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Members who haven't seen it before might find the GLASS Drivers code of Conduct interesting and useful.
GREEN LANE ASSOCIATION
Promoting sensible driving in the countryside
DRIVERS CODE OF CONDUCT
Ø Use only rights of way with known, proven or provable vehicular rights. If challenged, discuss; if not resolved, then leave as requested until status is rechecked.
Ø Keep to the defined track. Detour only to pass immovable obstructions. Report any obstructions (including low branches) to the Highway authority and the local GLASS Area Representative. Be critical of your own abilities and equipment when assessing an Obstruction; it is your right to Abate a non-lawful Obstruction, but do not commit yourself to a bigger task than you are equipped for.
Ø If the route is not obvious on the ground, ask locally, or check on the maps held at the Highway authority offices or consult the local GLASS Area Representative.
Ø Travel at a quiet and unobtrusive pace and as slowly as practicable; we recommend a maximum of 12 mph when in a 4x4 and on an Unsurfaced Right of Way (URoW). Ensure your vehicle is fully road-legal, URoW are subject to the same laws as surfaced roads.
Ø When travelling in groups, keep to a small number - four or less. Split larger parties up and either use a different route or allow a good interval to elapse before following.
Ø Do not travel on URoW when they risk being affected beyond a point of natural recovery once the weather improves. If need be, walk some or all of the route first to determine its suitability. Do not use URoW that maybe damaged by the wheel pressure applied by your vehicle.
Ø Avoid damage to trees, hedgerows and boundaries. Some roads carry vehicular rights but are physically too narrow for 4x4s.
Ø Do not practice recovery techniques on any URoW. Use a winch only with extreme caution, and use only the correct equipment and techniques.
Ø Be courteous to other road users - pull over and stop your vehicle for walkers, but pull over, stop your vehicle and switch off the engine for passing horses. Thank those who move over for you.
Ø After consultations with Country Landowners Association and National Farmers Union HQ’s, "best practice" dictates that gates if they were found to be secured in an open position should be left open, and those which are found shut or swinging should be shut behind you; the Landowner might appreciate being told about a gate insecurely propped open if you see them.
Ø Keep dogs and children under supervision. Watch out for injured or trapped animals, and report all suspicious events to the landholder.
Ø Guard against all risks of fire.
Ø Take your litter home and that left by others if you see it, wherever practicable. Plastic bags can suffocate stock if swallowed.
Ø Help to keep all water clean.
Ø Remember that wildlife faces many threats and URoW are valuable habitats, take special care in spring and early summer.
Ø Follow the Country Code, but be aware that it is for your guidance only.
GLASS also have a laning advice sheet as follows:
Laning Advice Sheet
The following is offered as general advice, especially to new laners, comments please.
Each driver is responsible for their own safety, passengers and other Highway users, and to ensure they are compliant with all legal requirements, including ensuring the roads used have vehicular rights. All highways whether surfaced or not are subject to the statutory requirements for the drivers to be licensed, insured and ‘road legal’
The lead vehicle, unless specifically agreed in writing, assumes no responsibility for the route taken by subsequent vehicles or the status of the road. That remains the responsibility of each driver.
Convoys should be small; new advice says 4, 4 wheeled vehicles at the most, and even then consider separating into two groups moderately spaced, it is less intrusive, if rarely within view of each other. Over 12 vehicles in an organised event needs prior agreement from the Police.
If challenged, you do not have to stop for anyone other than a Police Officer in uniform, nor do you have to give a name, address or telephone number to any other person, but the registration number of the vehicle must be clearly visible. However, calmly and politely explaining that the road you are driving on, even though it may be incorrectly signed as ‘Footpath’ as well, is in fact an old road that 'escaped the tar-sprayer', may be found beneficial. Tarring a road (or not) does not alter the legal status of a road. ‘Although 98% of all RoW do NOT have public vehicular rights, the specific one you are on, you have researched, and does have. Anyone not wishing to benefit from the compacted, clear, easy to follow byway, is able to choose one of the other 98%, but you are unable to use them, in a vehicle’.
The GLASS Drivers Code of Conduct should be followed.
Additionally the following points are recommended good-practice to increase safety and comfort in the event of unforeseen incidents, or emergency situations.
When travelling in a group of vehicles, all vehicles should be aware of a re-entry or rendezvous point in case of separation. Knowing the mobile telephone numbers of others in the group is wise.
