Times Past - Zip Merging

 "Zip" merging (alternate lane) at lane closures 

(updated October 2007)

The IAM campaigned for the new edition of the Highway Code to be amended to discourage wasted space by "zip-merging" (from alternate lanes) at lane closures for road works etc. The 2004 edition, Rule 262 stated "use your mirrors and get into the correct lane for your vehicle in good time…do not switch lanes to overtake queuing traffic". Unfortunately, upon seeing an advance warning sign of a lane closure, many drivers misinterpret "in good time" to mean "now" and immediately change lanes, so wasting a long stretch of empty lane before the taper of cones and making any tailback longer! Some drivers will stay longer in that lane, overtaking the queue, which can lead to resentment from others, and occasionally to the dangerous and obstructive practice of a vehicle straddling the white line to prevent this. A far more efficient method is, on seeing the sign, if we adjust our speed depending on traffic conditions and merge from each lane in turn on approaching the cones. In practice, this is likely to be earlier at faster speeds and close to the cones in stop-start conditions and will be fair to everyone.

Rule 134 Highway Code 2007 states: 

You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. 

In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily.

Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed. e.g. when approaching roadworks or a road traffic incident.

It is not recommended at high speed.

(Editor’s note: in the current edition of the Highway Code, the same rule number has the same advice:

You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily. Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident. It is not recommended at high speed.

Times Past - A History of Roadcraft

 Attention All Drivers!

       

… Roadcraft has been the Police Drivers bible for nearly 50 years (70 years as of now. ed). This posting describes the background to the production of the first edition in 1955 and a very brief update to the present day. There is of course a Motorcycle version, but that is not covered here. 

Where did Roadcraft come from?

Back in the 1930's, cars were still fairly rare on the roads of Britain (2.2 million vehicles registered vehicles on the road in 1930, compared to 26.4 million today). 

The accident rate however was pretty awful, with 7305 fatalities being recorded in 1930. Inexperienced drivers were taking up driving, having usually had no formal lessons and little idea of what to expect. It was in this era that the first Road Traffic Act (1930) was drafted, initially just to licence drivers according to criteria of a minimum age limit (17) and physical fitness. A test was put in place, but was initially only for disabled drivers. 

A second Road Traffic Act became law in 1934, this time requiring the new driver to undertake a practical test of ability. However, due to problems of finding suitable testers, the practical test did not actually become enforced until May 1935. 

Police drivers at this time were little different from the general public, with no special training being given. Unfortunately, this resulted in a rate of one accident for each 8,000 miles being recorded for the Metropolitan Police district. This was considered to be unacceptable and the Commissioner, Lord Trenchard, arranged for Sir Malcolm Campbell to test a number of police drivers in order to satisfy demands for action. In the event, the drivers put up a pretty good performance, coping well with heavy traffic and open-road conditions. It was acknowledged however that lack of experience and inadequate training were a handicap in raising the standard of police driving. Thus in 1934, the Metropolitan Driving School at Hendon was opened. 

The courses were arranged at two levels, 'Elementary Wing' and 'Advance Wing', and in 1937 the Commissioner appointed another racing driver, The Earl of Cottenham, to raise the 'advanced' driving standard to a new high. 

Lord Cottenham was born in 1903 and was educated at Charterhouse and University College London, where he studied Engineering. For a time he was a member of the Alvis racing team (1925-26), the Sunbeam team in 1926 and was later reserve driver to the Talbot team. During this time he gained a reputation as a gentleman racing driver, his valet often accompanying him to the car in order to provide the appropriate racing attire. 

The machines he raced included some powerful front-wheel drive cars; apparently his advice to other drivers on the preferred method of getting them round a corner was to 'boot it and steer'. 

He had also written three non-fiction books on motoring, 'Motoring without Fears' (1928), 'Motoring To-day and To-morrow' (1928) and 'Steering Wheel Papers' (1932). He served on the Roads and Road Transport Committee to the House of Lords and thus would have been an obvious choice to act as advisor to the Metropolitan Police Driving School. 

