Re-evaluating Emergency Driver Training: A Shift from Racing Terminology to Road Safety Messaging

Emergency driver training has long relied on a system of car control known as the Hendon system, which has its roots in high-performance driving techniques, including inputs from racing. While effective in its time, the world of emergency response driving has evolved significantly in the 21st century. Today’s emergency drivers must navigate complex and often unpredictable environments, balancing the urgency of their duties with the overarching priorities of public and road safety.

Modern emergency drivers are trained to respond under high-pressure conditions, often using lights and sirens to navigate through traffic. However, they are also expected to drive within their own abilities, staying aware of their surroundings and minimising risk to others on the road. Despite this, much of the language and techniques used in emergency driver training still echo the world of motorsport—a world that is, in many ways, fundamentally different from the responsibilities of first responders.

Take, for example, the terminology still commonly used in training. Words like "apex," "corner lines," and "set-up" are staples of racing, where drivers aim to maximise speed and efficiency through precise vehicle control. In emergency situations, however, speed is not always the most important factor. Instead, emergency drivers must focus on maintaining control, scanning for hazards, and prioritising public safety—objectives that differ markedly from those of a race car driver aiming to shave seconds off a lap time.

Seating Position: A Critical Difference

Even something as basic as the seating position or deportment in an emergency vehicle diverges from the principles of race car driving. Racing drivers are often taught to sit low, lowering the vehicle's centre of gravity for optimal handling at high speeds.

First responders, on the other hand, require visibility and ease of movement over split-second handling benefits. Emergency drivers need to have a clear view of the road, a keen sense of their surroundings, and the ability to respond quickly and effectively in unpredictable scenarios. This calls for a seating position that prioritises visibility and comfort during prolonged periods on duty, not just vehicle dynamics at high speeds. This seating position will change as the carriage of operational equipment evolves; most defensive weapons are carried on a responder’s waist allowing quick access.

The impact of carrying equipment for operational safety direct impacts on a responders seating position, the vehicles supplied are off the production line and responders must adapt their physical attributes and carriage of equipment to the supplied vehicle to maximise safety.

Understanding the distinct roles performed whilst driving emergency vehicles.

Training that prioritises or focuses on speed can negatively impact personnel by fostering unsafe driving habits. The range of driving duties performed during shifts often includes general patrols, emergency response, transportation, pursuits, enforcement, and passive (off-task or down time) driving. Each of these tasks requires a distinct set of skills and approaches, none of which should motivated by a need for speed.

Driver training programs should comprehensively address all aspects of emergency driving duties, ensuring that the training reflects the diverse and complex nature of the job. This includes teaching drivers to manage their vehicles safely and efficiently under a variety of conditions, with an emphasis on control, awareness, and public safety.

It is essential to recognise that the specialised skills required for emergency driving are entirely distinct from those used in the racing world. Emergency drivers must prioritise safety and responsibility over speed, with a focus on navigating unpredictable environments and protecting the public, which sets them apart from the competitive, speed-oriented mindset of racing.

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The Importance of Regulation and Responsibility

Another key consideration is that emergency drivers are bound by strict regulations, even when using lights and sirens. The regulations governing the use of emergency vehicles are designed to ensure that their presence does not create undue risk to other road users. While these vehicles are granted some exemptions from road rules, such as speed limits and the requirement to stop at red lights, these exemptions come with an expectation of increased responsibility. First responders are trained to use their tools, including sirens and lights, to alert the public, not to push the limits of their vehicles.

Rethinking the Messaging of Emergency Driver Training

It is therefore crucial for emergency service organisations to reconsider the messaging embedded in their driver training programs. The goal of emergency response driving is not to emulate racing strategies but to prioritise public safety while completing the task at hand. Trainers must ask:

“Does the terminology used in our programs truly reflect the real-world responsibilities of first responders, or are we inadvertently reinforcing a performance-driving mindset that may not be appropriate for the job?”

Driver trainers should focus on adult learning principles that emphasise the responsibilities of emergency driving, with a clear separation from race driving techniques. Graduates entering the emergency services must understand that their role is one of public safety first, even in the most urgent situations. It’s not about the fastest line through a corner, but about the safest, most responsible approach. This requires a shift in how we communicate key aspects of driving—terminology, techniques, and overall messaging must align with the real-world context of emergency response and Road Safety messaging.

Organisations that employ driver trainers should ensure that their programs reflect this shift in focus. Training should highlight the importance of situational awareness, risk management, and adherence to the law, all while reinforcing the importance of keeping the public safe. By updating the language and principles of emergency driver training, we can better prepare drivers for the realities of the job, leading to safer roads and a more effective emergency response.

In conclusion, emergency driver training needs to break away from the racing mentality embedded in some of its teachings and instead focus on the unique demands of public safety driving. Ensuring that the messaging is clear, relevant, and appropriate for the real-world tasks of first responders is essential to creating a safer environment for everyone involved.

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I challenge all organisations to review their driver training, safer drivers need safer messaging.

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