Police Training - A635 near Huddersfield 25th Nov
Discussion
If the person who was driving reads this; it was wonderful to follow you for a few miles yesterday (at approx 1pm).
The A635 between Manchester and Huddersfield is not a road I have used before. It is a bumpy, twisty road which was a little wet but lightly trafficked. I found myself behind a fully occupied white Vectra with two small police crests on the bootlid; I believe it was a class 1 driver on a training or assessment drive.
I have found that people are generally by and large fine at getting from A to B without crashing, but it is rare to see someone really exhibiting beautiful roadcraft. The person in question was making smooth, swift and safe progress, taking lovely lines through the corners and it just made such a change to be geuinely impressed with somebodys ability cross-country instead of observing the 43mph everywhere brigade. I've occasionally seen police training cars on my travels being driven well, but this fellow/lady was very good indeed. So if you do read this, thank you for making my day.
Anyone else observed something similar?
The A635 between Manchester and Huddersfield is not a road I have used before. It is a bumpy, twisty road which was a little wet but lightly trafficked. I found myself behind a fully occupied white Vectra with two small police crests on the bootlid; I believe it was a class 1 driver on a training or assessment drive.
I have found that people are generally by and large fine at getting from A to B without crashing, but it is rare to see someone really exhibiting beautiful roadcraft. The person in question was making smooth, swift and safe progress, taking lovely lines through the corners and it just made such a change to be geuinely impressed with somebodys ability cross-country instead of observing the 43mph everywhere brigade. I've occasionally seen police training cars on my travels being driven well, but this fellow/lady was very good indeed. So if you do read this, thank you for making my day.
Anyone else observed something similar?
dave_gt said:
If the person who was driving reads this; it was wonderful to follow you for a few miles yesterday (at approx 1pm).
The A635 between Manchester and Huddersfield is not a road I have used before. It is a bumpy, twisty road which was a little wet but lightly trafficked. I found myself behind a fully occupied white Vectra with two small police crests on the bootlid; I believe it was a class 1 driver on a training or assessment drive.
I have found that people are generally by and large fine at getting from A to B without crashing, but it is rare to see someone really exhibiting beautiful roadcraft. The person in question was making smooth, swift and safe progress, taking lovely lines through the corners and it just made such a change to be geuinely impressed with somebodys ability cross-country instead of observing the 43mph everywhere brigade. I've occasionally seen police training cars on my travels being driven well, but this fellow/lady was very good indeed. So if you do read this, thank you for making my day.
Anyone else observed something similar?
A year or two ago I followed a police driver training car for a few miles between Goathland and Sleights in North Yorkshire. They appeared to be from Cheshire or Cumbria, can't remember which, but the roads we were on didn't give much scope for interesting points to emerge. The female driver ran it up to about 80 mph on the A169, but the road was straight for about a mile before we arrived at the top of Blue Bank, so it wasn't that interesting. It would have been more interesting to follow them on the B1416 and A171 from Whitby to Scarborough, but that might have got me my first speeding ticket. The A635 between Manchester and Huddersfield is not a road I have used before. It is a bumpy, twisty road which was a little wet but lightly trafficked. I found myself behind a fully occupied white Vectra with two small police crests on the bootlid; I believe it was a class 1 driver on a training or assessment drive.
I have found that people are generally by and large fine at getting from A to B without crashing, but it is rare to see someone really exhibiting beautiful roadcraft. The person in question was making smooth, swift and safe progress, taking lovely lines through the corners and it just made such a change to be geuinely impressed with somebodys ability cross-country instead of observing the 43mph everywhere brigade. I've occasionally seen police training cars on my travels being driven well, but this fellow/lady was very good indeed. So if you do read this, thank you for making my day.
Anyone else observed something similar?
Best wishes all,
Dave.
MC Bodge said:
Great stuff. I like following a good driver who knows the road. It is just a pity that they are so few-and-far-between.
There's some wot reckons that 'knowing the road' shouldn't make any difference. We should drive according to what we can see on the day. I think they're right, really. 
....even though I may sometimes switch off a bit, here and there, on roads I know well.