In 'Steering Wheel Papers', he sets out his 'Ten Commandments of Motoring' that subsequently appeared in Roadcraft (up to the 1977 edition). Otherwise, though there is little formal evidence in his books of 'The System' that appeared subsequently. 

Lord Cottenham's teaching at Hendon in 1937 laid out the system that by implementing a simple 'drill' or sequence of events, a driver would ensure that his/her vehicle was always in the right place, at the right speed and in the right gear. The training appeared to be successful, as the Metropolitan Police accident rate immediately improved to one accident per 27,000 miles driven. Lord Cottenham's time at Hendon ended in 1938, but his 'system' remains as the basis for Roadcraft today. 

Roadcraft-first draft

Other input to the School's syllabus came from SCH Davis and Sir Malcolm Campbell. During Lord Cottenham's time at the Driving School, all students, Elementary and Advanced, had the same curriculum. Each instructor had his own set of duplicated notes, which were copied out by hand by each student. 

A late version of these was written up as "Attention All Drivers!" by Jock Taylor, ex senior instructor at Hendon in 1954. Eventually, in 1955 these notes were formally compiled into the first version of Roadcraft and published by HMSO for sale to the general public. Later editions with amendments came out in 1960, 1968, 1977 and the current (most heavily revised) edition in 1994

Thanks to Tony Priest, Stockport Group for the research behind this item

Editor’s note: Since this  article was published, there have been further editions, the latest being the 2020 edition.

Times Past - Making Progress

 Assembled by David Eastwood

I have selected three articles from past newsletters to share with you. I have not amended them, but even though they are over 20 years old, they are still relevant today. The first is David Wornham, past Chairman and Observer explaining why it is important for advanced drivers to be able to make good progress. 

The second is an interesting history of Roadcraft. Our Observers often have to convince Associates of the benefits of adopting the planned system of car control. It is a system that was introduced at the newly established Metropolitan Police Driving School at Hendon, just over 90 years ago. It has been continuously updated, honed and refined, but in essence has stood the test of all that time. And as anyone who has studied Roadcraft knows, the system is a way of approaching hazards that is methodical, safe and leaves nothing to chance. It is the essence of Roadcraft.

The third piece is about zip merging. Zip merging is when two lanes merge into one. Drivers in lane two should not merge left early, but should drive up to the merge point. Vehicles from each lane should then merge in turn at the point where the lanes merge. This has been a recommendation in the Highway Code since 2007. Eighteen years on and most drivers have still not cottoned on!

1. Do we Need Progress?

Observers occasionally, but regularly, receive queries from Associates on the real need for "progress" when we encourage them to drive up to the speed limit whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so.

It is said that we should be encouraging more economical methods of driving and I agree that, not only we should, but indeed do so. This is best done by gentle acceleration, earlier easing off the accelerator pedal before gentle braking, using flexible gears by not changing up too soon to avoid labouring the engine (which is less apparent in modern cars), anticipating hills and bends and by not using lower gears as a means of slowing the vehicle.

It is worth reminding all that we aim for a standard to pass the Advanced Driving Test and, to become Advanced Drivers, we must prove our competence at higher speeds within the Law and safety. However, we must also remember that true advanced drivers are able to adjust their driving not only to the road, weather and traffic conditions but to suit the needs of loads and passengers.

We may choose, quite properly, to drive gently when chauffeuring, sight-seeing, with senior citizens, car-sick-prone children or fragile goods and when we realise, with increasing age, that our observation, anticipation and reactions are becoming slower. We must not forget, however, to watch for tails of traffic and use of lay-bys or junctions to let them pass. So why the need to prove the ability to "progress" to pass the advanced driving test?

Let's put it this way. We, as human beings, are "designed" to travel no faster than running speed which I guess will vary around 10 mph. However, when driving, we are throwing ourselves along the road in a tin box at speeds of up to 70 mph so we have to learn to adapt our thinking and reactions to cope. Do you remember how it felt to drive following the last time you had a two week holiday without driving? A little quick, I expect, as you became re-accustomed to the faster speed. If your driving is always a sedate 45 mph and you are called upon to take a sick relative urgently to hospital you will naturally wish to drive at a faster speed. If you have no recent experience of driving at 60 to 70 mph it may well be that you become a far greater hazard and your potential life saving journey becomes a life threatening one!

