbook). The maximum you can tow using an unbraked trailer is 750 kg.

The caravan’s width can stretch to 2.55m towed on a car weighing less than 3500kg.

Importantly, when towing a caravan, never allow for anyone to remain in the caravan whilst driving, no matter how much more appealing it is to lie on a bed rather than an upright car seat.

Towing mirrors

When towing a caravan, you’ll need to have a good view of the rear. Extension mirrors are not only legally required, but they also make your life a whole lot easier.

There are many different types of extension mirrors available, but extension mirrors which can be operated from the inside should be used.

So which one’s best for you? Start off by comparing the width of your car to the width of the caravan. A narrow car and wide caravan will require mirrors that extend further.

Plan ahead

Once you’ve checked your licence, weight and mirrors you’re pretty much ready to hit the road. But remember to plan ahead and anticipate road and traffic conditions.

When you’re towing, you’ll need more time and space for everything. Being aware of what’s happening a few cars in front of you will help practise safe braking and accelerating. It is best to brake earlier, and remember, because of your weight, you will accelerate at a slower pace.

Gears

Use the gears on your car for engine braking. This applies to both automatic and manual transmissions. Moreover, it will help prevent brake fade and wear. It’s also very helpful for maintaining control, and is essential on long descents.

Swing wide

Since you’re no longer only responsible for one vehicle, remember that you have to allow for extra width and length, so take corners more widely in order to avoid cutting them. Remember those mirrors we were going on about earlier? They will help you to no end.

Other vehicles

Since the speed limit is lower for towing cars, it’s important to increase the travelling distance between yourself and the vehicle in front. This is essential for a safe and enjoyable journey. The distance should be further increased under wet or slippery conditions.

Only overtake other vehicles if necessary and in extremely safe circumstances.

Snaking

Snaking occurs when the lateral swaying movement of the towed caravan becomes excessive – not exactly something anyone would warm to. But, for every problem there’s a solution.

If your caravan begins to snake, the most important thing to do is try to stay calm. Don’t slam the brakes. Instead, reduce your speed and continue in a straight line.

You can also take measures before going on the road to prevent snaking. For example, load heavier items over the caravan axles, as aforementioned.

Parking

No one likes parking. It always seemed to be the most difficult part of the driving test, nevertheless, it’s something we can’t escape.

When pulling up and parking against a kerb, don’t forget that the caravan is probably going to be wider than your car. This simply means that you must be aware of the caravan’s proximity to the kerb more than that of your car.

Take it easy

The most important rule of all when it comes to towing is to take it easy. Come on, you’re on holiday after all!

So relax and remain cool, calm and collected. When towing, you’re restricted to a maximum speed of 30mph in built up areas, 50mph on single carriageway roads and 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways, provided no lower limit is in force…but what’s the rush?

Adria unveils new luxury Alpina range

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by Joe Jeffrey

Two new four-berth range-topping Alpinas available in UK now

Adria has unveiled its new range-topping luxury caravan family, the new Alpina.

Available in the UK now, the new Aplina range adopts Adria‘s ‘i-shaped’ exterior design and features a stunning new interior with robust light-weight furniture, an extra-large, cosy lounge, new kitchen and bathroom and spacious, comfortable accommodation with a variety of layouts and sleeping solutions.

Daubed as Adria’s most luxurious range, the Alpina replaces the Astella range and has been made available in two four-berth layouts: the Alpina 613 UT Colorado, featuring twin long beds format with front lounge, and the Alpina 612 DP Missouri, featuring Island double bed with front lounge.

Adria claims to have taken glamour to the next level with the introduction of its newest range, which includes a large multi-functional lounge to the front and spacious prestige kitchen and luxurious rear master bedroom. The Alpina’s innovative interior design features ‘concave’ overhead cupboards, which are said to provide for more space for storage and more room for living, while hot water comes courtesy of Alde heating.

Additional features include a large front panoramic window and DeLuxe windows throughout; Adria Comprex construction for a more solid body and better thermal insulation performance with a ten year water ingress guarantee; AL-KO Delta chassis for safety and reliability; new Smart kitchen with 3 gas burners, sink, optimised worktop space, plentiful storage, oven and grill with chrome finish and large 140 litre fridge with separate freezer; new Ergo bathroom with choice of formats and hotel-style bathroom equipment with space and ergonomy; controllable ambient lighting including LEDs; Adria ‘Thermobuild’ standards of insulation, air flow and ventilation; multi-media solutions including TV placements, Bluetooth and USB ports.

