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PROCEDURE Safe Driving

Number: D 2001
1.0

Date Published: 29 May 2014

Summary of Changes
Additional information has been added to the Category 1 and 2 vehicles in section 3.1;
(180 PS and above) and (up to 179 ps) respectively.

2.0

What this Procedure is about

This policy and associated procedures apply to the following: police officers, special
officers, police community support officers and other police staff who may
subsequently be referred to in this document as staff or officers.
The procedures are intended to apply to all forms of driving and riding of motorcycles
currently undertaken by all Essex Police staff. The procedures have been drafted to
ensure all driving activity is undertaken responsibly, with minimal risk to the public, the
individual and the organisation.
In general terms contractors, volunteers, approved family members or other partner
organisations will not come within the scope of these procedures. Any of the above
will not be permitted to drive Essex Police vehicles unless specifically agreed with
Departmental Management and Insurance Services, Headquarters (who must ensure
they are informed of the issues surrounding any such agreement).
2.1

General Principles

Any driving undertaken on behalf of Essex Police by any Essex Police staff will only
be undertaken with the express permission of Essex Police. Delegated responsibility
for management of this permission rests solely with the Head of Driver Training. Any
appeals will be decided by the Chief Inspector at Essex Police College who will be the
final arbiter in all cases.
Any police officer or police staff member undertaking any form of driving activity will
only do so under circumstances in which they have received sufficient training or
assessment relevant to the type of driving they are required to undertake.
A police officer or police staff member may only drive a category of vehicle, on behalf
of Essex Police, for which they hold a legal entitlement, and have been suitably
trained or assessed and authorised to drive.
It is recognised there will be exceptions to these principles. These exceptions will only
be in the most extreme EMERGENCY circumstances in which there is an immediate
danger to any person.
2.2

Legislation

Driving of police vehicles is strictly regulated. With the introduction of the Section 19
Road Safety Act 2006, all drivers are reminded that they may not only face disciplinary
action, but may now also commit offences.
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PROCEDURE Safe Driving

Number: D 2001

Date Published: 29 May 2014

Section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 provides an exemption from speed
limits for staff driving a police vehicle if observance of the limit would be likely to
hinder their use for which they are being use on that occasion.
There is no exemption unless the member of staff has satisfactorily completed a
course of training in the driving of vehicles at high speed provided in accordance with
regulations (e.g. advanced/response driving course), or is driving the vehicle as part of
such a course.
Other high speed driving may be undertaken off-road by vehicle technicians for road
testing or diagnostic purposes where authorised by the Head of Transport Services.
Driving under emergency conditions using blue lights or the emergency audible
warning equipment shall only be undertaken by police officers or police driver trainers
who have undergone or are undergoing the necessary high speed response training,
and who have demonstrated, and continue to demonstrate, that they have the
necessary skills and aptitude to do so without endangering themselves, the public or
other members of staff.
No other member of staff, other than an authorised police officer or police driver
trainer, is permitted to drive under emergency conditions at any time. Any staff
member doing so may face disciplinary proceedings or prosecution.
Police officers and staff who are not current authorised response drivers must not use
emergency warning equipment while the vehicle is in motion unless to stop another
vehicle in accordance with the Road Traffic Act. Officers and staff must ensure they
apply the health and safety requirements embedded within Fast Roads Training which
are relevant to the location or circumstances in which they have decided to stop their
vehicle. All Road Traffic Regulations must be complied with, including any conditions
associated with their driving authority.
It is the responsibility of all members of staff to uphold the principles of this policy, and
the responsibility of every supervisor, to ensure that staff only drive in accordance with
their authority.
Staff members including police officers, whilst driving police vehicles, are not exempt
from prosecution for offences such as dangerous, careless or inconsiderate driving.
Each incident will be judged on its own merits.
See the following ACPO letters/guidance:
ACPO Holt Dangerous and Careless Driving Mitigating Risk of Prosecution
Letter
ACPO Holt Dangerous and Careless Driving Mitigating risk of Prosecution
Compliance with this procedure and any governing policy is mandatory.

