When asked to write Roadcraft the Police Drivers Manual in the late 1930s, the Earl of Cottenham would have had little idea that his System of Car Control,
that was to cut police vehicle accidents from one per 20,000 miles to one per 80,000 miles, would spread worldwide.
At that time in the UK fatal road accidents had reached a peak of 6,500 a year, a figure that was only exceeded during the blackout of the Second World War. It was envisaged that Roadcraft would also
provide a basis on which the police officer could give safe driving advice to members of the public.
Cyprus roads are amongst the three most dangerous in Europe. With a population of around 730,000 supplemented by about 2.5 million tourists per year, the rate of fatal
accidents is quite unacceptable.
When George Georgiou formed the Road Safety and Advanced Driving Society in Cyprus in the year 2000, he was hoping to significantly change this level of death on the roads to something more
acceptable to a European country.
Soon he was joined by Mike Moorby a retired Thames Valley Police Sergeant who had served much of his time on the forces Traffic Division.
Things moved very slowly, with most of the interest coming from the expat community.
However a number of Cypriot's also joined the group, a Department of Road Transport driving examiner and driving instructors being among their number.
Then Barry Faulkner joined the group. He had finally retired here after serving 16 years in Hertfordshire Police Driving School and 11 years running his own company giving safe driver training to
company car drivers in the UK.
The Superintendent of Police in Paphos and fifteen local officers attended a course entitled "An introduction to advanced driving". RoADS was rolling if you will excuse the pun.
From this small beginning, introductions were made with the chief of traffic police in Nicosia and a meeting set up to discuss training for six officers who would be responsible for bringing advanced
driving to the whole 4,100 strong Cyprus Police Force through their driving school.
It was agreed that we would train the force driving school instructors and a number of selected traffic officers in advanced driving techniques.
All new police officers attending the driving school to obtain their police permit are given a weeks driving course based on the Police Advanced Driving Manual "Roadcraft".
| Importation of new and used cars into Cyprus | Please read the Disclaimer |
All pages © 2000 to 2008
Cyprus Advanced Driving and Road Safety Network
The Network is a not for profit organization
Back to Top
