Alan copied me in on your last e-mail as I look after PR and publicity for
the Association of British Drivers. At the same time, I've just got a copy
of your video, having been off bikes for the last 14 years and just started
riding again. Videos like yours are, I believe, essential. I agree with
Alan in that road safety is now solely a 'stick to the number on the stick'
game with no thought whatsoever to education - the only thing that really
makes a difference in the long term and over the whole road network. The
more routes to educating people we can have, the better.

Thoroughly enjoyed the video and learned a hell of a lot from it, although
I'm still a very long way from making progress at the rate you do!

I shall look forward to receiving your 'paper on vision' for your revamped Police Advanced Riding website. Mike McArthur-Christie of the ABD emailed me to say that he thinks your video is "excellent" -- as, indeed, do I!

HAVING seen an advertisement for your Police Advanced Riding Techniques video in a popular national riders’ journal, I promptly sought more details from your website before telephoning to order a copy, so I hope you will not mind if I offer my first impressions—though I know from experience that by no means all genuine experts welcome criticism of any kind, even when it is directed at individuals or firms who have been assisting with production—or perhaps I should say especially when so directed. It is painful to criticize willing friends . . .

Anyway, secondly the praise and congratulations that are due to all concerned. The benchmarks that I use for comparison are in no particular order of excellence, because your video ranks with the very best I have so far encountered: that made by then Police Traffic Sergeant and Institute of Advanced Motorists examiner on motorbikes, cars, and HGVs Rennie Ritchie, shown at the 1990 IAM Motorcycle Rally in Lancaster, with the disclaimer that it was not intended as an instructional film with the Institute’s blessing, but “could be used in any way to further motorcycling”, which had no title, and it is or was available free from him on receipt of a stamped, addressed envelope with a blank video cassette; Top Rider, the Skills of Superbiking, by Kerry Dunlop for the British Motorcyclists’ Federation and the IAM in 1994; and, but on cars, not bikes, the video Roadcraft, an Advanced Driving Course, based upon Police training at Hendon, for both the IAM and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, at a high level of skills but naturally not to pursuit standard; Shire Training Services High Performance Motorcycle Riding Skills video; and the Focus Lifestyle PC CD-Rom car-based Driving Test Theory Success (including the new Hazard Perception CD-Rom), a close copy of the official material.

What all of those videos (and the unofficial but very good indeed Hazard Perception CD-Rom for learner drivers), and now including your own superb video, have in common is not ensuring that what can be seen by the rider/driver in the far distance, and expertly commented upon in the ‘film’, also is clearly visible to the video/CD-Rom viewer; this being apparent to me in the first instance when the IAM’s Advanced Driving journal featured a few scenes from the DSA’s own Hazard Perception set-up for use in L-testing stations, one example being of a child running into the road who could not be detected in the picture—and it is the same with my CD-Rom.

As for your video, although I have described it as one of the best I have seen, and wished it had gone on for a whole lot longer than its published length, so as to be far more comprehensive—as I would expect from the Roadcraft people, had they the good sense to make a motorcycle video as good as the one for aspiring advanced car drivers—I suggest you could have made clearer the dangers of unexpected dips in the roadway, making nonsense of the Police mantra of “being able to stop within the distance one can see to be clear”, needing to be amended to what one knows to be clear. Also, although I would be happy to ride as pillion with you or your filmed companion, I am afraid that some of the road safety ignoramuses who call for “slower” speed limits—and don’t forget that very often largely ill-informed Authority tends to take their inexpert ‘nannying’ approach quite seriously—would be having kittens with fright if put in a position to see close-up your surgical overtaking skills!

Thanks indeed for the video which arrived two days ago. I played it as soon as I got home from work (on earlies this week). Next day I took it to work and some of the guys were interested enough to stay around in the office at the end of shift to watch it.

Comments:
A quality product exceeding my expectations, both from content and video/sound quality. Autocom is truly excellent. I'd be interested to know what video set up they were using on the bikes. It's superior in width of angle and stability to anything Provida supply us for evidence gathering;
the emphasis on the VP and looking up was useful to me, as the HK environment gets you lazy. We don't have a lot of open roads and spend too much time concentrating on what is in the near or middle ground (necessary to survive);
You come across as a skilled and passionate instructor
I think you've convinced me of the value of commentary while training. Others (e.g. ridedrive) speak against it from a safety perspective and are satisfied with the old police "click" system. I agree students often look blank during debriefings because they don't have the recall that trained instructors have.
Comments at work included surprise at the extremity of the British police positioning for view. Here in HK, we speak of the lane being divided into 1-2-3-4-5 positions, where 1 is closest to the kerb and 5 closest to the centre line. Riders are taught to ride in either 2 or 4 for safety, avoiding 3 because of possible oil in the centre. I spend a lot of time trying to get riders to use 1 and 5 as I consider view more important. You can always move back to 2 or 4 based on the early information advantage that 1 and 5 give you;
The 'extended following position' is unheard of in HK. It goes against the local mindset to allow space; for fear that someone else will fill it! Chinese riders even rush up to red lights!
I think your video would be great if it could form just one part of a 3 video series. You could make 2 more; one for motorway riding and the other for city driving;
Whatever, your product will be used for years as a benchmark for quality m/c instruction and something for others to live up to;
I'm conservative on overtakes and may have been slightly more wary than you were when overtaking where lay-bys were on the offside. Also, did you notice that your following camera bike did a "sandwich" in the 'upping the pace' section in order to keep up with you? Minor points, but just to show you I was paying attention!
What a coincidence that you are also a Triumph rider! When I ordered your video I didn't know that. I love that triple engine. I wrote to Triumph asking them to make a police version of the Sprint ST, but they are not interested. Can't blame them, as they can sell all they produce and don't need the hassle.
Thanks for the compliment on my website. There is a lot in it, not just for riders. The stuff on Road Rage is a salient reminder to many of us who tend to get impatient, even within the use of THE SYSTEM.
BTW, your use of your voice, especially the "relax ,,, relax, relax" comment in taking corners reminded me of hypnosis. Have you done any NLP or hypnosis training?
All for now. It's a bright sunny morning with temperatures around 20C in Hong Kong. Early shift is quiet so far ... touch wood.

Regards Alec

I purchased your video after reading your article and advert in February edition of our club magazine Slipstream. This has proved to be the best fourteen pounds that I have spent in a long-time find it absorbing viewing. All the points that are made are most rewarding and feel that my ridding has improved as a consequence. Your commentary also helps the viewer to fully appreciate all the aspects involved.