NCJ Number
65785
Date Published
1976
Length
138 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOK ABOUT HIGH-SPEED AND EMERGENCY DRIVING FOR POLICE AND AMBULANCE DRIVERS DISCUSSES ELEMENTS OF VEHICLE CONTROL SUCH AS TIRE PERFORMANCE AND BRAKING, HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT, AND VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.
Abstract
HIGH-SPEED, EMERGENCY DRIVING IS BEST LEARNED BY PRACTICE DRIVING IN A TEST AREA. IT REQUIRES THAT THE DRIVER MASTER THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING ENVIRONMENT, ANTICIPATE CONDITIONS, AND BEGIN A CONTROLLING MANEUVER BEFORE IT IS NEEDED. GOOD EMERGENCY DRIVING REQUIRES A SMOOTH FLOW OF BRAKING, STEERING, AND ACCELERATING THAT ALTERS THE VEHICLE'S MOVEMENT TO CORRECT AN IMPENDING LOSS OF CONTROL. BECAUSE VEHICLE CONTROL IS CLOSELY RELATED TO TIRE CHARACTERISTICS, HOW TIRES STEER AND FORCES AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL ARE DISCUSSED. FURTHER DISCUSSION OF TIRE PERFORMANCE IN ADHESION, CORNERING AND STEERING RESPONSE, AND THE EFFECTS OF TIRE INFLATION. SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BRAKING, THE MOST IMPORTANT DRIVING CONTROL FUNCTION, ARE DISCUSSED; OTHER BRAKING TOPICS INCLUDE BRAKE FADE, REACTION TIME, FRICTION COEFFICIENTS, AND DISC BRAKES. NEXT, ADVICE ON ROAD AND TRAFFIC HAZARDS EMPHASIZES THE DRIVER'S NEED TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED AND INCLUDES ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO WHEN THE VEHICLE LEAVES THE ROAD. FURTHER, AS EMERGENCY DRIVING DEPENDS UPON TOP DRIVER AS WELL AS TOP VEHICLE CONDITION, ADVICE IS GIVEN ON BODY POSITION AND THE EFFECTS ON DRIVING OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND FATIGUE. HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT DRIVING BY POLICE REQUIRES MUCH PRACTICE AND PRODUCES DANGEROUS EFFETS SUCH AS TUNNEL VISION AND AN ADRENALIN KICK. PURSUIT VEHICLES MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH SPECIALLY-BUILT TIRES AND DRIVERS MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERSTEP THEIR LIMITS. A FINAL CHAPTER ON VEHICLE MAINTENANCE PROVIDES A CHECKLIST OF IMPORTANT ITEMS. INDEX, CHARTS, ILLUSTRATIONS, AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)