Roadcraft

Roadcraft: The Police Driver's Handbook and Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook have become the essential guides for better, safer driving. Incorporating current best practice, they are recognised as the gold standard in advanced police driver/rider training and are used by the police, other emergency services and the general public.

Roadcraft draws on the Foundation’s knowledge and expertise in road safety and reflects its close working relationship with the police. Both handbooks are written in close consultation with experienced police driver trainers, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) the Scottish College for Police Driving (ACPOS), motoring organisations and leading academics in UK road safety.

History

The origins of the handbook date back to Lord Cottenham's teaching at the Hendon Police Driving School in 1937. He taught drivers to handle their vehicles more safely through implementing a sequence of events to ensure that their vehicle was always in the correct position, driving at the right speed, in the appropriate gear and accelerating at the right time to clear a hazard safely. The Metropolitan Police's accident rate subsequently declined. Lord Cottenham's notes were later published by a former senior Hendon in instructor, Jock Taylor in 1954 under the title 'Attention All Drivers!' The following year (1955) the notes were compiled into the first version of 'Roadcraft - a manual for police driving instruction' and published by HMSO for sale to the general public. Seven more editions were subsequently published between 1960 and 2007. 

New editions

The Foundation will be publishing new editions of Roadcraft and Motorcycle Roadcraft in August 2013. We are seeking a corporate partner who shares the Police Foundation's vision and enthusiasm and would be interested in sponsoring associated Roadcraft and Motorcycle Roadcraft materials (including a DVD). If you are interested in this opportunity to build on Roadcraft’s unique heritage, please contact the Police Foundation - info@police-foundation.org.uk.