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Law Enforcement Driver Training in the USA and Canada
The style of police driver training provided by ADA is the "System of Car Control," as has been continually developed by the UK traffic police since 1935.
"The System" goes far beyond just vehicle dynamics and skid correction; it is a comprehensive methodology by which an unlimited array of potential dangers may be anticipated in good time, before each becomes a real threat.
The purpose is to create maximum safety at all times on an officer's journey, irrespective of any high speeds that may be necessary.
The efficacy of UK police driver courses may perhaps best be judged by the fact that apart from maneuvering and skid-control exercises, all training is carried out on public roads, in unmarked cars without sirens or flashing lights, and commonly at speeds far in excess of the legal speed limits. This is allowed by the British Government simply because the training involved has proven itself to significantly increase safety for police drivers, not only during the actual training but also long-term, thereafter. Refresher training is carried out every three years.
Clearly, the challenge facing ADA is that it is impracticable to train at speeds exceeding the legal limits on public roads in the USA or Canada, but this does not stop us working within those limits to teach the full set of principles involved. The main point, however, is that it is simply not possible to learn about safe police driving in traffic scenarios if training is carried out on private circuits where there is no traffic!
ADA's law enforcement driver training, in North America, will be concentrated on "train the trainer" courses, and these come in progressive three-week modules which may be spread out over a reasonable period.
The first three-week block focuses on teaching officers the complexities and vital necessity of maintaining a safe attitude, as well as the "System" advanced driving, up to the level which British traffic police refer to as "Standard" driving.
The second three-week module will bring capable trainees closer to the full police advanced driving level for themselves and to the point at which they can instruct at the "Standard" level.
The third session requires high speed driving and is designed to bring trainees up to the full advanced level.
It is important to remember, however, that the sole purpose of this training is to maximize safety at all times, and ADA must therefore reserve the right to terminate or refuse further training for any officer who fails to meet the required standards. Also courses are planned on the requirement that three trainees will be in each car and ADA must reserve the right to cancel a course if we have insufficient applicants.
To view the total duration of the above courses in context, it is important to realize that a UK police drivers would undergo 7-10 weeks of training to attain the "Advanced" level, and around 16 weeks of training to reach the instructor level.
Please note that these courses can be modified to be suitable for relevant military drivers.
The lead instructors at ADA are former UK traffic patrol officers, each with distinguished driving and training careers.
Copyright © 2007: Advanced Drivers of America, Inc.