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PROCEDURE Safe Driving

Number: D 2001
3.0

Date Published: 29 May 2014

Detail the Procedure

3.1

Essex Police Vehicle Fleet Classification

Without exception, only those vehicles authorised for use by the Head of Transport
Services will be permitted for use by Essex Police. These include fleet vehicles, those
hired, loaned, leased or seized by Essex Police. In respect of staff members, their
own vehicles would be deemed suitable unless there is any information to the
contrary. Where there is any doubt over their suitability, the authority of the Head of
Transport Services should be gained prior to their use.
Transport Services, in consultation with Driver Training, will determine the
classification of an approved vehicle.
All vehicles within the Essex Police fleet will be clearly marked with their
categorisation which can be found in the vehicle log book, on the first page. All
vehicle details will also be maintained on the Transport Services intranet site under
Vehicle Catalogue which will regularly be updated.
Category 1 High performance vehicles as listed in the Vehicle Catalogue (180 PS
and above) (OPC and Executive Support).
Category 2 Marked and unmarked cars and people carriers (up to 9 people) not
exceeding 2500 Kilograms GVW (not listed as high performance). This
will include SMART cars, car derived vans and small vans such as the
Transit Connect and Peugeot Expert (up to 179 PS).
Category 3 Marked and unmarked panel vans not exceeding 3500kgs GVW (that
may be driven on a car licence i.e. up to 9 people including the driver,
this will include the seats provided within any prison cell contained
therein)
Category 4 PSU carriers/personnel carriers that require D1 DVLA licence (i.e. is
capable of carrying more than 9 people but not more than 17 people
including the driver)
Category 5 Marked and Unmarked Motor Cycles
Category 6 Four by four vehicles and all other specialist vehicles not included above
and subject to separate assessment for authorisation. These vehicles
may require an additional category on the drivers DVLA driving licence
(shown in brackets) e.g. LGV (C), mobile police stations (C1), PCV (D)
and trailers (E)
Further guidance can be found within the Essex Police Vehicle Catalogue

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PROCEDURE Safe Driving

Number: D 2001
3.2

Date Published: 29 May 2014

Driver Authorisation for Vehicle Categories

Category 1 High Performance Vehicles or Unmarked Vehicles - Fitted with

emergency equipment (OPC)
Advanced trained drivers may drive under emergency conditions;
Standard response trained drivers can drive NON-RESPONSE only;
Any other person familiarised and authorised to drive Category 1 vehicles NONRESPONSE only.
Authorisation will be given for 4-wheel drive high performance vehicles following a
familiarisation drive.
Category 2 Designated Response Vehicles/Plain Vehicles including car derived
vans and other small vans e.g. Transit Connect
Advanced trained drivers may drive under emergency conditions;
Response trained drivers may drive under emergency conditions. (See unmarked
Operational Vehicles ( refer to para number);
Non-response drivers; neighbourhood policing patrol authorisation (NPPA) drivers
or basic drivers may drive NON-RESPONSE only;
Category 3 Marked and unmarked panel vans not exceeding 3500kgs GVW
(may be driven on a car licence)
May be driven once assessed in this category of vehicle by an Instructor or LPA
Assessor;
Once assessed, Advanced trained and Response drivers may drive under
emergency conditions and should remember there is a requirement to drive within
the capability of the vehicle being used. There could be occasions where an
officer is responding under emergency conditions but not necessarily at high
speed. These vehicles are not designed for routine high speed response and
should NOT be routinely used in this capacity;
Standard non-response drivers; neighbourhood policing patrol authorisation
(NPPA) drivers or basic drivers may drive NON-RESPONSE only.
Category 4 PSU Carriers/Personnel Carriers that require D1 DVLA licence
May be driven once fully trained or assessed in this category of vehicle;
Personnel carrier response trained drivers may drive under emergency conditions;
Personnel carrier non-response trained drivers may drive NON-RESPONSE only;
Police officers and staff must have the requisite category on their DVLA licence
before undertaking a training course or assessment. Staff authorised to drive this
category of vehicle will also automatically be authorised to drive Category 3
vehicles if not previously authorised. NON-RESPONSE only

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PROCEDURE Safe Driving

Number: D 2001

Date Published: 29 May 2014

Category 5 Marked and Unmarked Motor Cycles

Only those suitably trained and assessed by Essex Police motorcycle instructors
will be authorised to drive this category of vehicles. Motorcycles may be ridden by
advanced or standard trained riders under emergency conditions if the vehicle is
marked.
Unmarked motorcycles may only be ridden under emergency conditions by
advanced trained riders.
Category 6 All other specialist vehicles not included above and subject to
separate assessment for authorisation
Training will be provide in this category where there an operational need.
Unmarked Operational Vehicles
Unmarked operational vehicles do not, by definition, alert the public to their presence
as police vehicles. Covert sirens and lights are not obvious to other drivers and
therefore drivers should not assume other motorists are aware of their presence.
Driving unmarked vehicles under emergency response conditions will only be
undertaken by an officer who has successfully completed an advanced driving course
or a Standard Response Course with specific training in an unmarked Category 2
vehicle.
Under exceptional circumstances due to role, and having undertaken specific bespoke
training, authority may be given by the Head of Driver Training for a Standard
Response Driver to utilise emergency equipment on an unmarked/and or marked
Category 1 vehicle to facilitate progress where extenuating circumstances exist
concerning a specific operational need. This authority must not be used routinely.
No unmarked category 2 vehicles should be fitted with emergency equipment for use
outside of the training environment without the authority of vehicle fleet services.
3.3

