On 3rd September 2010 I blogged about high speed driving training requirements for ambulance drivers, and I made reference to the proposed introduction of section 19 of the Road Safety Act (2006), which is likely to make high speed driver training a legal requirement in order to exceed speed limits for defined purposes (such as ambulance purposes). Two
Health & Safety advice for the Christmas holidays
All employees planning to dash through the snow in a one horse open sleigh, going over the fields and laughing all the way, are advised that a Risk Assessment will be required addressing the safety of an open sleigh. This assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such
Synchronicity – Bespoke’s tips for skilful and sympathetic gear-changing
A hallmark of a skilful driver is the ability to change gear silkily smoothly and sympathetically. The key to achieving this consistently is to match engine and driven-wheel speeds on each change. Doing so minimises clutch drag and thus wear, as the clutch plates reengage at a synchronised speed. Particularly during rapid acceleration, try easing
Torque talk
The question that is most likely to bring to its knees any pub conversation amongst petrolheads must be: “What is the difference between torque and power?” If you’ve driven a modern turbo-diesel you’ll be used to the feel of torque. If you’ve steered an M3 in your time, you’ll be familiar with the sound of
Getting the best out of an automatic gearbox
At Bespoke Driver Training we train dozens of chauffeurs and VIP protection drivers every year, so we operate a few auto’s simply because they are a useful tool of our trade. However, when I’m driving I prefer a manual ‘box, especially if my journey is across country. Not until the anti-car lobby push to amputate
New motor insurance legislation from Spring 2011
Did you know that from Spring 2011 a new law means that the registered keeper of a vehicle must keep it insured unless they’ve made a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)? As Michael Caine might say: not a lot of people know that! So, if you’re the registered keeper of a vehicle, it must be
Considerations for overtaking safely
Of all the manoeuvres everyday driving necessitates, overtaking is potentially the most hazardous. Since it’s quite a broad subject too, in this latest Blog article I’ll focus on aspects of the most challenging of overtakes – those taken on two-way single-carriageway roads. Whilst overtaking on two-way roads inevitably you’ll be positioning your car onto the
Fundamentals of security driving
In a previous Blog article (Foundations of tactical driving, published 1st February 2011) I laid the foundations of tactical driving by identifying the following six safe driving essentials. 1 - Focus, and concentrate all the time 2 - Take your time 3 - Scan, keeping your eyes moving 4 - Anticipate “what if?” 5 - Always
Foundations of tactical driving
Regardless of what system of driving I am teaching – and to whom – there are certain principles that I first wish to drive home. These guiding principles are fundamental to safety. They form the foundations on which tactical aspects of a close protection or surveillance operator’s role should be built. In the same way
White Christmas? Prrrobably. So here are some timely winter driving tips from Bespoke
I don’t know about you, but I usually look forward to those few winter days when we have snow in England. I like to venture out late at night after a fresh snowfall when there are few other people around. I enjoy feeling for grip, keeping my senses sharp in slippery conditions. I don’t fear