standard response driving course

[u/F1HR]

Hello everyone,
First of all, I’d like to thank the community for the fantastic response to my last post — really appreciated!
I’ve recently been selected for a standard response driving course with Police Scotland and I’m looking for any advice and tips.
Thanks in advance!

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[u/YungRabz]

If they're braking, you're braking, you don't want to find yourself alongside a vehicle at any point, you're either overtaking, or you're behind them, dawdling in the middle will invite unkind words from your instructor.

[u/PolMacTire → u/YungRabz]

I would qualify that slightly - "if they’re braking, you’re braking” isn’t always true if you are at the correct following distance and applying the system of car control properly.

With good observation and acceleration sense, you may be able to manage your speed by easing off rather than automatically braking. For example, the vehicle ahead may be comfort braking for a bend. As a police driver, you should already be taking in information, looking well ahead and beyond the vehicle in front where possible, identifying the bend early, and planning your position, speed and gear before you arrive there.

The point is not to copy the vehicle ahead, but to respond to the hazard you have identified. Many drivers brake late or unnecessarily because they have not assessed the bend properly. On a standard course, the expectation is that you anticipate that rather than simply react to brake lights.

[u/YungRabz → u/PolMacTire]

If you're in the position of contact and beginning a 3 stage overtake, relying on acceleration sense to keep you in the box is surely liable to get you killed.