Slavica Sterk, managing director of Adria Concessionaires said of the Alpina: “Glamour has a new look this season, specifically for the demanding UK caravan market we have taken our award-winning Alpina caravan, which is well-respected as the most technically proficient all-season caravan, and brought it to the UK but in a new, more glamorous and luxurious form.”

What do you think of Adria’s new Alpina range? Let us know in the comments below.

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Family returns from 25,000 mile motorhome holiday

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by Joe Jeffrey

12 countries and 25,000 miles later, the Hurst family return to weigh up their favourite destinations

For most of us, getting away from it all consists of hitting the road to travel to our favourite holiday park in our motorhomes or with our caravans in tow, anticipating what the weekend has in store – even more of a bonus if our time spent away falls on a bank holiday. One family, however, took the notion of a family holiday to the extreme, hitting the road to take in 12 countries on an epic 12-month, 25,000 mile motorhome journey.

David Hurst and his wife, Debs, their two young boys, Daniel, six, and Darley, four, and the family pet, Mr Colin dog, decided to explore the world in their Swift Escape 696 motorhome after falling in love with the freedom a motorhome offered them during their first family trip to Spain in a hired Swift Escape 686 in 2014. After returning from their holiday they took the decision to downsize their family home and purchase a Swift Escape 696, in what was the start of a new chapter in their lives, seeing them embark upon their Face2Facebook project – a move which saw them travel the UK and Europe to visit their Facebook friends and family.

Fast forward to 2015, and the motorhome bug saw the Hursts embark upon an even more exciting adventure they labelled ‘Education by Astonishment,’ which saw David and Debs take the decision to remove their eldest son from school for a while to enhance his learning in exciting and new environments, whilst sticking to a home schooling regime that followed the British National Curriculum subjects.

Over the course of the 12 months that followed, the Hursts travelled across 12 countries, covering 25,000 miles and, now, upon his family’s return to the UK, David Hurst has spoken to the Daily Mail to give his verdict on the places he and his family enjoyed the most. Read on below to find out.

South of France

France offers the warmest welcome to motorhomers due to its amazing network of ‘aires’ – special motorhome overnight parking areas that are usually provided by local authorities, or sometimes by enterprising locals.

Complete with services to empty waste and fill up with fresh water, most are free or cost just a few euros for water and electricity (however, unlike campsites, most don’t provide showers).

Throughout Europe – though not in Britain – aires are often in wonderful settings beside pretty lakes or rivers, or near mountains, as we discovered in the stunning Parc National des Cevennes.

This protected landscape full of rivers and ravines is just an hour from the cool city of Montpellier, where students make up a third of the population.

Beware hairpin bends and narrow ledges on the mountain roads, but the views are worth it.
From all our travels, the most motorhome parking places were found in the South of France.
The aire by the 16th Century Notre-Dame chapel at Bagnols-en-Foret, close to Saint Tropez, was magnificent – and cost the princely sum of £4.60 a night.

Northern Spain

The green north of Spain is definitely worth a visit. We took the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Santander and visited the cities of Bilbao, Gijon and Santiago de Compostela, which are all splendid. There are miles of unspoilt beaches to explore, much like those in our West Country – and the area is just as verdant, thanks to its rainfall.

We spent an enchanting evening at O Vicedo, facing a fishing harbour with a restaurant serving catch just hauled from the boats.

Close by was one of the most beautiful, sparkling white-sanded coves, which we had all to ourselves. The next night we stayed by the stunning Playa de Frexulje beach, next to a eucalyptus forest.

As well as aires and excellent campsites, Spain also has a growing number of ‘camperstops’, a cross between an aire and a campsite. These cost about £7.80 a night.

Bouillon, Belgium

We had no idea how pretty Belgium can be. One of the best aires of our travels was at Bouillon, a town sitting on a U-shaped bend of the River Semois.

The aire, reached by crossing a medieval bridge, is in a forested area close to the centre of town, with great views of the commanding castle. There are lovely riverside restaurants, and a playground received majestic approval from our boys – Daniel, six, and Darley, four. And the peaceful riverside walks were popular with my wife Debs and our collie, Colin. Me? I enjoyed both walks and playground in equal measure.

Chefchaouen, Morocco

Although Morocco is in Africa, most travel insurance covers Morocco under ‘Europe’ – yet there still seems to be a reluctance among many of the huge British motorhome community that makes southern Spain their base every winter to take the hour-long ferry from Algeciras to Tangier.

At times we had to pinch ourselves to check we hadn’t been transported to somewhere 2,000 years ago as we repeatedly drove past shepherds dressed in hooded djellabas walking their small flocks.

The roads were generally fine -from what we saw on our return trip to Fez, they were comparable to those in Britain.

