Hands On The Wheel!

[bainbrig]

I keep seeing documentary films showing police drivers speeding to incidents, or even in pursuit of criminals, with ONE hand on the wheel and the other apparently holding down the transmit button on their police radio.

Police Class 1 drivers used to be taught (see ‘Roadcraft’) to keep two hands on the wheel at all times. What’s happened to police driving standards? And why don’t police radios have an on/off switch?

I support the police, but worry about falling standards.

BB

[bainbrig]

Ah, but Douglas, you’re forgetting the unwritten rule that states ‘When two or more like-minded and indignant parties are on the same thread, they can make it up as they go along.”

BillB

[douglas9401]

Gotcha. :-)

[shoota]

Who are the 'like-minded and indignant parties' and what have they made up as they went along?

There are several IAM motorists on Answerbank, you are not alone.

[Zacs-Master]

Me being one. And one who can see you’re on a wind up. If not then you’re criticism of the police can only be seen as ignorant.

[gness]

Blimey, BB.....this a competition now? I'll join you anyway.....

Passed my test first time after six lessons....went on to become an advanced driver....and then.....

I had lessons in Dublin from a police driver/bodyguard to a Taoiseach....now that was driving!.....

One hand or two hands?......There are, these days, many different steering techniques....you learn more in the advanced driving test so I'm sure the police do too in their specialist training....and of course we have improved steering boxes now.....
It's not like when I was first learning and it was rock gently to take up the slack...... push and pull ......and don't run over the chap with the red flag....

If officers employ the correct steering technique for the situation, safely and with complete control of the car they'll be fine......x

[bainbrig]

gness: that's interesting, and (unlike many of the comments) obviously based on knowledge and experience.

Fair enough, steering techniques might have evolved over the years, but don't you agree that seeing someone trying to steer a car with one hand while the other is engaged elsewhere (!), whether on a personal radio or resting elegantly on the window ledge, particularly when driving very quickly in traffic, is not the safest way to do it?

[shoota]

In all the 'documentary films showing police drivers speeding to incidents, or even in pursuit of criminals, with ONE hand on the wheel and the other apparently holding down the transmit button on their police radio' that you have watched, how many have resulted in accidents?

[bainbrig]

Maybe none, I don’t know. But if it encourages average drivers to drive even MORE badly, that’s enough for me.

[bhg481]

I think people watching the police drive with one hand etc whilst on a chase appreciate the fact that they are not normal circumstances and not ordinary drivers. Bear in mind that they also exceed speed limits and don't stop for red traffic lights, pedestrian crossings etc and people don't assume that is acceptable driving in normal circumstances.

[gness]

I don't really think it's a matter of one or two hands, BB...

I have some friends who drive with two hands firmly on the wheel......I wouldn't be a comfortable passenger with either of them....well one I won't be a passenger at all with now.....no matter how many hands she had....
A well trained, confident and observant driver with only one hand on the wheel wouldn't bother me at all......depending on what he/she was doing with the free hand of course..... ;-)....
But just relaxing one arm/hand occasionally, I think, makes for less tiring driving....tense and tired drivers aren't good.....

And I guess police drivers are trained and tested to a high standard?....x

[bhg481]

If you take yourself back to the days before power-steering was common you needed to use both hands to steer a car; with the advent of power-steering people gradually became aware that it wasn't necessary.

[shoota]

'that's interesting, and (unlike many of the comments) obviously based on knowledge and experience.'
Which comments would they be?

[gness]

To be fair, Shoota...there have been a couple....one in particular just for the sake of being grumpy as usual....and that does tend to bring responses the person who made the original post wouldn't normally say......because others, like me, are finding it increasingly bloody grating!..xxx

[Zacs-Master]

What grates with me is people running down the police who have zero knowledge of what they’re talking about and trying to support it with stupid comments. What grates even more is people trying to defend them!

[gness]

Haven't noticed anyone defending, Zacs...enlighten me please...x

[Zacs-Master]

‘that does tend to bring responses the person who made the original post wouldn't normally say‘

And stop it with the ironic kisses. It really grates.

[shoota]

Passive-aggression winds me up.
Especially when it is a house of cards.

[Baldric]

and his knowledge of two way radios and their use seems to be non-exsistent.

[gness]

I see.... I wasn't defending the op which I'm sure you saw from my posts....but defending BB against the grumpies who just come on to have a go because it's all they seem to do these days.....well I'll keep doing that...and...xxxxx....for as long as I wish.....and if it bothers you that's your problem, Zacs....not mine......xxx

[sunny-dave]

I'm late to the party - but one quick observation before I answer properly :

Police Radios are simplex not duplex communication devices - they can send or receive, but not both at once and all the radios must default to 'receive mode' - anything else would be bonkers - how would a call for help reach everyone otherwise?

So you have to have a 'push to speak' system - and the Police Drivers are trained in how/when to do this safely.