Farace posted in Sept 2003
***I'd like to know some basics just to enhance my road driving,
something more than what the seat of my pants tells me.***
Reply
I'm an advanced police driving instructor at The Metropolitan Police, Motor Driving School, Hendon, North London, England.
This school was set up seventy years ago to train police drivers
We teach all police drivers and drivers for various Government offices. So that includes officers driving on blue light and sirens to calls. Pursuit drivers. Traffic officers. Driver training in Anti-Hyjack techniques. Skid pan training. All police motorcyclists, including special courses for the Japanese Police who come over every year.
No matter what driving course an officer attends, be it a Standard Response, Advanced, VIP Anti Hyjack, Royalty,
Stanard Motorcycle or Advanced Motorcycle, all officers must read the Police Drivers Manual. (separate book for motorcycles)
The basic 'System of car control' is set out in the police driver's manual called 'Roadcraft'
I spend every working day driving and training officers to drive on the public roads, with an exemption from the speed limits.
We use the format in this book as a simple basis to deal with very hazard.
The main points that I teach are lifting your vision to see what most people 'don't' see, but the clues are there. That way I can drive like a hot knife through butter with maximum progress and most people won't even be aware of my presense.
Add to this the 'System of car control' as set out in this book.
All officers are marked against the four 'S's
Strictly in this order.
Saftey
System ( as per the book)
Smoothness
Speed, or as I prefer to call it Progress.
(43 sub headings are used for each skill area)
This book is a supplied by Her Majesty's Stationary Office, know as the HMSO. It's a British Government office which is for the good of the country and not any one particular political party that happens to be in office.
This is the book that all police drivers in London have to read and they are tested on it's contents before they can attend a driving course.
Below is a cut and paste from Amazon.com
___________________________________________
Roadcraft: The Police Driver's Manual
Product Details:
Paperback 92 pages (14 October, 1994)
Publisher: The Stationery Office Books; ISBN: 0113408587
Category(ies): Reference & Languages
Average Customer Review:5/5 | Write a review
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 800
www.amazon.co.uk
Check the UK site for book reviews, which mark the boo 5 out of 5
Remember, this book is the basic theory behind all police driving.
Once the officer has read the book, he/she will attend the school for a three week course for standard response, then another four weeks for the advanced course.
There is no substitute for tuition, but reading the book first will give you that 'Basis' should you get training.
And if you don't, you will still be able to understand enough to always be in the correct position on the road, at the correct speed, with the correct gear engaged to drive safely with the maximum safe progress.
Plus remember, track driving is different to street driving.
On the track it is a sterile/safe environment and different techniques may be used.
On the street, it's a 'live' environment and to drive at the same speeds with the public around, takes a different thought process.
Try both. Have fun on the track, which will help lift your vision, especially if the driving is competitive.
Stay safe on the roads with the advice from Roadcraft.
Vince
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