LONDON SECTION
Risk Assessment and Method Statement Issued January 2010.
This Document is a Risk
Assessment and Method Statement concerned with the safe
enjoyment of events.
Risk:
The most likely risk to consider, with regard to this event, is the risk of crashing, or falling from your machine as a result of your own actions or as a result of the actions of others.
Those at Risk:
You, fellow riders and members of the general public. (Pedestrians & other road users)
Degree of Risk:
Us (you and fellow riders): Being “Advanced Motorists”, qualified by experience,
IAM
Membership, Nurburgring training, Hopp Rider training at Cadwell Park, Mallory
Park,
and Goodwood etc. the level of risk, by our own actions is deemed to be LOW.
Accidents caused by other Road Users: MEDIUM.
Method Statement.
Other road users should be perceived as having little or no skill in Roadcraft and should be treated accordingly; expect them to “not see you”, pull out in front of you without warning, pull out to overtake while you are overtaking them and so on; use your skills to interpret the “body language” of other road users so as to pre-empt any possible conflict.
Our Section Ride-outs are generally conducted using the “Drop off System”, a system
which offers two benefits; no matter how far the group is spread out, and provided
that the system is operated correctly, the group will stay together.
More importantly
, due to the basic principal ( of the system) nobody is pressurised to ride at a
pace beyond their capabilities – always ride at 75% of your ability thereby holding
25% in reserve should you encounter a “problem”
You need not have to keep up with
riders ahead, or even keep them in sight, nor need you be concerned with keeping
within sight of those riders behind you, - simply ride at a pace that you feel comfortable
with and do not deviate from the road being ridden until coming upon a “dropped off”
rider indicating a change of course.
For those not familiar with the “Drop off System” it works like this:
There is a Run
Leader who nobody overtakes. There is a “Tail Ender” who always stays at the rear
of the group. The riders in between are free to overtake or drop back (but not overtake
the Leader or fall behind the “Tail Ender”) as they please.
When a change of course
is required, the Leader will point at a safe spot for the rider following him to
stop (be “dropped off”) thus indicating the change of course to the following riders
when they appear. The dropped of rider should wait for all of the group to pass him
( except the Tail Ender) and when they have all passed him buy he should rejoin in
FRONT of the Tail Ender.
If you find yourself riding a stretch of road alone, with
no other riders in sight, no matter ; do not deviate from the route until you come
across a “dropped off” rider indicating a change of course. i.e. At a crossroads
with no “dropped off rider” – carry straight on. Roundabouts are the same – if
“carrying on the same route” is not clear, say on a multi exit Roundabout, the Leader
will drop someone off to make it clear
If after being “dropped off” the group fails
to appear, stay put. The Leader will soon realise
that he has lost his flock and ,
after an appropriate wait will double back – that way all of the route will be covered
; if after doubling back the Leader fails to locate the missing riders, and after
an appropriate wait , those left should proceed to the final destination ( if possible
they should leave a mobile phone message with someone in the missing group confirming
this )
If you find yourself detached from the main group, or become lost, leave a
mobile phone message with the Leader confirming that you will be proceeding, alone,
to the final destination (or going home)
The Basic Route will be notified to you at the start of the ride.
The Leaders Mobile telephone number will be given to you on the day.