From the
writers desk

on the road web-log

  • September 2010

    All forms of travel get featured on this site - cars, boats, bikes, and now planes. We love this YouTube vid on the pitfalls of flying with one of those cut-price, no-frills (or should that be no thrills?) airlines. See if you agree go here

  • June 2010

    Saddle sore: Brighton UK enjoyed its fifth annual World Naked Bike Ride in June in protest against oil dependency and in celebration of cycling and the human body. A friend who attended reckoned there were about 1000 entrants 'tho his inspection to assess male or female numbers was inconclusive. Go here for a pic

  • May 2010

    Every eight minutes one person dies in a road accident in India, and 10 are injured. For those of us who have driven there, the figures are not surprising - but truly alarming nonetheless. India overtook China as top of the world in road fatalities in 2006 and continues to pull ahead. But what's being done about it? Go here

  • April 2010

    This year's Newport Muster, an annual walking event in Richard's home town that raises thousands of £'s for charity, is to be held on Saturday, September 11, it is announced. Go here for more info - http://www.newportmuster.org

  • December 2009

    Richard is asked to advise a team planning to traverse the Pan-American highway by electric car!

    The 11-man team of (mostly) engineering students from Imperial College, London, want to tackle the often-treacherous route from Pategonia to Alaska in a modified 'Radical' car from Peterborough next May. Go here: www.racinggreenendurance.com

  • October 2009

    US President Barack Obama has banned text messaging among the Federal Government's near three million civilian employees while driving on official business or while using Government-supplied equipment.

    His edict comes after recent deadly crashes involving drivers distracted by text messaging in the UK. It's a growing danger on our roads, according to Dr Will Murray, research director of Interactive Driving Systems MORE

  • May 2009

    Shake the tree hard enough and even the most obstinate apples will start to fall...

    As the anniversary of Richard and Phil's historic drive across the new Asian Highway draws near, news has arrived that China's government is finally putting in some effort to reduce its horrendous toll of road deaths... MORE

  • January 2009

    Personal appearance diary of signing and speaking events for the coming year have been posted. MORE

  • February 2009

    Planning begins for the 'Newport Muster' a major charity event to be held in September. MORE

  • November 2008

    Move over Schumi: Feedback from reviewers of my new book 'DRIVEN TOGETHER' has ranged from almost praiseworthy (highly unusual from journalists!) to downright jealousy. The book raises serious issues about international travel and poor driving standards - especially in Asia - as well as the glamour of powering halfway across the world in an Aston Martin. But one question seems on all of their lips: Did it make you feel like James Bond? Here is my answer... MORE

  • October 2008

    Citizen Newspapers begin 4-part series by Richard on secret wartime work by Bond author Ian Fleming with Bletchley Park code-breakers. Click Here for a personal view of Part One.

  • October 2008

    Publishers announce full-length book of the Asian Highway journey will be available by end November. Here is what they are saying:
    "This far-reaching and thought-provoking book weaves in their first-hand account of an historic journey with a glimpse into the future that is of profound importance to us all."
    "How appropriate they should drive it in an Aston, it is almost the stuff of James Bond himself with back-handers in cash and women in foreign hotel bedrooms."
    The event has so far raised more than £80,000 for UNICEF to help save young lives on the roads of China. July 2008

    Asian Drive operational team nominated in Prince Michael's international road safety awards for ‘improving public education'. Results scheduled December. www.roadsafe.com

  • April 2008

    "Make Roads Safe" campaign hails victory as UN General Assembly agrees to call first-ever global conference on Road Safety. Agenda will demand action plan and finance from international community. To be held in Russia next year.

  • March 2008

    Charity proceeds of 83,000 euros from the Asian Highway trip were presented to UNICEF at twin ceremonies in the UK and China. The money will help educate parents, community leaders and school children on road safety issues in Beijing and three eastern provinces. MORE

  • December 2007

    The record-breaking Aston Martin was sold at auction at Bonhams for £34,000 - with all proceeds going towards efforts by the China office of UNICEF in saving young lives on the roads.

  • June 2007

    Aston Martin - Driving Home Road Safety 2007 Richard and travel specialist Phil are to set off on the 25th June from Tokyo driving to London in a journey to promote the UN-backed Road Safety Is No Accident and the Make Roads Safe campaigns across the new Asian Highway. The achievement was marked with a civic award presentation in September. MORE

  • January 2007

    There was a song on one of those 'golden oldie' shows the other day that went something like this: "Keep your eyes on your driving, keep your hands on the wheel, and keep your snoopy eyes on the road ahead". Now OK, I'm no Jack Kerouac, but when I go travelling I certainly do a lot of it by road. Car, bus, truck, tuk-tuk; you name it. So I care a lot about what happens on the highway. And right now I don't much like what I see (or, rather, what I don't see). MORE

  • December 2006

    It could only happen in Denmark ... or could it? The Road Safety Council in Copenhagen has come up with a brilliant way of making motorists think hard about keeping their speed down (Mmm, well at least the male half of the population).
    They've launched a spoof news bulletin showing how topless models jiggling their bits can get men to drive more slowly. You betcha! Go here to catch some nifty pix of a couple of great danes on the move: Click here.
    Enjoy the ride!

  • December 2006

    Street-life danger in Bangkok. As all travellers know, the Thai capital of Bangkok is famous for its ..er ..colourful street-life. But there´s another kind of traffic in town these days that isn't so appealing... MORE

  • November 2006

    So you think your roads are bad? Well try India's. After a short trip to the land of maharajas, Goa, call-centre mania and a squillion look-alike Mohatma Gandhis, I am this week safely back in the UK, but still trembling. Here's why: MORE

  • May/June 2006

    Kim Woo-choong, founder of the Daewoo Group of companies in South Korea is taken from court to hospital with heart and severe medical problems. He has just been sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined $22.6m for fraud and illegal financing (later reduced on appeal). MORE

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