Police Driving Learning Programme: Roadcraft and The Highway Code

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, vehicle control principles, Roadcraft concepts, and Highway Code regulations from the College of Policing examination papers.

System of Car Control

A methodical, safe approach to negotiating hazards that leaves nothing to chance, structured with information running continuously through the operational phases of position, speed, gear, and acceleration.

Reaction Time

The total duration between gathering new information about a hazard and responding to it, consisting of two elements: decision time and response time.

Stages of Planning

The sequential mental process used to interpret and act on observations: Observe, Anticipate, Prioritise, Decide what to do, and Act.

Red Mist

A dangerous state of emotional involvement and distraction during an incident, prevented by concentrating fully on the immediate driving task in hand.

Peripheral Vision

The outer boundary of a driver's sight that provides a sense of speed, position, and awareness of movement.

Acceleration Sense

The ability to vary vehicle road speed in response to changing conditions through the precise use of the accelerator pedal so that brakes are used less or not at all.

Safe Stopping Distance Rule

The fundamental driving rule requiring that a driver must always be able to stop safely within the distance seen to be clear on their own side of the road.

Overall Safe Stopping Distance

The complete distance taken to halt a vehicle, calculated as thinking distance plus braking distance.

Thinking Distance

The distance travelled while reacting before applying the brakes, which varies primarily depending on the driver's physical and mental condition.

Aquaplaning

A hazardous condition that occurs when a wedge of water builds up between the front tyres and the road surface, resulting in complete loss of grip and steering.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

A braking assistance system that prevents the wheels from locking up under heavy braking, enabling the driver to maintain steering control while braking harshly.

Active Safety Devices

Vehicle driver-assist systems whose activation indicates that the vehicle is losing control.

Driving Plan

A tactical driving approach designed to place the vehicle in the correct position, at the correct speed, with the correct gear engaged at the correct time.

Brake-Gear Overlap

A driving technique where braking overlaps with changing gears, which Roadcraft specifies must always form part of a planned approach.

Blind Spot

Any area around a motor vehicle that is not covered or visible by its mirrors.

Overtaking Position

A following stance closer than normal that minimises the overtaking distance and clearly signals to the driver ahead an intention to overtake.

Double Warning Signs

A pair of vertically mounted road signs where the hazard illustrated on the top sign represents the nearest approaching hazard.

Toucan Crossing

A signal-controlled pedestrian and cycle crossing designed specifically so that pedestrians and cyclists can use it together.

Puffin Crossing

A sensor-controlled pedestrian crossing where the steady red signal does not change until pedestrians have cleared the crossing.

Pelican Crossing

A pedestrian crossing featuring a flashing amber light phase during which drivers must give way to pedestrians already on the crossing.

Amber Reflective Studs

Motorway road markers positioned between the carriageway and the central reservation.

Green Reflective Studs

Motorway road markers placed between the main carriageway and slip roads or acceleration and deceleration lanes.

Clearway

A designated stretch of road on which stopping a vehicle is prohibited at any time.

Red Circular Traffic Signs

Road signs shaped as circles with red borders that give direct orders and prohibitions to motorists.

SMART Model

A structured action plan framework provided following an examination failure, ensuring targets are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time scaled.

Legal Minimum Tyre Tread Depth

The mandatory minimum statutory tread depth across the central three-quarters of a car tyre, defined as $1.6\,\text{mm}$.

Audible Warning Device Prohibition Hours

The mandatory time interval between $11.30\,\text{pm}$ and $7.00\,\text{am}$ during which vehicle horns must not be sounded in a built-up area.

Silent Approach

An operational response conducted without emergency warning equipment, requiring extra care from the police driver because other road users are less aware of the vehicle's presence.

White Cane with Red Band

A mobility aid carried by a pedestrian indicating that the person is both deaf and blind.

Icy Road Stopping Distance Factor

The multiplier by which stopping distance can increase on icy surfaces, reaching up to $10$ times the normal distance.

Wet Weather Separation Gap

The recommended time buffer when following a vehicle on wet roads, which must be at least double the standard gap, equalling at least $4\,\text{seconds}$.

Speed Travel Rate at 70 mph

The distance covered by a vehicle per second when travelling at the national motorway limit of $70\,\text{mph}$, equal to $31\,\text{metres per second}$.