When in convoy keep the vehicle BEHIND in sight, if they stop, you stop, the one in front will then stop in turn.
Due to unforeseen reasons Byways can become impassable, so always be sure you can drive back the way you came, walk unknown sections first. When leaving a vehicle, do NOT leave keys in it. The anti access brigade have been known to remove keys from unattended vehicles, and throw them away! (Like in petrol stations, a car with keys left in it, is un-insured)
CB radio is a safety aid, adds interest, saves time, can be used to advise of dangers, plan halts etc. It is of great assistance to others in a convoy to be aware of the nature of conversations with passers by, in advance, by remaining on transmit. When advising of which gates are closed, take care to identify which precise gates were closed. (Like mobile phones, CB radio should not be used by the driver, and a licence is required to operate certain CB equipment)
It is often quicker for a passenger in a lead vehicle to open and close a gate for 3 or less vehicles, and for the final vehicle passenger to close when there are 4 or more vehicles.
When leaving a muddy lane, take great care not to deposit mud on the tarmac road, this can be an accident hazard. Consider driving on a verge, or very slowly at first to reduce mud near a bend. Take exceptional care when towing especially with a Kinetic rope, and with High-Lift jacks, which are intrinsically unstable.
When travelling on enclosed lanes, take great care of branches flicking through open windows into your face, but more especially when children may open windows unaware of the risk to eyes!
All vehicles should carry maps, and adequate recovery equipment for the expected conditions, a working jack and good spare wheel. Emergency food & drinks and a torch, with spare batteries, should be carried to enable an unexpected overnight delay, including adequate warm and waterproof clothes, a change of clothes including clean shoes is an asset. A First Aid kit and Fire Extinguisher should always be carried. Other useful items to have are compass, GPS, binoculars, camera.
A camera is useful to record obstructions or incidents, as well as enjoyable aspects. Be careful though, a camera could inflame a confrontation.
Record your journey, ideally completing dated User Evidence Forms for all lanes (on paper or the web) noting conditions or problems. Some find it useful to keep a small logbook.
The names, mobile and home telephone numbers of all in the convoy is desirable for each member to be aware of. When laning alone, consider keeping a list of local members handy, getting a tow from some farmers can be extortionate, £500 having been reported!
GREEN LANE ASSOCIATION
Promoting sensible driving in the countryside
DRIVERS CODE OF CONDUCT
Ø Use only rights of way with known, proven or provable vehicular rights. If challenged, discuss; if not resolved, then leave as requested until status is rechecked.
Ø Keep to the defined track. Detour only to pass immovable obstructions. Report any obstructions (including low branches) to the Highway authority and the local GLASS Area Representative. Be critical of your own abilities and equipment when assessing an Obstruction; it is your right to Abate a non-lawful Obstruction, but do not commit yourself to a bigger task than you are equipped for.
Ø If the route is not obvious on the ground, ask locally, or check on the maps held at the Highway authority offices or consult the local GLASS Area Representative.
Ø Travel at a quiet and unobtrusive pace and as slowly as practicable; we recommend a maximum of 12 mph when in a 4x4 and on an Unsurfaced Right of Way (URoW). Ensure your vehicle is fully road-legal, URoW are subject to the same laws as surfaced roads.
Ø When travelling in groups, keep to a small number - four or less. Split larger parties up and either use a different route or allow a good interval to elapse before following.
Ø Do not travel on URoW when they risk being affected beyond a point of natural recovery once the weather improves. If need be, walk some or all of the route first to determine its suitability. Do not use URoW that maybe damaged by the wheel pressure applied by your vehicle.
Ø Avoid damage to trees, hedgerows and boundaries. Some roads carry vehicular rights but are physically too narrow for 4x4s.
Ø Do not practice recovery techniques on any URoW. Use a winch only with extreme caution, and use only the correct equipment and techniques.
Ø Be courteous to other road users - pull over and stop your vehicle for walkers, but pull over, stop your vehicle and switch off the engine for passing horses. Thank those who move over for you.
Ø After consultations with Country Landowners Association and National Farmers Union HQ’s, "best practice" dictates that gates if they were found to be secured in an open position should be left open, and those which are found shut or swinging should be shut behind you; the Landowner might appreciate being told about a gate insecurely propped open if you see them.
Ø Keep dogs and children under supervision. Watch out for injured or trapped animals, and report all suspicious events to the landholder.
