Quote:
Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees
From that article.....
There is no requirement for people driving emergency vehicles to be trained beyond a normal driving licence. Drivers of police, fire and ambulance vehicles who wish to be exempted from speed limits will be required to be officially trained. This rule has been included in a 2006 Act but it has not yet been made law. At present there is no indication as to when it will be made law. There are concerns that there will be too much demand for the existing driver training courses.
I'd be absolutely gobsmacked if there were any services who allowed people who need to be exempt from speed limits to drive without having taken the official training. I suspect most services will self regulate as a matter of best @spractice. Again I suspect Derek could answer this better
I suspect the only way to find out would be an FOI request.
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I can only speak annecdotaly on this. I had a friend in the Met who was over the moon when he passed his advanced drivers course and from what he told me it was intense.
At that time it meant he was allowed to ignore normal traffic laws if responding to an emergency or in persuit.
A lot of people think the advanced driving course they take just teaches them how to drive fast in a safe way but it is more than that. It also teaches you to be aware of what is happening around you and ahead of you.
You have to give a running commentary to the instructor (and examiner) of what you are doing and why.
An exapmle would be " I can see a shop ahead with 2 cars parked outside, a person has just walked out and may be going to one of the cars. Can I pass safetly or do I need to give them a bit more room? What traffic is coming towards me on the other side of the road, if I give that pedestrian more room if they head to the drivers door will it affect the traffic approaching? How do I avoid an incident?
That's why those that say they are "Professional" drivers make me laugh, they don't know the half of it.
That was the case in the 1990's I see no reason why it should be different now.
BTW he asked me to frame his certificate which I did for the extortinate fee of 2 pints.
