Harv.
Almost a parallel answer to my own!
However, I am NOT so convinced by Police Drivers as you are! I'll tell you their DEATH rate (people killed in Police-Car-involved-accidents!) if you write to me privately! It's a SHOCKER!
I, too, have done some Class One courses. Most 'at fault' in MY opinion is the 'line' they are taught to take through corners (it used to be called the 'Q' line.... don't know if it still is)!
Yes: it CAN be a good line for gaining visibility BUT... it places them in the WORST possible position if there is some minor 'fault' with the road surface (leaves, gravel, mud, water, potholes, etc.) at the very point where they NEED maximum grip and, due to the nature of road-use, those 'problems' are MOST likely to occur at the VERY point they place themselves!
The MotorBike-Cops do NOT seem to use the same 'line'.... I suspect, for the exact reasons that I do not like it!
Finally, although 'commentary' is great for training and 'observers' (those who need to 'follow' the events)... I would STRONGLY argue it has two main faults:-
1) The rate at which hazards appear and the VAST numbers of them which occur while driving at high speeds, occurs FASTER than the driver can express them in English! That means that, while commenting, the driver initially selects a SINGLE hazard to 'vocalize'... after a while, that means he is concentrating on THAT hazard (to vocalise it) at the expense of the OTHER hazards.
2) Perhaps Formula 1 drivers have a higher 'spare capacity' than I do (hence them being F1 drivers and me, not!) BUT... for the rest of us, I suspect that the very ACTION of 'vocalisation' makes use of some of our abilities to concentrate FULLY on driving.
For example, I would doubt that even an F1 driver has the ability (spare capacity) to calculate the circumference of a circle from knowing the radius at the EXACT moment they are taking Eau Rouge..... neither could they recite Shakespeare at that moment.
For me, the action of converstion REDUCES my abilities to concentrate on my driving FULLY! It's OK on a 'straight' but it's LETHAL in the middle of a complex corner with multiple other moving cars and pedestrians, etc.. It concerns me that the Police feel that they ARE able to comment while driving. I suspect that this DOES further reduce their abilities.... and, I suspect, this ALSO adds to their 'Death Rate'.
By all means, get learner drivers to comment while driving VASTLY below 10/10ths and while learning quicker-driving.... but..... in my opinion... you should BAN all conversation while driving up-towards 7/10ths and beyond!
ian
|
|