Another point in favour of developing brisk progress is that the skills of reading and driving smoothly through corners need to be enhanced at higher speeds and the results of bad planning are more readily felt at higher speeds so enhancing the learning process but, hopefully, only by discomfort rather than leaving the road! Let's not also forget that safe, smooth and economic progress will add to the enjoyment of driving.

A few words of warning on over-use of progress. Having successfully completed the advanced driving course we have proved our capability of using progress safely, comfortably and legally. Let us all be aware of the danger of overconfidence. Reading the limit point of bends well, driving around them under perfect control and vehicle balance is fine, but if we forget the golden rule of always driving at a speed to be able to stop easily on the correct side of the road in the distance we can see to be clear (or, in the case of single track roads, at half that speed) can lead to a crash and the title of "Former Advanced Driver"! My favourite words to remind me of this is "tree trunks" meaning that, around every bend or brow of a hill there may be a fallen tree blocking the road. The question "can I stop?" often leads to a little less pressure of the "gas" pedal! Don't forget: Keep it on the black stuff, preferably wheels downwards.

David Wornham

The Dangers of Flood Water

 

During recent observed runs with our Associates, there have been plenty of opportunities to deal with the recent  heavy rains and flooding.  With the promise of more to come, it is worth our while thinking about the dangers of driving through flood water. Floodwater is capable of causing significant damage to your car and posing serious threats to your safety. It is one of the most popular ways of writing a car off. Floodwater is often deceptively deep, and the road surface beneath may have pot holes and lifted drain covers, creating a very hazardous situation for drivers.   

Dangers of Driving Through Flood Water

Hydro-locking: When water enters a combustion engine's cylinders, it can cause the engine to seize. The water enters through the car’s air intake, which is usually between 15 and 30 cm from the ground in the engine bay. Water cannot be compressed like air, and the piston strikes the water with immense force, leading to severe engine damage. It only takes an egg cupful of water.

Electrical System Damage: Water can short-circuit electrical components, potentially leading to a loss of power steering, brakes, or other essential systems. It can cause an electric car to fail completely.

Brake Failure: Floodwater can contaminate brake fluid, rendering the brakes ineffective and potentially damaging ABS and stability systems .

Loss of Control: Floodwater can reduce tyre traction, making it difficult to steer and brake. This can be exacerbated by debris and unseen obstacles hidden beneath the water.   

Structural Damage: The force of floodwater can damage the vehicle's undercarriage, suspension, and exhaust system.   

Health Risks: Floodwater may be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, or other hazardous materials.   

How to Deal with Flooded Roads

Turn Around, don't risk it: The safest course of action is to avoid flooded roads altogether. If you encounter a flooded road, find an alternate route.

Check the Depth: If you must cross a flooded road, assess the depth of the water. If it's more than 10cm or 4 inches deep, try to find an alternative route.

Test the Depth: If you're unsure of the depth, walk through the water and perhaps test it with a stick. 

Drive Slowly and Steadily: If you must drive through floodwater, do so slowly (walking pace) and steadily. Avoid splashing other vehicles or pedestrians.

Check Your Brakes: After driving through flood water, gently test your brakes to ensure they are functioning properly. If they feel wet or spongy, have them checked by a mechanic.   

Have Your Vehicle Inspected: If your vehicle has been submerged in floodwater, have it inspected by a qualified mechanic to ensure it's safe to drive.   

Additional Tips:

Stay Informed: Monitor weather forecasts and be aware of flood warnings in the area.

Plan Your Route: If you're traveling in an area prone to flooding, plan your route in advance and consider alternative routes.

Carry Emergency Supplies: Keep a flashlight, first-aid kit, and other emergency supplies in your vehicle in case you become stranded.

Remember, driving through floodwater is a risky endeavor. By understanding the dangers and taking precautions, you can help ensure your safety and protect your vehicle.

David Eastwood, Chief Observer