NCJ Number
145194
Journal
Police and Security News Volume: 9 Issue: 5 Dated: (September-October 1993) Pages: 17-18,43,45-46
Date Published
1993
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Police require training in high-speed driving and cornering during police pursuits, because driving fast is dangerous and is a skill that needs to be learned.
Abstract
The danger of high-speed driving increases dramatically when driving through a corner. Driving through a corner quickly and efficiently requires an understanding of the principles of physics and the roles of inertial and centrifugal forces. Control of a vehicle is extremely sensitive, especially on corners, and even a slight increase in speed can cause the driver to lose control. Where the driver turns the steering wheel is also crucial. Turning the wheel late or early changes the radius of the arc and therefore the radius of the turn. Therefore, police officers should drive significantly below the limit when turning a corner. They should also consult their speedometer frequently, especially if they drive fast, because their perception of speed becomes distorted as they drive fast. They should also be aware that fast driving requires frequent passing, which is also dangerous, and that driving through a corner too rapidly and dangerously saves only a fraction of a second. Figures