IN PURSUIT OF SAFETY

This article describes a visit to an off-road driver training site at Heyford airfield, England, used by Thames Valley Police, where a wide range of driving skills is taught, including techniques that can be transferred directly to real-life incidents, but the training involves no risk to the public. Potential high-speed pursuit scenarios are taught there, together with other skills. They can be practised and mastered at high speeds in this safe off-road environment. The emphasis is always on safety first during training, which stresses the importance of defensive driving even in pursuit situations. As soon as police drivers are comfortable with the techniques that they have been taught, the trainers know that they can use them in a real situation if necessary. The training experience also helps drivers to evaluate pursuit risks, so that they can decide when to call off a chase. After three days of classroom sessions and slow-speed scenarios, drivers were ready to put what they had learned into practice at the airfield. They are asked to try to arrest the occupants of the 'bandit' vehicle that they are pursuing, but no contact between the two vehicles is allowed. The training ends with a convoy scenario designed specifically for firearms officers.