Best wishes all,
Dave - still needing more discipline, (and spelling lessons - that doesn't look right, but it might be.
Edited by p1esk on Saturday 28th November 15:45
MC Bodge said:
p1esk said:
There's some wot reckons that 'knowing the road' shouldn't make any difference. We should drive according to what we can see on the day. I think they're right, really.
You're not some sort of pedantic IAM observer are you?Are you saying that it wouldn't be preferable?
You've not been here long have you!
vonhosen said:
MC Bodge said:
p1esk said:
There's some wot reckons that 'knowing the road' shouldn't make any difference. We should drive according to what we can see on the day. I think they're right, really.
You're not some sort of pedantic IAM observer are you?Are you saying that it wouldn't be preferable?
You've not been here long have you!
Extend the hand of friendship to all who visit this backwater of the Internet.
Obscure though our deliberations are.
WhoseGeneration said:
vonhosen said:
MC Bodge said:
p1esk said:
There's some wot reckons that 'knowing the road' shouldn't make any difference. We should drive according to what we can see on the day. I think they're right, really.
You're not some sort of pedantic IAM observer are you?Are you saying that it wouldn't be preferable?
You've not been here long have you!
Extend the hand of friendship to all who visit this backwater of the Internet.
Obscure though our deliberations are.
vonhosen said:
I'm sorry, Dave being accused of being a pedantic IAM observer was just too much to take.
You do have a very pertinent point.I'm sure Dave is taken aback about that assumption.
Ploughing his own "route", as he says he does.
Then, would that some who decide to post here should read awhile before doing so.
To understand the "group dynamics" herein.
Like all groups, understand how to gain admittance.
Because, even here, with our espoused concern, it can appear intimidating to some.
All that stuff about gearchanging and revs, sustained or not, DDC, or heel and toe with or without DDC.
That is of little matter, it's only about a safe, smooth drive.
Achieve that, in whatever way, you can drive.
MC Bodge said:
p1esk said:
There's some wot reckons that 'knowing the road' shouldn't make any difference. We should drive according to what we can see on the day. I think they're right, really.
You're not some sort of pedantic IAM observer are you?Are you saying that it wouldn't be preferable?
Edited by ipsg.glf on Wednesday 2nd December 10:39
ipsg.glf said:
MC Bodge said:
p1esk said:
There's some wot reckons that 'knowing the road' shouldn't make any difference. We should drive according to what we can see on the day. I think they're right, really.
You're not some sort of pedantic IAM observer are you?Are you saying that it wouldn't be preferable?
Edited by ipsg.glf on Wednesday 2nd December 10:39
Hello, Mr A. You OK there?
We must have another tootle out sometime. I've improved a bit, (er. I think) since last time. At least I've been working on it.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Edited by p1esk on Thursday 3rd December 09:03
Just a note on police drivers...
The other day (part of some uni work) I went for a drive with a Class 1 driver (who's also an observer in my IAM group). He told me: "Nobody's a perfect driver, and you can't ever have a perfect drive." But he came bloody close.
It was an incredibly smooth, well-judged, well-planned drive, and his observation was superb. To see Roadcraft, and the skills I was taught, put into practice was genuinely inspiring. I can honestly say that that drive will help me improve my own driving (for example, I can see the advantage of being more patient/not letting things get to me).
Obviously there'll be some Class 1 drivers out there who are pillocks, but there are some brilliant ones too.
The other day (part of some uni work) I went for a drive with a Class 1 driver (who's also an observer in my IAM group). He told me: "Nobody's a perfect driver, and you can't ever have a perfect drive." But he came bloody close.
It was an incredibly smooth, well-judged, well-planned drive, and his observation was superb. To see Roadcraft, and the skills I was taught, put into practice was genuinely inspiring. I can honestly say that that drive will help me improve my own driving (for example, I can see the advantage of being more patient/not letting things get to me).
Obviously there'll be some Class 1 drivers out there who are pillocks, but there are some brilliant ones too.
p1esk said:
ipsg.glf said:
MC Bodge said:
p1esk said:
There's some wot reckons that 'knowing the road' shouldn't make any difference. We should drive according to what we can see on the day. I think they're right, really.
