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Roadcraft refers to the system of car or motorcycle control outlined in two books ''Roadcraft: The Police Driver's Handbook'' and ''Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook''. The books are produced by the Police Foundation and published by
Her Majesty's Stationery Office The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) is the body responsible for the operation of His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) and of other public information services of the United Kingdom. The OPSI is part of the National Archives of the Un ...
(HMSO).


Overview

Roadcraft is the UK's police handbook that outlines a system of car and motorcycle control split into four phases represented by the acronym PSGA: # Informationis not a phase in itself but is received from the outside world by observation, and given by use of signals such as direction indicators, headlamp flashes, and horn; is a general theme running continuously throughout the application of the system by taking, using and giving information; # Position on the road optimised for safety, visibility and correct routing, followed by best progress; # Speed appropriate to the hazard being approached, attained via explicit braking or throttle control (engine braking), always being able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear on your side of the road; # Gear appropriate for maximum vehicle control through the hazard, selected in one shift; and # Acceleration for clearing the hazard safely. The taking, using and giving of Information is, arguably, most important and surrounds (and drives) the four phases PSGA. It may, and often should, be re-applied at any phase in the System. The System is used whenever a hazard requires a manoeuvre. A hazard is something which requires a change in speed, direction or both. The benefit of applying a systematic approach to driving is to reduce the simultaneous demands on the vehicle, the driver mentally and the driver physically. That is, the System seeks to separate out the phases of a manoeuvre into a logical sequence so that the vehicle and the driver avoid being overwhelmed by having to do too much at the same time. For example, braking and steering at the same time place greater demands on the vehicle's available grip and in the worst case can lead to a skid. Whilst the books were originally put together at the Metropolitan Police Driving School at
Hendon Hendon is an urban area in the Borough of Barnet, North-West London northwest of Charing Cross. Hendon was an ancient manor and parish in the county of Middlesex and a former borough, the Municipal Borough of Hendon; it has been part of Great ...
, and intended for police drivers and riders, they have been available for sale to the general public since the mid-1950s. Civilian advanced driving organisations such as
RoSPA The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is a British charity that aims to save lives and prevent life-changing injuries which occur as a result of accidents. In the past, it has successfully campaigned on issues of road safet ...
and the
Institute of Advanced Motorists IAM RoadSmart formerly called the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is a charity based in the United Kingdom and serving nine countries, whose objective is to improve car driving and motorcycle riding standards, and so enhance road safety, b ...
base their teaching and advanced motoring tests on Roadcraft.


References

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External links


Roadcraft homepage
Automotive safety Motorcycle training Driving techniques