October 2021

17 Buckden Roundabout October 2021 Other Information Changing attitudes through education What makes an advanced driver/rider? – A simple question but the answer has many facets. The ability to honestly self - assess their own driving/riding performance accurately and learn from experience is the most important skill of all. In or- der to drive safely you have to gain information about what is happening, or likely to happen, around you. An advanced driv- er/rider is proactive rather than reactive. The primary source of information is from observation which requires the driver/ rider to be constantly scanning, assessing the risks attached to what is seen (or not seen) and forming a plan to manage that risk. As the risk changes so does the plan. When a driver/rider starts to work with a Tutor it can all seem rather daunting but as the tutoring progresses it becomes easier and more natural. An experienced advanced driver will be forming and revising plans in fractions of a second whereas a less experienced driv- er/rider may take seconds or not see the risk at all. A well - known ex - police driving instructor and examiner has nine other (main) principles of advanced driving: • A calm and composed attitude with just the right amount of assertiveness; • An ability to remove emotion from driving; • An active (but not overactive imagination) imagination; • Sustained concentration; • Planning; • Smoothness with the controls; • Accuracy; • Mechanical sympathy; • Feel. However, with all the above in mind, driving should be an en- joyable experience for the driver and passengers. Advanced driving has this image of promoting safe, serious and sensible driving but it can also be enjoyable, challenging and spirited especially if you have acquired the necessary skills. An advanced driver will also adjust their driving style to the type of vehicle being driven and the type of journey being un- dertaken. For a very low annual membership fee and no tuition charges, RoADARC ’ s Tutors will help you improve your existing skills and learn new ones, if that is required. Visit our website at www.roadarc.org.uk for further information or email in- fo@roadarc.org.uk. Let ’ s feed soils, not climate change Did you know that 30% of global greenhouse gases come from producing our food? And if food waste were a country, it would have the third biggest carbon footprint after the USA and China? In fact, 70% of food waste (post farm gate) is gen- erated from households, with the average family throwing away £700 of edible food every year. In Huntingdonshire, this is not always disposed of in the best way. Approximately 4% of the residential recycling collections are rejected due to food waste. This would be enough to fill 6 refuse trucks a month. But more shockingly, 1/3 of the resi- dential general waste collected comprises of food waste; enough to fill 70 - 75 refuse trucks a month. Placing food waste in your grey refuse bin means this valuable resource goes to landfill. Due to the unnatural conditions, the food waste releases methane as it decomposes. Methane is a greenhouse gas and is 30 times more potent than carbon diox- ide. The best way to avoid this is by reducing the food that is wasted; even some unavoidable food waste can be reduced by eating crusts, some vegetable stalks, and peels, or doing things such as making stocks. However, some food waste is inevitable. The best way to dis- pose of this would be in your green garden bin or a home com- post bin. During this time, the food waste will release the car- bon dioxide it had absorbed during its growth as it decompos- es. However, the additional benefit of adding it to your green garden bin or home compost is that it also produces compost at the end of the process, which then is used on farm land, in parks and in gardens to help feed the soil. Let ’ s feed soils, not climate change! Some simple tips which will make a difference: ⁠ ⁠ Use up leftovers ; maybe a leftovers dinner night once a week. ⁠ Plan ahead ; think about what you are going to use over the coming days or weeks and make sure you do not buy any- thing that will not be eaten in time. ⁠ Take a ‘ shelfie ’ when shopping, so you know what you already have in the fridge and cupboards. ⁠ Have a short date shelf in the fridge, ensuring you do not forget about it at the back of the fridge. ⁠ And simply, buy what you eat and eat what you buy. ⁠ Complete a food waste audit . Most people don ’ t think they waste much food. But by documenting what is thrown away, you quickly see how it adds up. ⁠ Join a local group , such as our Hunts Waste Busters. Meeting more like - minded people, sharing experiences and ideas, helps overcome any challenges and keep motivation. ⁠ Talk to others, share what you know; not everyone will be aware of the impact food waste has. From the HDC Waste Minimisation Team