Friendly advice from a Driving Instructor

[H8Criminals]

[This message has been edited by H8Criminals (edited 03-05-2001).]

[This message has been edited by H8Criminals (edited 03-05-2001).]

[Blue_Chameleon]

You know it's funny how you mentioned this because someone I graduated from the Academy with just got into an accident himself while he was running code 3.

Turns out he didn't slow down at the intersections and one person T-boned him in the passenger side and created a mess. Both the driver of the vehicle and my friend were okay.

They tell you in the Academy to slow down and that if you are hurt while going somewhere, it doesn't help the department by suddenly having TWO incidents to deal with instead of one. Now, my friend is a big advocate on that...

[Sig220Man]

There was a time, early in my career, when I had the attitude "the faster you get there, the better."

However, in the last 8 years, it's an attitude that I have tempered significantly. While I've been fortunate enough to have never crashed, I have had too many close calls to continue such a driving style.

Now, unless the officer is screaming for help, or it's an obvious high-risk situation (like a solo officer being confronted by a group of angry gang members), I drive there at the speed limit.

Even if the officer is screaming for help, I never drive faster than my ability, and more importantly, the ability of civilians I will be sharing the road with!

My department has had TWO incidents in which officers have crashed so bad, that CIVILIANS had to get on the radio and advise us. Fortunately neither were killed, but one had to medically retire due to his injuries. Recently, another officer crashed after PASSING another patrol car in a pursuit, and now may also be facing medical retirement.