Post by admin on Oct 25, 2015 22:13:05 GMT
All of the Information below has been taken from the GLASS Members Handbook 2014/15.
Green Lane Association – Drivers Code of Conduct (Pages 9 & 10)
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.
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.
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.
Travel as a quiet unobtrusive pace as slow as practicable; we recommend a maximum of 12 mph when in a 4x4 on an Unsurfaced Right of Way (URoW). Ensure your vehicle is fully road-legal, URoW are subject to the same laws as surfaced roads.
When travelling in groups keep to a small number, four or less in sensitive areas, in other areas up to six vehicles may be acceptable. Guidance should be sought from the relevant GLASS Area Representative. Weather and ground conditions should also be taken into account. On routes in good condition, split larger parties up and either use a different route or allow a good interval, at least 30 minutes, to elapse before following. With adverse weather and/or poor ground conditions avoid committing a second group to follow the same route.
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.
Avoid damage to trees, hedgerows and boundaries. Some roads carry vehicular rights but are physically too narrow for 4x4s.
Do not practice recovery techniques on any URoW. Use a winch only with extreme caution, ans use only the correct equipment and techniques.
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.
After consultations with Country Landowners Association and National Farmers Union HQ, “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.
Keep dogs and children under supervision. Watch out for injured or trapped animals, and report all suspicious events to the landholder.
Guard against all risks of fire.
Take your litter home and that left by others if you see it, wherever practicable. Plastic bags can suffocate stock if swallowed.
Help to keep all water clean.
Remember that wildlife faces many threats and URoW are valuable habitats, take special care in spring and early summer.
Follow the Country Code, but be aware that it is for your guidance only.
© Green Lane Association September 2004 revised 2011
All of the Information below has been taken from the GLASS Members Handbook 2014/15
Whilst Out (Page 22)
In any group 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.
Groups should be small, never more than six vehicles and even consider separating into two groups moderately spaced out, it is less intrusive.
When you’re out laning it is possible that you will come across various problems.
You are within your rights to remove or pass on adjacent land to go around an obstruction. This includes removal of padlocks from gates (known as abatement). However before you do any of the above, be certain that the route you are driving is vehicular. Alternatively turn round and report the problem to your local GLASS Representative and/or the Local Highway Authority.
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.
If you do have a ‘discussion’ with someone no matter how angry they may be, don’t react, try to calm the situation. The chances are you will know more about your rights than they do, calmly and politely explain that the road you are driving on even though it may be incorrectly signed as a ‘footpath’ as well, is in fact an old road that ‘escaped the tar-sprayer’, additionally explaining where the information can be found, a bit about GLASS and responsible use etc can be helpful, you will find that most disagreements can be resolver this way.
However if the person stopping you won’t let you continue your journey, and the argument can’t be resolved it’s always best to turn around. Once home, check the legal status of the route with your local GLASS Representative or the Local Highway Authority. With the latter get it confirmed in writing and this can be used as evidence should it happen again.
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 them for 3 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.
When in a group 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!
Green Lane Association – Drivers Code of Conduct (Pages 9 & 10)
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.
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.
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.
Travel as a quiet unobtrusive pace as slow as practicable; we recommend a maximum of 12 mph when in a 4x4 on an Unsurfaced Right of Way (URoW). Ensure your vehicle is fully road-legal, URoW are subject to the same laws as surfaced roads.
When travelling in groups keep to a small number, four or less in sensitive areas, in other areas up to six vehicles may be acceptable. Guidance should be sought from the relevant GLASS Area Representative. Weather and ground conditions should also be taken into account. On routes in good condition, split larger parties up and either use a different route or allow a good interval, at least 30 minutes, to elapse before following. With adverse weather and/or poor ground conditions avoid committing a second group to follow the same route.
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.
Avoid damage to trees, hedgerows and boundaries. Some roads carry vehicular rights but are physically too narrow for 4x4s.
Do not practice recovery techniques on any URoW. Use a winch only with extreme caution, ans use only the correct equipment and techniques.
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.
After consultations with Country Landowners Association and National Farmers Union HQ, “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.
Keep dogs and children under supervision. Watch out for injured or trapped animals, and report all suspicious events to the landholder.
Guard against all risks of fire.
Take your litter home and that left by others if you see it, wherever practicable. Plastic bags can suffocate stock if swallowed.
Help to keep all water clean.
Remember that wildlife faces many threats and URoW are valuable habitats, take special care in spring and early summer.
Follow the Country Code, but be aware that it is for your guidance only.
© Green Lane Association September 2004 revised 2011
All of the Information below has been taken from the GLASS Members Handbook 2014/15
Whilst Out (Page 22)
In any group 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.
Groups should be small, never more than six vehicles and even consider separating into two groups moderately spaced out, it is less intrusive.
When you’re out laning it is possible that you will come across various problems.
You are within your rights to remove or pass on adjacent land to go around an obstruction. This includes removal of padlocks from gates (known as abatement). However before you do any of the above, be certain that the route you are driving is vehicular. Alternatively turn round and report the problem to your local GLASS Representative and/or the Local Highway Authority.
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.
If you do have a ‘discussion’ with someone no matter how angry they may be, don’t react, try to calm the situation. The chances are you will know more about your rights than they do, calmly and politely explain that the road you are driving on even though it may be incorrectly signed as a ‘footpath’ as well, is in fact an old road that ‘escaped the tar-sprayer’, additionally explaining where the information can be found, a bit about GLASS and responsible use etc can be helpful, you will find that most disagreements can be resolver this way.
However if the person stopping you won’t let you continue your journey, and the argument can’t be resolved it’s always best to turn around. Once home, check the legal status of the route with your local GLASS Representative or the Local Highway Authority. With the latter get it confirmed in writing and this can be used as evidence should it happen again.
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 them for 3 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.
When in a group 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!