You're not some sort of pedantic IAM observer are you?Are you saying that it wouldn't be preferable?
Edited by ipsg.glf on Wednesday 2nd December 10:39
Hello, Mr A. You OK there?
We must have another tootle out sometime. I've improved a bit, (er. I think) since last time. At least I've been working on it.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Edited by p1esk on Thursday 3rd December 09:03
PeterA said:
Just a note on police drivers...
The other day (part of some uni work) I went for a drive with a Class 1 driver ... It was an incredibly smooth, well-judged, well-planned drive, and his observation was superb.
To see Roadcraft, and the skills I was taught, put into practice was genuinely inspiring. I can honestly say that that drive will help me improve my own driving.
I had a similar experience when I was doing my Observer training the first time round back in the early nineties. As part of the course we were given a ride in a marked car, and seeing the combination of extreme pace with absolute control was the first time I said 'I want to be able to do that'.The other day (part of some uni work) I went for a drive with a Class 1 driver ... It was an incredibly smooth, well-judged, well-planned drive, and his observation was superb.
To see Roadcraft, and the skills I was taught, put into practice was genuinely inspiring. I can honestly say that that drive will help me improve my own driving.
I've been working at it on and off ever since, but without the voluntary involvement of Police drivers I wouldn't be where I am now. I'd like to say thanks to those who have helped me, and appeal to all the other suitably qualified drivers to get involved with their local IAM and RoSPA groups.
Its a pleaseure to see some positive comments to police driving for a change. Sometimes we do get it wrong however this is usually the only time the public comment. As a class 1 myself and police instructor (should be qualified to advanced level instruction by next week), it trully is enjoyable to hear some praise. Just goes to show that standards are still being maintained and we can still set a good example. Might sound stupid, but i'm sure a letter of praise to the force in question would be very much appreciated.
a lot of the comments about police driving from the uninformed masses seem to be based in two factors
1. a lack of understanding of the progression in training between basic drivers (especially in those forces where basic drivers might literally have a short assessment drive and then be allowed out though with threat of death or worse if they play with the lights and noise in motion), response drivers and the various subspecies of advanced drivers ( i.e. white hatters and not white hatter but still advanced )
2. downright jealousy over exemptions and ignorance of the actual extent or otherwise of exemptions
1. a lack of understanding of the progression in training between basic drivers (especially in those forces where basic drivers might literally have a short assessment drive and then be allowed out though with threat of death or worse if they play with the lights and noise in motion), response drivers and the various subspecies of advanced drivers ( i.e. white hatters and not white hatter but still advanced )
2. downright jealousy over exemptions and ignorance of the actual extent or otherwise of exemptions
kennym999 said:
Its a pleaseure to see some positive comments to police driving for a change. Sometimes we do get it wrong however this is usually the only time the public comment. As a class 1 myself and police instructor (should be qualified to advanced level instruction by next week), it trully is enjoyable to hear some praise. Just goes to show that standards are still being maintained and we can still set a good example. Might sound stupid, but i'm sure a letter of praise to the force in question would be very much appreciated.
Having done a lot of miles round London over the years, I have seen some very good driving by Police on emergency calls, and some truly awful dangerous driving.The difference consistently seems to be the type of car they are driving, and therefore I imagine the amount of training they've had.
The guys in the larger more powerful traffic or area cars, are always driving more "slowly" hanging back waiting for the gap to develop, and slip through and are gone with very little drama.
Then at the other extreme you've got the guys in the Panda type cars Astra's etc. that don't seem to drive to the conditions around them at all.
They simply drive the car as fast as it will go, because they think with 2's & blues going they are somehow invincible. Think it was referred to as "the red mist"
I've seen these guys do some horrendous things over the years, and its all very dramatic, engines screaming, hard braking and cornering on the door handles, as they tear off into the distance I wonder if they will cause another accident or emergency themselves.
I know certainly in the Met the training has been trimmed and cut down over the years probably due to cost, but I do think its unfair to expect these guys to answer emergency calls with such little training, because when there is an accident it down to them.
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