Advanced driving instruction with South Yorkshire Police

Advanced driving instruction with South Yorkshire Police

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Relaxitscool

Original Poster:

368 posts

272 months

WeirdNeville

5,998 posts

221 months

Sunday 19th December 2010
quotequote all
Sounds like a fantastic day out. I hope the classroom input isn't too dry. I'm sure many would see £30 for a "ride out in a police car" for an hour as good value on it's own. They could probably make a killing in these cash strapped times!

Neil.D

2,878 posts

212 months

Sunday 19th December 2010
quotequote all
Hampshire Police are actually charging buisnesses for driver tuition for those who want it.

It is aimed at those with fleets of reps etc who do thousands of buisness miles in order to try and make them safer.

Im sure it will be centered around observation, planning and vehicle control rather than speed.

Usual IAM stuff.

Forces are having to be inventive to claw back some money.

Relaxitscool

Original Poster:

368 posts

272 months

Sunday 19th December 2010
quotequote all
Neil.D said:
Im sure it will be centered around observation, planning and vehicle control rather than speed.
Get your observation, planning and vehicle control correct and speed will come naturally, where you previously wouldn't have thought it possible. For me, that rather than having a big engine makes a car and driver fast and safe on the open road.

Regards

Rob

Lordglenmorangie

3,057 posts

211 months

Sunday 19th December 2010
quotequote all
A great idea , they will get Joe public on side with sort if initiative rather than hiding in the bushes with a speed gun five feet outside the thirty limit smile

Z.B

224 posts

184 months

Monday 20th December 2010
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WeirdNeville said:
Sounds like a fantastic day out. I hope the classroom input isn't too dry. I'm sure many would see £30 for a "ride out in a police car" for an hour as good value on it's own. They could probably make a killing in these cash strapped times!
£30 for 4 sessions + demo drive doesn't sound like 'a killing' to me.

Edited by Z.B on Monday 20th December 01:13

cosicave

686 posts

166 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
Neil's cynicism is not entirely misplaced, but really; £30 is something of a bargain for some first hand professional input. As for whether the classroom stuff is rather dry; inevitably it comes down to the individual instructor.

It is worth remembering that a student on a Police Advanced Driving course (which usually lasts four weeks), will have already completed a Police standard Driving Course (two or three weeks, depending upon the Constabulary), and will have been practicing these techniques for about two years minimum (again, depending upon Constabulary) before getting the Advanced Course, and only then if they have demonstrated sufficient aptitude! This makes a total of about seven weeks training (including basic 'Blues and Twos course). And they have classroom study every single day which continually tested with a short exams, and a big final exam at the end of each course.

So there is loads of classroom study and theory to get through, so it is an essential part of the training, and you'll be getting some of it.

Obviously, in just one day, there will only be time for a very 'potted version'. Nonetheless, it will be a valuable grounding of the basic ideas and a demonstration of how these work in practice.

Most IAM members (and those from similar groups) would benefit, particularly if you get a demonstration of full commentary!

aeropilot

36,241 posts

233 months

Monday 20th December 2010
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cosicave said:
particularly if you get a demonstration of full commentary!
I'd agree with that, as I was lucky enough to have had the benefit of numerous trips in the back of Met Police Rover P6's way back in the late 70's, just before taking my driving test.

vonhosen

40,429 posts

223 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
cosicave said:
Neil's cynicism is not entirely misplaced, but really; £30 is something of a bargain for some first hand professional input. As for whether the classroom stuff is rather dry; inevitably it comes down to the individual instructor.

It is worth remembering that a student on a Police Advanced Driving course (which usually lasts four weeks), will have already completed a Police standard Driving Course (two or three weeks, depending upon the Constabulary), and will have been practicing these techniques for about two years minimum (again, depending upon Constabulary) before getting the Advanced Course, and only then if they have demonstrated sufficient aptitude! This makes a total of about seven weeks training (including basic 'Blues and Twos course). And they have classroom study every single day which continually tested with a short exams, and a big final exam at the end of each course.

So there is loads of classroom study and theory to get through, so it is an essential part of the training, and you'll be getting some of it.

Obviously, in just one day, there will only be time for a very 'potted version'. Nonetheless, it will be a valuable grounding of the basic ideas and a demonstration of how these work in practice.

Most IAM members (and those from similar groups) would benefit, particularly if you get a demonstration of full commentary!
What sort of dem drive are they going to get ?

One keeping to posted limits ?
Blue light run ?

cosicave

686 posts

166 months

Monday 20th December 2010
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I cannot comment on South Yorkshire's current Blues and Twos policy, or if demonstrations may now be done with members of the public in the car with no real emergency. However, I would expect the drive to be conducted within speed limits.

