In 1930 there were 2.2 million registered cars on the road in Britain and they recorded 7,305 fatalities. It was in this era the first Road Traffic Act was drafted.
Police drivers at that time were no different than the general public, with no special training. The results were 1 crash for every 8,000 miles driven for the Metropolitan Police district.
Lord Cottenham’s teaching at the Metropolitan Driving School at Hendon in 1937 laid out the system, that by implementing a drill or sequence of events, a driver would ensure his/her vehicle was always in the correct place, at the correct speed and in the correct gear.
The Metropolitan Police crash rate went to 1 crash for every 27,000 miles (possibly 38,000 according to another source). Lord Cottenham’s system remains the basis for Roadcraft today.
The first version of Roadcraft was offered to the general public and was published in 1955.
The method and majority of Roadcraft raining is conducted on public roads. Here in the U.S. we might call that ‘reality based’ training.
What is advanced driving?
Maximizing safety for oneself and everyone else on any type of public road. This is the primary goal of true advanced driving.
It can be defined as the ability to control the position and speed of a vehicle safely, systematically and smoothly, at all times. It works with existing road and traffic conditions to allow reasonable progress to be made unobtrusively, with skill and responsibility.
Roadcraft has been around for 74 years, established by a leader in safe road driving. It is not new, however, for the U.S., if adopted as a standardized method of training, it would be revolutionary.
Maybe the police in the U.S. need to take the lead as the U.K. did in the 1930’s. During the last 10 years, more cops have been killed by cars than by guns. The rate that officers are dying on the roads is alarming. Civilian casualties resulting from police actions are equally distressing.
Standardization in training is the key and Roadcraft is the way, with a proven track record. It is after all, “no Johnny come lately.”
15 responses so far ↓
Nigel Albright // 05/19/2009 at 8:40 am
You are substantially correct and have obviously been sourcing your material well. However, my information (via John Miles’s book, Expert Driving the Police Way, (Peter Davies, 1970) is that the safety record went to 1: 38,000 miles within 18months.
(Police Driving) Instructors came from all over the world to study what might otherwise ben called the Cottenham System at the Metropolitan Police Driving School at Hendon. By the early 1970’s that was from some sixty forces around the world. So some of those would likely have been from the States.
I think there are two issues here. One is that certainly in those days police drivers recognised themselves as role models in driving standards and also knew that to improve road safety you had to have better driver behaviour, so the two went together. Secondly is the fundamental difference in mind-set between the UK and the States. Over there they teach evasion techniques; that is what to do when you meet an accidient (or more correctly, crash) situation. Over here if you have gone that far you have got it seriously wrong in the first place.
So yes, I completely agree with you. If US police forces did take on Roadcraft and its precepts it would be a quantum move towards road safety, both for themselves and for others. However, I think there has to be a major mind shift across the board to go along with that, otherwise it is a pointless exercise. There is no use learning the mechanical bits (the physical management of a vehicle (or bike) ) without the right mindset to go with it. Because the mind set determines implimentation. And that’s the important bit.
rubenandjoann // 05/19/2009 at 9:45 am
Nigel, thanks for your comment and the source you provided. I will look it up. We agree 100%. That mindset change is going to be a monumental paradigm shift. Our autonomy wth municipal police, state, federal, sheriff’s, etc. across the U.S. makes this nearly impossible. We are still struggling with police accreditation. Because every state uses different methods, especially in the area of crash reporting, it makes it difficult, again, if not impossible to conduct any real effective way of analyzing data. Someone has to take the lead and hopefully it will catch.
Nigel Albright // 05/19/2009 at 6:42 pm
John Miles’s book came in harback and paperback. Very occasionally they come up on eBay. John Miles was an Advanced Wing Instructor at Hendon and then went on to be the first Course Manager on the BSM (British School of Motoring) High Performance Course. Many others have labelled their course as such and a number have do so seeing to pull on the kudos of the original. The BSM course was the first of its kind in the world – for road driving that is. I think the term high performance course has since been used to label some track courses which can cause confusion in understanding and the likelihood that track techniques might be considered suitable for the road, which most are certainly not – and very certainly not if anyone wants to remain safe on the roads. Approach and lines into, through and out of bends being a classic example. If you have a copy of the 94 RC then ignore the illustrations on bends. They are completely wrong.
