Roadcraft 2020

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Discussion

Len Woodman

Original Poster:

168 posts

113 months

Saturday 3rd October 2020
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New Roadcraft and Motorcycle Roadcraft due for release at the end of October

Quotes From The Stationery Office - https://tsoshop.co.uk/Transport/Police-Foundation/...

"Key features:

Updates for this new edition include a new overtaking chapter with separate sections on passing stationary vehicles, single stage overtakes, and multi-stage overtakes and new explanations of advanced concepts, such as limit points on left-hand bends.

Guided by a working group of experienced instructors, Roadcraft is essential learning for police officers preparing for the demands of operational driving.

Four reasons to buy it
1. Become a better driver - the techniques outlined in Roadcraft will help you become a safer and more skilful driver, able to cope with the most demanding situations

2. Be safer on the road - the Roadcraft system of car control provides you with a systematic decision-making tool that enables you to deal with hazards safely and efficiently

3. Learn new skills - clear explanations of advanced techniques, such as overtaking, positioning and limit points make you a safer, more competent driver

4. Expert guidance - thanks to input from trainers in the emergency services, Roadcraft is internationally recognised as the 'gold standard' for driving"

brisel

873 posts

208 months

Sunday 4th October 2020
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Thank you. I’ve ordered a copy thumbup

ecsrobin

17,118 posts

165 months

Tuesday 6th October 2020
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If you’re an amazon prime member you can save £3-4 ordering from them.

DocSteve

718 posts

222 months

Tuesday 13th October 2020
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I too have heard of the new changes and am looking forward to reading it.

One thing I still don't get is why they refer to "car control". It is a system for driving but it's not about car control, which in literal terms suggests ability to control the car. If a pilot reported having "flight control" issues, they would not be referring to their overall strategy for how to safely communicate, navigate, fly etc - it has a very specific meaning. For vehicles / cars, I would argue that most would consider car control to mean "limit handling"; if you can't operate the basics of making the car go, stop and turn then either there is something severely wrong with the driver or the vehicle.

I know it sounds like pedantry but there are folks out there offering "car control" courses, which are an entirely different thing....

Sherpa Kev

31 posts

70 months

Monday 19th October 2020
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ecsrobin said:
If you’re an amazon prime member you can save £3-4 ordering from them.
Even if you're not a Prime member, you can still save on the postage as it is free with Amazon, whereas, if you get it from TSO it will cost you £3.75.

Armchair_Expert

18,302 posts

206 months

Sunday 25th October 2020
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DocSteve said:
I too have heard of the new changes and am looking forward to reading it.

One thing I still don't get is why they refer to "car control". It is a system for driving but it's not about car control, which in literal terms suggests ability to control the car. If a pilot reported having "flight control" issues, they would not be referring to their overall strategy for how to safely communicate, navigate, fly etc - it has a very specific meaning. For vehicles / cars, I would argue that most would consider car control to mean "limit handling"; if you can't operate the basics of making the car go, stop and turn then either there is something severely wrong with the driver or the vehicle.

I know it sounds like pedantry but there are folks out there offering "car control" courses, which are an entirely different thing....
My take on it is that by following the system advocated within Roadcraft, IPSGA and other techniques, then by default the end result will be an improvement and harmony in car control. I agree it is not a book about car control per say, but the resultant effect on ones driving would serve to produce better car control by being in the right gear at the right speed at the right place ( yada yada ).

What you refer to control as, I call limit handling. Horses for courses I guess. Mirror.

Reg Local

2,680 posts

208 months

Saturday 31st October 2020
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Received my copy last night & it seems like they’ve blatantly missed an opportunity to give it a proper update.

No reference whatsoever to electic or hybrid vehicles.

No reference to dual-clutch semi-auto transmissions.

The “new explanation of limit points on left hand bends” is a single paragraph which doesn’ really make much sense. It suggests looking for the limit point where the centre line meets the nearside verge or kerb, rather than where the two verges meet, but surely they all meet at the same point? It’s nonsense. It would have been much better just to recognise that left handers tend to be tighter than right handers simply because we drive on the left.

The “whole new section on overtaking” is really just a new section on overtaking stationary vehicles which can be summed up as “leave a doors width”.

Sections on stability control & other active safety features include good, but limited advice and the book falls back on “read the manual” too much.

To be clear, these are my criticisms of the updates to Roadcraft. If you take the book for what it is - a manual to accompany a police driving course - it’s still the most comprehensive manual out there, but on my first flick through, it’s still a dry read & offers many principles, but few proper explanations.

Salted_Peanut

1,361 posts

54 months

Sunday 1st November 2020
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I've begun reading the new version of Motorcycle Roadcraft, and agree with Reg. It's better, and modern motorcycle tech is covered, but the book needs a proper overhaul to improve readability. There's invaluable advice hidden under the dry text.

Also, the authors need to catch up with how much DVSA training has come on: some stuff is now taught during DAS and needs cutting from Motorcycle Roadcraft.

Nonetheless, I still found Motorcycle Roadcraft is the best book we've got so far (a worthwhile read). Unless Reg is going to write an advanced riding book for us?

dvenman

220 posts

115 months

Monday 2nd November 2020
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Salted_Peanut said:
Unless Reg is going to write an advanced riding book for us?
You probably know this already, but he has... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Advanced-Performance-Driv... and https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Not-Crash-Reg-Local/d...

Salted_Peanut

1,361 posts

54 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2020
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Do Reg's books cover advanced riding then? And have you noticed how dapper Reg looks in his leathers? Here he is demonstrating a 3-stage overtake of an Alfa. Notice how he's used the Hendon shuffle to weight the inside peg.


dvenman

220 posts

115 months

Wednesday 4th November 2020
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Darn. They don't, and they don't cover advanced reading - which it seems I need!

Reg Local

2,680 posts

208 months

Thursday 5th November 2020
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Salted_Peanut said:
Do Reg's books cover advanced riding then? And have you noticed how dapper Reg looks in his leathers? Here he is demonstrating a 3-stage overtake of an Alfa. Notice how he's used the Hendon shuffle to weight the inside peg.

Haha! Very good - looks like the Alfa is cocking its leg for a pee on the bike!

No motorcycling book in the immediate future, but it is probably something I’ll do in the next 12 months or so.

I do have some book news coming imminently though - watch this space!

Len Woodman

Original Poster:

168 posts

113 months

Saturday 7th November 2020
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[quote=Reg Local]Received my copy last night & it seems like they’ve blatantly missed an opportunity to give it a proper update.

No reference whatsoever to electic or hybrid vehicles.


I agree - with a fleet of of fifty electric and hybrids I was hoping for something to use more substantially as reference material.

Armchair_Expert

18,302 posts

206 months

Saturday 7th November 2020
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What content do you want to see about electric vehicles?

-They are quieter meaning your surroundings may be less aware of your presence
-They don't have gears so gear changes do not exist, removing all of the gear grip, rev matching and BGOL issues.
-Acceleration may be brisker requiring a more sympathetic approach to the throttle.
-Limited range


That's it... if anything it means they can remove chapters as there is less to consider.

temaxiy960

3 posts

31 months

Wednesday 29th September 2021
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Well done anyway. I'm also going to take the test soon and I'm very worried - I want to pass everything the first time