Training

Details of driver training are held on SAP and on the Drive database and are
maintained by the Driver Standards Department (DSD). All driving records are
electronically managed.
3.4

Supervisory Officers - Driver Authorisation

The supervisory role no longer carries with it any form of exemption or additional
permission to drive vehicles unless they have received the appropriate training.

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PROCEDURE Safe Driving

Number: D 2001

Date Published: 29 May 2014

Authorisation to drive any type of vehicle for police purposes will be at the discretion of
the Head of Driver Training or Deputy following the successful completion of the
relevant courses or assessment:
A

Basic Driving Authorisation

Neighbourhood Policing Patrol Authorisation (NPPA)

Standard Response Driving Course (including Initial Phase Pursuit)

Advanced Driving Course

Pursuit Management Training Course

3.5

Towing

Any staff member required to tow a trailer must be suitably assessed or qualified by
an Instructor or Assessor before undertaking such activity. In emergency situations
the towing of a vehicle or trailer, to prevent immediate danger to life, may be
undertaken by untrained drivers.
3.6

Drivers Hours

Driver fatigue is a major cause of collisions on the road.

The Police Service are exempt from regulations concerning drivers hours (i.e. EU
Directives 561/06 and 3821/58 and the Transport 1968 Act). In order to ensure the
welfare and safety of staff, supervisors and managers must consider the following
principles:
Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue is a serious concern and should be recognised as such. All Essex
police staff are encouraged to report driver fatigue (their own or anothers) to a
supervisor.
Supervisors and line managers should try to take steps to ensure a break from
driving for their drivers and a suitable rest period if the staff member has worked
excessive hours or is, for any other reason, suffering from driver fatigue. It is
recognised that in emergency situations or during protracted duties this might not
be possible.

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PROCEDURE Safe Driving

Number: D 2001

Date Published: 29 May 2014

Supervisors must ensure that in an emergency situation where they are to require
a staff member to continue driving without a break, they should be sure the
circumstances justify the decision, and a dynamic risk assessment should be
carried out in which they consider amongst other factors the following:
rotating drivers
allowing a short break from driving
advising the driver to take a caffeine based drink
selecting the most appropriate member of staff
Supervisors and managers have a responsibility to monitor the driving undertaken
by their staff on behalf of Essex Police to attempt to ensure driver hours are not
excessive and fatigue does not become a factor.
Commuting Fatigue
Supervisors and managers must consider the length of time a staff member has
been required to remain at work in any 24 hour period, in order to complete their
tour of duty. Additionally, the cumulative effect of working excessive hours can
have a seriously detrimental effect on a staff members ability to drive safely.
Staff members should bring to the attention of a supervisor if they are suffering
from fatigue and feel their ability to drive home at the end of a tour of duty might be
seriously impaired.
In these circumstances, the supervisor or manager must consider the following in
addition to any other relevant factors:
Lift share with another less tired staff member;
Allocating another staff member to provide a lift home;
Calling a taxi for the staff member;
The provision of overnight accommodation. This process should be agreed
with the local Business Manager.
3.7

Driving Large Goods and Passenger Carrying Vehicles

There are a small number of police officers and staff authorised to drive vehicles of
this category on behalf of Essex Police. These individuals, whether driving on or off
duty, must understand and acknowledge their legal responsibilities in relation to
drivers hours and records. Advice can be sought from Road Policing Trainers at
Practical Skills Centre.
Drivers hours are strictly monitored and the number of staff members authorised to
drive the above mentioned vehicles for police purposes has been rationalised.
Vehicles within this category will only be used for police purposes and are not to be
loaned or used for any other organisation.
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Date Published: 29 May 2014

Some examples regarding the appropriate use of vehicles:

A carrier cannot be utilised to transport anyone to sponsored walks, sporting
events, charity events and the like;
A mobile police station may not be borrowed by another organisation for the
purposes of health screening or to be used as a base for scouts in a partnership
initiative.
To do either would require the fitting of a tachograph and the recording of drivers
hours and is, therefore, not permitted.
3.8

Driving outside of duty

Any person involved in the driving of vehicles outside of their Essex Police duty time,
must ensure that if their driving falls within Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 Regulations
governing drivers hours, they must comply with this regulation.
Any person who works for Essex Police and also drives outside of the course of their
work with Essex Police for business or on a voluntary basis, vehicles such as:
passenger carrying vehicles intended to carry more than nine persons including
the driver, and are intended for that purpose;
goods Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes requiring the keeping of records;
must ensure they keep accurate records and take adequate rest periods, and make
them available to Essex Police on demand.
Any staff member, or other person, who drives on behalf of Essex Police, who has an
additional business interest that involves driving, must ensure the business interest is
agreed with the Vetting Unit, Essex Police HQ, who will enquire as to the nature of the
driving undertaken. Certain occupations will be incompatible with employment with
Essex Police as a result of this legislation.
Any person, whose main occupation primarily involves the driving of vehicles within
the scope of these Regulations, will not ordinarily be accepted as a Special Constable.
Any decision will be at the discretion of the Vetting Unit in consultation with the DSD
It is the drivers responsibility to monitor their own record keeping and drivers hours.
Managers also need to check the records if they are aware such a situation exists.
3.9

Child Restraint Seats

Police vehicles are not equipped with child restraint seats and therefore will not be
used to convey children who are not old enough to use the fitted seatbelts.

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PROCEDURE Safe Driving

Number: D 2001
3.10

Date Published: 29 May 2014

Head Restraints

Head restraints are fitted to the cars, vans, personnel carriers and similar type
vehicles in the Fleet. All police drivers must ensure that head restraints are correctly
adjusted.
3.11

Roles and Responsibilities

Commanders, Departmental Heads, supervisors and managers are responsible for

ensuring this procedure is adhered to within their department or policing area.
The Head of Vetting is responsible for ensuring the business interests held by our
staff, which are driver related, comply with guidance and are permissible.
Individuals are responsible for ensuring their driver hours are recorded, if applicable,
in compliance with legislation as well as ensuring compliance with this procedure
where appropriate. Officers and staff are personally responsible for ensuring their
driver authorisation is valid and should make arrangements to ensure they are reassessed where necessary.
The Head of Transport Services is responsible for ensuring there are processes in
place in order that all vehicles may be checked regularly for safety.
Police vehicle drivers and their supervisors are responsible for ensuring vehicles are
regularly checked and booked in for service.
The Head of Learning and Development is responsible for ensuring driver training has
sufficient facilities and resources to provide adequate training levels for the
organisation.
The Head of Driver Training is responsible for the delivery of driver training.
Road Collision Records will collate collision data to identify any trends in road
collisions.
4.0

Equality Impact Assessment

This procedure has been assessed with regard to an Equality Impact Assessment. As
a result of this assessment it has been graded as having a low potential impact as the
proposals in this procedure would have no potential or actual differential impact on
grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or
belief or sexual orientation.

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PROCEDURE Safe Driving

Number: D 2001
5.0

Date Published: 29 May 2014

Risk Assessment
It is the responsibility of every driver to continually dynamically assess the risks
associated with driving at high speed in accordance with the following:
Road Conditions;
Traffic Conditions;
Time of day and location;
Nature of the incident to which they are attending.

6.0

Consultation
Diversity / H&S
Unison / Federation

7.0

Monitoring and Review

The ACPO lead for driver training will be ACC Operations.
This procedure will be monitored by the Head of Driver Training who will prepare a
quarterly report for presentation at OPPPB based on the Home Office Code of
Practice for the Management of Police Pursuits 2011.
This procedure will be reviewed by the Head of Driver Training every year to ensure
that the training reflects the operational needs of the organisation.

8.0

Governing Force policy.

Related Force policies or related procedures
D 2000 Policy - Safe Driving
H 0200 Policy Pursuit
D 0503 Procedure - Responding to Incidents
D 2002 Procedure - Driving Authority
D 2003 Procedure - Police Vehicle Incidents
H 0201 Procedure - Pursuit
H 0202 Procedure - Pursuit Deployment of HOSTYDS

9.0

Other source documents, e.g. legislation, Authorised Professional

Practice (APP), Force forms, partnership agreements (if applicable)
Home Office Code of Practice for the Management of Police Pursuits 2011
APP Police Pursuits

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