Hands On The Wheel!

[bainbrig]

I keep seeing documentary films showing police drivers speeding to incidents, or even in pursuit of criminals, with ONE hand on the wheel and the other apparently holding down the transmit button on their police radio.

Police Class 1 drivers used to be taught (see ‘Roadcraft’) to keep two hands on the wheel at all times. What’s happened to police driving standards? And why don’t police radios have an on/off switch?

I support the police, but worry about falling standards.

BB

[sunny-dave]

I don't get over-excited about 'how many hands on the wheel' - my default is two in traffic and one (with the other very nearby) on the open road - as gness says, a permanent state of '10 to 2' for several hours is going to be very fatiguing - but always two hands as soon as conditions require it.

I do get (very) exercised by the general level of in-car distractions that other drivers seem to think is OK - radio/music/phone/passengers waffling etc etc. Once conditions/traffic get even a little bit tricky then everything is shut down in my car - all entertainment off and passengers gagged - you need 100% attention on driving, not the 50% (or less) that many people seem to devote.

[Zacs-Master]

‘I wasn't defending the op’ really Gness, then who is the person ‘who made the original post’? xxxx

[Tilly2]

That's why I never engage in a conversation with a taxi driver. I'm very standoffish.

[shoota]

Sufficient for him to make comment on it though Balders and then denigrate them as does know what's what...

[Baldric]

See FRI. 13:57 ^^^

[Baldric]

That was @ SD ^^^

[Spicerack]

Wouldn't it be simple technology to have the radio button on the steering wheel? (like I presume racing drivers have)

[sunny-dave]

Yes - Balders - I thought it bore repeating/expanding since the OP had shot the original messenger and ignored the message :+)

[sunny-dave]

Works OK for a fixed car radio, spicerack, but not reliable enough for a body radio.

[Baldric]

Hold down Radio Transmit Button on steering wheel and drive through tight fast S-bend, yeah, that would work.

[Spicerack]

Racing drivers manage at 200mph, baldric.
Just saying.

[gness]

Zacs.....I was not defending the original post....posted by BB.... but BB against those who can't make a point without being grumpy or snidey....xxx

And my xxxxxs are my ways of doing a full stop...just because I feel like it....I will take yours as kisses....thank you.... :-)

[Baldric]

Perhaps Plod should employ them then?

[Zacs-Master]

Funny smell round here.

[bainbrig]

gness. Agreed. I’m quite happy to be corrected by anyone more expert than me (i.e. lots!) But wacking along at 70 mph with one finger draped casually round the wheel cannot be safe - anything going wrong, a blowout, some other idiot, etc., and catastrophy.

All I want is to kick this around with like-minded people, and the grumpiness does bore me, too!

[gness]

Oh I've seen those, BB.....but in general they're bad drivers no matter how many hands they have on the wheel.....
I think we...well folk my age....have left overs from when we started driving....and things change....steering my Honda is a dream.....steering my old Ensign certainly built up my arm muscles...I'm sure I kept both hands on the wheel then!...... :-)