Police Motorcycle Roadcraft circa 1977

Some footage from a VHS tape I forgot I had. It has been produced by Kent Police Television unit. An early attempt with video.... A credit to the lads, it must be from around 1977, just look at the vehicles about !

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• police
• kent
• advanced
• demonstration
• ride
• motorcycle
• motorbike
• roadcraft
• train
• training
• bmw

[bykermz1]

How nice to see the 'old' standards again, professional instructors and professional standards. Being a police trained and qualified rider/driver then was seen as a world class standard. Maybe it's time to bring the 'old' standards back!

[advancedbiker]

I could not agree more. I did my training in the 1980's, when standards were high and we took a pride in our driving. Almost forgot we used to have a traffic section then in Staffordshire. Now that has become this thing called Road Policing.... and the driving school has been demolished......

[trangwales]

Brilliant! I've still got my Roadcraft (Car and Bike from 1971 and 1974). So much has changed since then, but I can still repeat the statements we were taught ... All corners and bends ... a hazard is any ... and the bike is just like my old R80/7.

Thanks - memories recalled!!!

[advancedbiker]

I do not know if you can remember, we used to learn the book front to back........Then they brought a new one out.  We had the best era, professional trainers and professional standards.

[DavidA361]

This must be a little bit later than 1977 - te more modern version of the STOP sign is used, which came in around 1980.

[advancedbiker]

Thanks I am only going by the type of BMW. I can check as I have made contact with the Police Officers who made the video.

[RoadcraftNottingham]

And regarding staffs traffic. I have a video on my profile of the three spires competition. I have the full version too if you want to see it.

[RoadcraftNottingham]

An amazing video. Can you please contact me and let me know how I can get the full version please? This is what I learned to. You can contact me on my web address on my profile. Thanks.

[1joshos]

This is so logical - doing rider training at the moment - using the system

[simonhep]

Roadcraft first devised by racing drivers, amongst these was the Earl of Cottenham, had been a member of the Alvis racing team in 1925 and Sunbeam team in 1926.

In 1937, prompted by the high incidence of accidents by police drivers, the Met. Commissioner sought his help.

Cottenham worked with other drivers, including Malcolm Campbell and they came up with the Ten Commandments of Driving, which if followed put a car in the right place, at the right time and in the right gear

[sacheus]

Wow it's all the same then! just as it is NOW. wonder how many young lives would still be with us today if they were told this type of road craft and not just to pass there test.....my work needs me to be safe and to make progress, not speed..

[trangwales]

I was told that The System had been put together by Stirling Moss and the Met Driving School at Hendon. I was taught racing lines - various courses bike / car / ambulance 1971-1984. It was a bit of a shock to have to relearn the lines when I came back to biking last year.

[trangwales]

Giving hand signals, especially the slowing down flapping one was a nightmare. When I was a boy ... none of these button things. Had an indicator failure recently and had to resort to hand signals - desperate!!

[trangwales]

Me too. Roadcraft by Rote, and the Highway Code as well. And always rumours of a certain trainer who would ride around the outside of you on a bend rapping your knuckles with a length of timber if your hands were in the wrong position. There wasn't anything I couldn't do on a BSA C15 ...