Ø Guard against all risks of fire.
Ø Take your litter home and that left by others if you see it, wherever practicable. Plastic bags can suffocate stock if swallowed.
Ø Help to keep all water clean.
Ø Remember that wildlife faces many threats and URoW are valuable habitats, take special care in spring and early summer.
Ø Follow the Country Code, but be aware that it is for your guidance only.
GLASS also have a laning advice sheet as follows:
Laning Advice Sheet
The following is offered as general advice, especially to new laners, comments please.
Each driver is responsible for their own safety, passengers and other Highway users, and to ensure they are compliant with all legal requirements, including ensuring the roads used have vehicular rights. All highways whether surfaced or not are subject to the statutory requirements for the drivers to be licensed, insured and ‘road legal’
The lead vehicle, unless specifically agreed in writing, assumes no responsibility for the route taken by subsequent vehicles or the status of the road. That remains the responsibility of each driver.
Convoys should be small; new advice says 4, 4 wheeled vehicles at the most, and even then consider separating into two groups moderately spaced, it is less intrusive, if rarely within view of each other. Over 12 vehicles in an organised event needs prior agreement from the Police.
If challenged, you do not have to stop for anyone other than a Police Officer in uniform, nor do you have to give a name, address or telephone number to any other person, but the registration number of the vehicle must be clearly visible. However, calmly and politely explaining that the road you are driving on, even though it may be incorrectly signed as ‘Footpath’ as well, is in fact an old road that 'escaped the tar-sprayer', may be found beneficial. Tarring a road (or not) does not alter the legal status of a road. ‘Although 98% of all RoW do NOT have public vehicular rights, the specific one you are on, you have researched, and does have. Anyone not wishing to benefit from the compacted, clear, easy to follow byway, is able to choose one of the other 98%, but you are unable to use them, in a vehicle’.
The GLASS Drivers Code of Conduct should be followed.
Additionally the following points are recommended good-practice to increase safety and comfort in the event of unforeseen incidents, or emergency situations.
When travelling in a group of vehicles, all vehicles should be aware of a re-entry or rendezvous point in case of separation. Knowing the mobile telephone numbers of others in the group is wise.
When in convoy keep the vehicle BEHIND in sight, if they stop, you stop, the one in front will then stop in turn.
Due to unforeseen reasons Byways can become impassable, so always be sure you can drive back the way you came, walk unknown sections first. When leaving a vehicle, do NOT leave keys in it. The anti access brigade have been known to remove keys from unattended vehicles, and throw them away! (Like in petrol stations, a car with keys left in it, is un-insured)
CB radio is a safety aid, adds interest, saves time, can be used to advise of dangers, plan halts etc. It is of great assistance to others in a convoy to be aware of the nature of conversations with passers by, in advance, by remaining on transmit. When advising of which gates are closed, take care to identify which precise gates were closed. (Like mobile phones, CB radio should not be used by the driver, and a licence is required to operate certain CB equipment)
It is often quicker for a passenger in a lead vehicle to open and close a gate for 3 or less vehicles, and for the final vehicle passenger to close when there are 4 or more vehicles.
When leaving a muddy lane, take great care not to deposit mud on the tarmac road, this can be an accident hazard. Consider driving on a verge, or very slowly at first to reduce mud near a bend. Take exceptional care when towing especially with a Kinetic rope, and with High-Lift jacks, which are intrinsically unstable.
When travelling on enclosed lanes, take great care of branches flicking through open windows into your face, but more especially when children may open windows unaware of the risk to eyes!
All vehicles should carry maps, and adequate recovery equipment for the expected conditions, a working jack and good spare wheel. Emergency food & drinks and a torch, with spare batteries, should be carried to enable an unexpected overnight delay, including adequate warm and waterproof clothes, a change of clothes including clean shoes is an asset. A First Aid kit and Fire Extinguisher should always be carried. Other useful items to have are compass, GPS, binoculars, camera.
A camera is useful to record obstructions or incidents, as well as enjoyable aspects. Be careful though, a camera could inflame a confrontation.
Record your journey, ideally completing dated User Evidence Forms for all lanes (on paper or the web) noting conditions or problems. Some find it useful to keep a small logbook.
The names, mobile and home telephone numbers of all in the convoy is desirable for each member to be aware of. When laning alone, consider keeping a list of local members handy, getting a tow from some farmers can be extortionate, £500 having been reported!