EXIT RECKLESS DRIVERS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4961, 27 February 1937, Page 2

EXIT RECKLESS DRIVERS

POLICE TO BE TRAINED IN A SPECIAL JOB. INTENSIVE COURSE. After months of careful investigation, Sir Philip Game, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has formulated a policy, the "News of the World" understands, which he is hopeful will greatly reduce London's road toll. Despite criticism, and despite the still alarmingly high accident rate, the efforts of the Metropolitan Police to secure the safety of the roads have met with considerable success. For this exclusive purpose the Commissioner has an extensive organisation. It is Sir Philip's belief that this organisation can be improved by better and more. scientific training. He realises, however, that it is hopeless to anticipate any substantial reduction of road accidents until the decent driver and the sensible policeman pool their efforts. "Technical" Offences. The job of a police officer is to enforce the law, not to set up his own standards,

Hence the officer tends to concentrate on "technical" offences—exceeding the speed limit, inefficient braking, etc.—which, however, all contain an element of danger, rather than the infinitely worse offences of dangerous or careless driving, the determination of which is a matter of opinion, not of hard and fast rule. These latter two are always hotly contested and conclusive evidence is obtained with great difficulty. The results thus tend to seem meagre in proportion to the effort involved. The difficulties in these particular offences have proved to Sir Philip that a body of highly-skilled men is needed, specially trained to deal with the perplexing features of the cases.

These "special" men must themselves be efficient drivers, and must be accepted as such by public, Press and police courts. They must be trained to decide on the instant that certain driving is "dangerous" or "careless,'* and why it is so, and must be able to make up their minds how to deal with the case—by friendly advice, by caution, j or by report for prosecution. They must know their law and regulations from A to Z, and be able to furnish reports clear and concise.

Expert's Help. Sir Philip Game realises these requirements, especially the second, call for instruction of the highest class. Thus the general public will learn with satisfaction that experiments are already in progress at the driving school of the Police College at Hendon to establish a special scheme of training for motor patrols. Instructional work has been carried out so far by the school's own staff, but with the object of improving the driving of the pupils, and teaching quick recognition of the careless or dangerous motorist, the assistance of Lord Cottenham has been secured for three months. Lord Cottenham's experience as, a driver and as an adviser on this particular subject, it is believed, will be of incalculable value. The best of the present instructors are to be given a refresher course. When these instructoi*s have been passed out, then the ordinary motorpatrol drivers will undergo the same course as quickly as possible.