Our favourite place was the mystical mountain town of Chefchaouen in the Rif mountains. 
Here, every building, street and even trees are painted blue, something started in the 1930s by Jewish dwellers who thought it would keep mosquitoes away as the pesky insects don’t like running water. 

We stayed at Camping Azilan campsite (it cost about £10 a night) that was a pleasant spot, although hot water is a luxury not found on too many Moroccan campsites. 

A word of warning: when entering the country, ensure you have the correct documents, including a temporary importation of vehicle form.

Andalucia, Spain

The sun-baked southernmost region of Spain is rich in culture, history and scenery.

With windows open and a warm breeze drifting in, every mile was a joy to drive, the roads usually as smooth as the Mediterranean in the morning. The cities of Granada, Malaga and Cordoba have ample free parking.

The N-340 coast road between Malaga and Estepona is busy – but anywhere inland or east of Malaga is pretty quiet.

Don’t miss the charming town and beaches of Nerja, and Torrox is another fantastic beachside town, with the original pretty white pueblo (village) a mile inland.

At the friendly El Pino campsite, you can stay under the shade of its avocado trees.

Weather experts say that it has the best climate in Europe – wonderful when you park your home on wheels and open the door to know that your ‘garden’ outside can go on for ever, with views of North Africa across the Alboran Sea.

Family wins brand new Bailey caravan with Truma UK

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by Joe Jeffrey

Jackson family win Bailey Ancona after entering competition at NEC show

The winners of a brand new Bailey Ancona caravan, packed full of Truma goodies worth up to £25,000, have been announced following a competition launched during the Motorhome & Caravan Show 2016 earlier this year.

Over 7,000 people entered the competition organised by Truma UK during the course of the show which took place at Birmingham’s NEC in February, which included a number of high-spec Truma products including the Truma Combi heater, Aventa air conditioning unit, Truma iNet System, Mover XT and a SolarSet.

Truma’s UK managing director, Martin Fitzpatrick, chose the Jackson family at random by carrying out a lottery style selection process and the result could not have been better. The Jacksons – a family of four with another baby on the way – were elated to hear the news relayed over the phone. As keen campers using a four berth tent they had always aspired to buying a caravan and with Truma’s help this has been accomplished.

Emma Jackson said of the win: “We never win anything; I’m choked thank you so much. This is better than winning the lottery because you couldn’t have given us anything better. It will impact on our lifestyle for many years to come; as we will be able to spend many weekends and holidays away in the caravan! ”

Managing director, Fitzpatrick, spent a day with the family at their local dealership, Lowdhams in Huddersfield, to choose the family-friendly caravan as well as to assist with the handover of the vehicle weeks later to ensure everything was in place. The Jackson’s second trip in the caravan was spent on Truma’s UK site in South Derbyshire for the National Camping and Caravanning Weekend, and their next big adventure is sure to put their caravan skills to the test as they plan to take a two week trip to the South of France during the summer holidays.

Congratulations to the Jacksons from all of us here at CaravanTimes.

IAM RoadSmart announces support of TyreSafe for 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

Road Safety expert extends support for tyre safety organisation

IAM RoadSmart has announced its official support of TyreSafe, the UK’s not-for-profit tyre safety awareness organisation.

Formed in 1956, IAM RoadSmart has 60 years’ experience in making Britain’s roads safer by improving driver and rider skills through coaching and education. Meanwhile, in 2016, TyreSafe will be marking the tenth anniversary of its campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of defective and illegal tyres. The not-for-profit organisation recommends drivers check their tyres’ pressure, condition and tread depth at least once a month and before long journeys, and offers advice and information relevant to all motorists.

IAM RoadSmart chief executive, Sarah Sillars, OBE and Hon FIMI, said: “IAM RoadSmart’s mission is to improve driving and riding skills to help reduce the number of accidents and incidents on Britain’s roads.

“Over the course of the charity’s illustrious 60-year history, our trainers and coaches have enhanced the skills of nearly half-a-million drivers, and with our recent relaunch, we have ambitions to increase the number of participants through a broader offering. Educating drivers and riders on all aspects of road safety will remain an essential part of that, and access to TyreSafe’s expertise and materials will be a considerable asset.”

Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, said of the collaborative partnership: “IAM RoadSmart is not only the pre-eminent provider of driver training in the UK, it’s also one of the most respected names in the automotive industry. Its official support for TyreSafe reflects the growing number of organisations acknowledging the need to raise the tyre safety awareness agenda among Britain’s motorists.

“Tyres are one of a vehicle’s primary safety features and need regular maintenance checks to ensure they are roadworthy – we welcome IAM RoadSmart’s support in spreading this message to Britain’s motorists.”