Roadcraft 2020
Discussion
New Roadcraft and Motorcycle Roadcraft due for release at the end of October
Quotes From The Stationery Office - https://tsoshop.co.uk/Transport/Police-Foundation/...
"Key features:
Updates for this new edition include a new overtaking chapter with separate sections on passing stationary vehicles, single stage overtakes, and multi-stage overtakes and new explanations of advanced concepts, such as limit points on left-hand bends.
Guided by a working group of experienced instructors, Roadcraft is essential learning for police officers preparing for the demands of operational driving.
Four reasons to buy it
1. Become a better driver - the techniques outlined in Roadcraft will help you become a safer and more skilful driver, able to cope with the most demanding situations
2. Be safer on the road - the Roadcraft system of car control provides you with a systematic decision-making tool that enables you to deal with hazards safely and efficiently
3. Learn new skills - clear explanations of advanced techniques, such as overtaking, positioning and limit points make you a safer, more competent driver
4. Expert guidance - thanks to input from trainers in the emergency services, Roadcraft is internationally recognised as the 'gold standard' for driving"
Quotes From The Stationery Office - https://tsoshop.co.uk/Transport/Police-Foundation/...
"Key features:
Updates for this new edition include a new overtaking chapter with separate sections on passing stationary vehicles, single stage overtakes, and multi-stage overtakes and new explanations of advanced concepts, such as limit points on left-hand bends.
Guided by a working group of experienced instructors, Roadcraft is essential learning for police officers preparing for the demands of operational driving.
Four reasons to buy it
1. Become a better driver - the techniques outlined in Roadcraft will help you become a safer and more skilful driver, able to cope with the most demanding situations
2. Be safer on the road - the Roadcraft system of car control provides you with a systematic decision-making tool that enables you to deal with hazards safely and efficiently
3. Learn new skills - clear explanations of advanced techniques, such as overtaking, positioning and limit points make you a safer, more competent driver
4. Expert guidance - thanks to input from trainers in the emergency services, Roadcraft is internationally recognised as the 'gold standard' for driving"
I too have heard of the new changes and am looking forward to reading it.
One thing I still don't get is why they refer to "car control". It is a system for driving but it's not about car control, which in literal terms suggests ability to control the car. If a pilot reported having "flight control" issues, they would not be referring to their overall strategy for how to safely communicate, navigate, fly etc - it has a very specific meaning. For vehicles / cars, I would argue that most would consider car control to mean "limit handling"; if you can't operate the basics of making the car go, stop and turn then either there is something severely wrong with the driver or the vehicle.
I know it sounds like pedantry but there are folks out there offering "car control" courses, which are an entirely different thing....
One thing I still don't get is why they refer to "car control". It is a system for driving but it's not about car control, which in literal terms suggests ability to control the car. If a pilot reported having "flight control" issues, they would not be referring to their overall strategy for how to safely communicate, navigate, fly etc - it has a very specific meaning. For vehicles / cars, I would argue that most would consider car control to mean "limit handling"; if you can't operate the basics of making the car go, stop and turn then either there is something severely wrong with the driver or the vehicle.
I know it sounds like pedantry but there are folks out there offering "car control" courses, which are an entirely different thing....
Received my copy last night & it seems like they’ve blatantly missed an opportunity to give it a proper update.
No reference whatsoever to electic or hybrid vehicles.
No reference to dual-clutch semi-auto transmissions.
The “new explanation of limit points on left hand bends” is a single paragraph which doesn’ really make much sense. It suggests looking for the limit point where the centre line meets the nearside verge or kerb, rather than where the two verges meet, but surely they all meet at the same point? It’s nonsense. It would have been much better just to recognise that left handers tend to be tighter than right handers simply because we drive on the left.
The “whole new section on overtaking” is really just a new section on overtaking stationary vehicles which can be summed up as “leave a doors width”.
Sections on stability control & other active safety features include good, but limited advice and the book falls back on “read the manual” too much.
To be clear, these are my criticisms of the updates to Roadcraft. If you take the book for what it is - a manual to accompany a police driving course - it’s still the most comprehensive manual out there, but on my first flick through, it’s still a dry read & offers many principles, but few proper explanations.
No reference whatsoever to electic or hybrid vehicles.
No reference to dual-clutch semi-auto transmissions.
The “new explanation of limit points on left hand bends” is a single paragraph which doesn’ really make much sense. It suggests looking for the limit point where the centre line meets the nearside verge or kerb, rather than where the two verges meet, but surely they all meet at the same point? It’s nonsense. It would have been much better just to recognise that left handers tend to be tighter than right handers simply because we drive on the left.
The “whole new section on overtaking” is really just a new section on overtaking stationary vehicles which can be summed up as “leave a doors width”.
Sections on stability control & other active safety features include good, but limited advice and the book falls back on “read the manual” too much.
To be clear, these are my criticisms of the updates to Roadcraft. If you take the book for what it is - a manual to accompany a police driving course - it’s still the most comprehensive manual out there, but on my first flick through, it’s still a dry read & offers many principles, but few proper explanations.
I've begun reading the new version of Motorcycle Roadcraft, and agree with Reg. It's better, and modern motorcycle tech is covered, but the book needs a proper overhaul to improve readability. There's invaluable advice hidden under the dry text.
Also, the authors need to catch up with how much DVSA training has come on: some stuff is now taught during DAS and needs cutting from Motorcycle Roadcraft.
Nonetheless, I still found Motorcycle Roadcraft is the best book we've got so far (a worthwhile read). Unless Reg is going to write an advanced riding book for us?
Also, the authors need to catch up with how much DVSA training has come on: some stuff is now taught during DAS and needs cutting from Motorcycle Roadcraft.
Nonetheless, I still found Motorcycle Roadcraft is the best book we've got so far (a worthwhile read). Unless Reg is going to write an advanced riding book for us?
Salted_Peanut said:
Unless Reg is going to write an advanced riding book for us?
You probably know this already, but he has... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Advanced-Performance-Driv... and https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Not-Crash-Reg-Local/d...
Salted_Peanut said:
Do Reg's books cover advanced riding then? And have you noticed how dapper Reg looks in his leathers? Here he is demonstrating a 3-stage overtake of an Alfa. Notice how he's used the Hendon shuffle to weight the inside peg.
Haha! Very good - looks like the Alfa is cocking its leg for a pee on the bike!No motorcycling book in the immediate future, but it is probably something I’ll do in the next 12 months or so.
I do have some book news coming imminently though - watch this space!
[quote=Reg Local]Received my copy last night & it seems like they’ve blatantly missed an opportunity to give it a proper update.
No reference whatsoever to electic or hybrid vehicles.
I agree - with a fleet of of fifty electric and hybrids I was hoping for something to use more substantially as reference material.
No reference whatsoever to electic or hybrid vehicles.
I agree - with a fleet of of fifty electric and hybrids I was hoping for something to use more substantially as reference material.
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