Tell me, where did you derive your understanding about Roadcraft, for that is rare outside the UK.? And where abouts in the States to you live?
rubenandjoann // 05/19/2009 at 8:05 pm
I found Roadcraft after I was dissatisfied with the ‘elite’ training motorcycle officers receive and pride themselves on. I received a catalog from a company called Aerostich. In the early 90’s, when I did some sport touring, I used their riding suits and still, to this day, receive their catalogs. In the books section, I found they offered the book called: Motorcycle Roadcraft: Police Rider’s Handbook to Better Motorcycling (thus the name of this blog). After reading the book I became a believer. This was exactly what I was looking for that cones in parking lots could not deliver. I have trained myself in the precepts of Roadcraft. I am a Better Rider and driver from what I learned in that book. I have personally benefited from Roadcraft and I believe we have a moral obligation to pass along what we have benefited from to others. This blog is my small contribution to whoever has ears to hear.
The U.S. is a long way from Roadcraft. I am personally going to do whatever I can to start the ball rolling. One rider and driver at a time. I am working on receiving some formal training for myself and for our police department. Police crashes and fatalities resulting are quickly forcing administrators to ask questions. I want to provide an answer.
I live in Pennsylvania, the Poconos as commonly referreed to. Our department covers the the Stroudsburg area.
Young Dai // 05/19/2009 at 8:28 pm
Blimey Nigel ! I have the ‘94 RC as well as the later M/C edition from Met Bikesafe, it looks as though I will have to go back to fleabay.
What should also be mentioned up front is that the full driving course is hideously expensive, so managers are constantly either trying to protect it from Force accountants or shaving bits off it when they they can’t. Viewed cynically higher insurance premiums come cheaper than proper training facilities .
This article has also explained why when I have been looking outside of the UK for safer riding tips, I find very little from America that follows Roadcraft precepts, basically because it never crossed the pond.
As NC imported the Bikesafe concept, is it worth trying that as an idea in your state as a precursor to full on Roadcraft ?
Nigel Albright // 05/20/2009 at 2:28 am
To Ruben and Joann: Thanks for your comment and it is very interesting to read why you have latched onto Roadcraft. I hope we can keep in touch and I will be very interested to monitor your progress.
You may be interested in this item on Roadcraft by Capt Travis Yates in the US police forum, PoliceOne
http://www.policeone.com/writers/columnists/travis-yates/articles/137379/
To Young Dai. You are obviously in the UK . It sounds as though you might be a police officer. Indeed the culture in the police regarding driving has changed alot since its heyday in the middle-late seventies, immediately before the Panda Scheme (more correctly Unit Beat Policing ) was introduced.
For both of you. If is of interest I can send you a copy of my review of the 2007 Roadcraft. If you also wish to have a copy of my driving CV so that you can understand where I come from in this, then I will send that to you as well.
rubenandjoann // 05/20/2009 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for the link. I found another link from that article to http://advanceddrivers.com. I was very excitd to see this program finally available in the U.S., close to our area.
I have been in phone contact with Eddie Wren, Chief Instructor, we are currently working on getting Eddie to speak in front of our Regional Chiefs of Police Board, hopefully by September at there next board meeting.
Our Chief is the president of the board and showed great interest. This might be the start of something good with our department taking the lead.
Anything you can send that might help us would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.
z
Young Dai // 05/20/2009 at 5:18 pm
The British are Coming!
One if by car two if by bike
Nigel : I have to say up front that I am not in ‘The Job, I am a ‘normal ‘IAM rider, now training as an Observer, as well as doing the RoSPA route as well. I do have two family members who were Police Drivers , if I say they were : ‘Miner’s strike coppers’ then you will be able to work out our ages and opinions about many aspects of the environments the Police operate in the UK today.