WeirdNeville

5,998 posts

221 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
Z.B said:
WeirdNeville said:
Sounds like a fantastic day out. I hope the classroom input isn't too dry. I'm sure many would see £30 for a "ride out in a police car" for an hour as good value on it's own. They could probably make a killing in these cash strapped times!
£30 for 4 sessions + demo drive doesn't sound like 'a killing' to me.
I said could Not are for a reason.

WhoseGeneration

4,090 posts

213 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
Marvellous idea, although I doubt those who would really benefit will attend.
Way back when I was in the IAM, the Group I was in had a lot of help from the local Police.
We ran IAM introduction days, on Sunday mornings from the local Constabulary HQ, with 2 traffic cars and traffic officers who gave attendees a drive over a set route.
We Observers then went with the attendees in their cars over the same route, giving feedback and a bit of "soft sell", after the drive.
It was a very good recruitment tool.

waremark

3,250 posts

219 months

Thursday 23rd December 2010
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vonhosen said:
What sort of dem drive are they going to get ?

One keeping to posted limits ?
Blue light run ?
What do you think would be most constructive? - i) to encourage the attendees to take further training, ii) to actually teach them substantive skills, or iii) to foster good police/public relations?

johnao

672 posts

249 months

Thursday 23rd December 2010
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cosicave said:
Obviously, in just one day, there will only be time for a very 'potted version'. Nonetheless, it will be a valuable grounding of the basic ideas and a demonstration of how these work in practice.Most IAM members (and those from similar groups) would benefit, particularly if you get a demonstration of full commentary!
Sorry, cosicave, I can't let you get away with that one without challenge.What exactly do you think IAM and RoADAR associates learn during their 15 to 20 hours of observed drives? Surely you would accept that they would be reasonably well versed in the theories of..."attitudes, car control, skidding, observations and cornering as well as drink/drug driving and the use of mobile phones behind the wheel"?

Exactly as the publicity material says...
South Yorkshire Police are holding a series of ‘public advisories’ aimed at introducing drivers to the advanced techniques that police drivers use to increase their awareness and safety on the roads.Topics covered include attitudes, car control, skidding, observations and cornering as well as drink/drug driving and the use of mobile phones behind the wheel, but the sessions can change to suit the audience attending.

Your use of the phrase "particularly if you get a demonstration" implies that a demonstration would be an additional bonus to learning about the basics of advanced driving. The inference being that most IAM or RoADAR members would benefit from instruction in the basics of advanced driving.

I accept that any learning is beneficial, but to assert that "most IAM members, etc, would benefit" is perhaps underestimating the skills demonstrated by "most IAM members, etc".

But, perhaps I have completely misunderstood exactly what you intended to convey.

cosicave

686 posts

166 months

Thursday 23rd December 2010
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Hi johnao!

Yes, perhaps I did not make myself clear. These people will stand to gain a lot because they already have a good grasp of theory. Previously, it will normally have been presented by non-professionals, who somewhat inevitably, are 'interpreting' professional philosophies, regardless of how good they are.

It will therefore provide a very good comparison, and I am certain will clarify much of the grey which lurks in the minds of most members. It is also probable (rather than just possible) that most who have already gained their certificates will see how to hone their skills still further. Furthermore, it is possible to pass an IAM test, or get a RoADAR Bronze or Silver (and even Gold) with some misunderstandings still in place.

To put it another way, it is likely to be an eye-opener! - depending upon the Instructor's ability, which of course, should be very high.

vonhosen

40,429 posts

223 months

Thursday 23rd December 2010
quotequote all
waremark said:
vonhosen said:
What sort of dem drive are they going to get ?

One keeping to posted limits ?
Blue light run ?
What do you think would be most constructive? - i) to encourage the attendees to take further training, ii) to actually teach them substantive skills, or iii) to foster good police/public relations?
Keeping to posted limits & i)to encourage the attendees to take further training.

cosicave

686 posts

166 months

Thursday 23rd December 2010
quotequote all
waremark said:
What do you think would be most constructive? - i) to encourage the attendees to take further training, ii) to actually teach them substantive skills, or iii) to foster good police/public relations?
Yes, I agree with vonhosen on this.
In any case, i = ii = iii !

waremark

3,250 posts

219 months

Thursday 23rd December 2010
quotequote all
Sorry to the two of you, I did not make my question clear enough. I wanted to ask what sort of demo to give in order to achieve those objectives!