Good luck with getting this in place, it takes courage to be the first one to stand up and say :” we are doing this wrong .”
If all else fails offer room and board for trainers from the UK and a week free time to go touring. I reckon you would get crushed in the rush !
.
Nigel Albright // 05/20/2009 at 5:52 pm
Dai. Delighted to read that you are training as an IAM Observer. If you are South Wales, and if your family member police drivers are as well then I take it you will all know well enough the S Wales (Police) Driving School at Bridgend.
I am currently Training Officer for the Taunton RoSPA (Car) Group and previously TO for two IAM groups, though at different times. Good that you have offered hospitality to ‘friends across the water’. I hope they take you up on that because it will be well worth their while if they do, at least I would have thought so.
Nigel Albright // 05/20/2009 at 6:11 pm
Ruben and Joann. With Eddie Wren you have almost certainly struck gold. I shall be very interested to hear the outcome of your meeting. With Eddie’s background and experience if he can’t convince US police forces then I doubt anyone can.
Looking at Eddie’s bio I would guess that he is a Met (Metropoliatan Police) man and therefore trained at Hendon. In which case he may well know Chris Gilbert, a former Hendon Advanced Wing Instructor.
Regarding articles given the quality of information which Eddie can offer there won’t be much to add to that. However, there was one (Police Driving) school, Devizes, which encapulated position into Safety, View and Stability. I have seen what some other Police Driving Schools offer but none that I have come across covers positioning in quite this simple and very effective way. I have a document on the principles of positioning which also compliments the current version of Roadcraft (the 2007 (car) – the bike version isn’t out yet). I looked at your contact details and see you are a practising police officer. I will send you by email the 2007 RC review, my driving CV and also the item, S.V.S the keys to positioning. I will also look forward to your comments on the articles.
Young Dai // 05/20/2009 at 6:53 pm
Eddie Wren is certainly a more better import than Piers Moron or Ozzie Osbourne !
aidanspa // 05/22/2009 at 4:57 pm
Best of luck in your Regional Board’s meeting with Eddie Wren. Let’s hope your department can get the ball rolling with Roadcraft for cars, and that success with that program leads to Roadcraft for motorcycles.
Road Captain // 05/27/2009 at 10:23 pm
Thanks for loaning me your book, it is very very good. The reading is going a little slow tough since riding weather has arrived. I should finish and return it by Christmas. Hope that’s OK. Keep up the great work here on your blog. Glad to see it’s going so well.
rubenandjoann // 05/28/2009 at 6:20 am
Road Captain…Good to hear from you, hope all is going well. Keep the book as long as you need to. Best regards to all.
Kevin Williams // 07/07/2009 at 6:54 am
> Secondly is the fundamental difference in mind-set between the UK and the States. Over there they teach evasion techniques; that is what to do when you meet an accidient (or more correctly, crash) situation. Over here if you have gone that far you have got it seriously wrong in the first place.
I had to comment on that! Keeping out of trouble is a great idea but from day one on the roads, we’re trying to avoid situations where we put ourselves at risk of a crash or a collision. That’s not an “advanced” concept, it’s basic survival!
But if we’re honest, however “advanced” we get at reading the road ahead, sooner or later we’ll still make a mistake, and at that point evasion tactics are your key to escaping from the situation that’s developing badly.
As a UK instructor myself, I’ve had quite a lot of dealing with MSF instructors and the coursework that they teach, and have been favourably impressed in the evasion tactics.
Many accident reports highlight the fact that the bike could have escaped IF the rider had used the right inputs at the right time, yet the very latest UK Driving Standards Agency advice on bends crashes in the UK simply says “don’t go into a bend too fast”.
Not much practical help to the rider who’s already committed the error is it?
The inescapable conclusion has to be that neither the “don’t get into trouble” nor the “let’s learn to get out of trouble” approaches are in themselves wrong; but that each is, if practiced to the exclusion of the other, inadequate alone.