The SAS Survival Driver’s Handbook

Copyright

HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street,

London SE1 9GF

This paperback edition 1998

First published as The SAS Driver’s Survival Handbook by HarperCollinsPublishers 1997

Copyright © John Wiseman 1997

John Wiseman asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

The SAS is famous for its daring exploits, on land, sea, and in the air. Raiding Pebble Island, storming the Iranian Embassy, and forays into enemy territory in the Gulf War, are just a few of their success stories. Getting into action quickly is paramount, and most people are familiar with their parachuting capability. What is not generally known is that the Regiment also uses many types of land vehicle to strike swiftly anywhere in the world, often under the worse conditions imaginable.

As well as driving in Arctic wastes, and negotiating the searing heat of the desert, the Regiment uses special driving skills for immediate response to any terrorist threat. This book is based on these skills, learnt over the course of many years spent perfecting these techniques in training and operations.

HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication.

Source ISBN 9780002558327

Ebook Edition © SEPTEMBER 2018 ISBN: 9780007509683

Version: 2018-10-01

Dedication

I dedicate this book to

MARILYN

WHO IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND ME

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Foreword

1

ESSENTIALS

RULES AND REGULATIONS

FIT TO DRIVE

Disabled drivers

SELECTING A CAR

Size

Economy

Performance

New or secondhand?

Where to buy

Inspecting a used car

Test drive

Documentation checks

LEGAL PAPERWORK

Registration Documents

Road tax

Insurance

SURVIVAL KITS

2

SAFE DRIVING

SAFE CAR

Accident prevention:

Mirrors

Lights

Horn

Anti-lock brakes

Stability

Four-wheel drive

Crash protection:

Seat belts

Child restraints

Airbags

Steering wheels and columns

Head restraints

Side-impact bars

Bull bars

Load restraints

SAFE DRIVER

Alertness:

Alcohol

Drugs

Medical conditions

Stress

Fatigue

Distractions

Awareness

Attitude:

Road rage

Speeding

Tailgating

Anticipation

SURVIVAL KITS

SAFETY CHECKS

SAFETY IN THE GARAGE

3

VEHICLE SECURITY

CAR CRIME

ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

Alarms

Immobilizers

Tracking/recovery systems

Mechanical devices

Locks

DETERRENTS

Etching

Vehicle watch

BASIC PRECAUTIONS

PARKING

VANDALIZED!

STOLEN!

SECURITY CHECKLIST

4

BAD-WEATHER DRIVING

ADVERSE CONDITIONS

Be prepared!

See and be seen

FOG

NIGHT

BRIGHT SUNSHINE

VEHICLE HANDLING

SKIDDING

Why skids occur

Skid prevention

Correcting skids

Skid pans

SNOW AND ICE

Preparing for winter

Winter motoring survival kit

Stuck in snow

Stranded!

RAIN

Driving in rain

Aquaplaning

FLOODS

Driving through flood water

HIGH WINDS

Coping with crosswinds

Rules for bad-weather driving

5

MAINTENANCE

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

Vehicle components

Service intervals

FIRST PARADE

WEEKLY SERVICE

Tool kit

Garage hazards

Exterior checks

Engine compartment checks

Winter maintenance

KEEPING IT CLEAN

Automatic car washes

Manual car wash

Chips and scratches

Waxing

Rust prevention

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE

Choosing a garage

DIY servicing

Preparing for the MOT

FAULT FINDING

Diagnosing faults

6

EMERGENCY!

BREAKDOWNS

Vital equipment

Action plan

Parking in a safe place

Motorway breakdowns

ROADSIDE REPAIRS

Fuel system

Overheating

Low oil pressure

Punctures

Changing a wheel

EMERGENCY STARTING

Jump leads

Push start

Towing

EMERGENCY!

Brake failure

Jammed accelerator

Windscreen shattering

Fire

Submerged in water

Stuck on a level crossing

ACCIDENTS

FIRST AID

INSURANCE CLAIMS

7

PERSONAL SECURITY

REDUCING THE RISKS

Basic precautions

Security on the move

UNDER ATTACK

Road rage

Hitch hikers

Being followed

Forced to stop

Joy riders

Caught in a crowd

BREAKDOWNS AND ACCIDENTS

Being a good Samaritan

BE STREETWISE

Using reasonable force

Offensive weapons

8

DEFENSIVE DRIVING

MOTORING DRILL

HAZARD RECOGNITION

Visual skills

Mirrors

Signalling

Risk evaluation

Anticipation

A driving plan

COURSE

SPEED

STEERING

GEAR CHANGING

DEALING WITH HAZARDS

Cornering

Overtaking

COMMON ACCIDENT SCENARIOS

Reversing

Parked cars

Cyclists

Pedestrians

Junctions

Roundabouts

Avoiding a head-on collision

9

EVASIVE DRIVING

TARGET SELECTION

COUNTERING THE THREAT

High security

A top security vehicle

Searching the vehicle

SURVEILLANCE & COUNTER-SURVEILLANCE

RISK LIMITATION

Securing the route

UNDER FIRE

Attack recognition

Countering surprise

Vehicle escort drills

Breakdowns

AMBUSHED!

Evasive manoeuvres:

Two-point turn

J-turn

U-turn

Handbrake turn

ESCAPE ROUTES

TAKEN HOSTAGE

10

LONG JOURNEYS

MOTORWAY DRIVING

HOLIDAY TRAVEL

Sunburn and heat exhaustion

Motion sickness

LOADING THE CAR

The luggage compartment

Roof racks

Loading a roof rack

Roof boxes

CARAVANS AND TRAILERS

The towing vehicle

Weight limits

Loading the caravan

Caravan safety tips

Hitching up

Unhitching

TOWING TECHNIQUES

Changing direction

Overtaking

Reversing

Snaking

TRAVELLING ABROAD

Red tape

Planning your trip

Essential accessories

Hire cars

Ferries

DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE

11

OFF-ROAD DRIVING

BECOMING AN OFF-ROADER

KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

Transmission systems

Locking hubs

Ground clearance

DRIVING A 4WD

ROUGH TERRAIN

Mud

Driving in wheel tracks

Fording deep water

Dust and sand

Subkah

Steep hills

Pinnacles

Tobogganing

Rocky ground

RECOVERY

Towing

Winching

EXPEDITIONS

Supplies and equipment

12

READING THE SIGNS

PLANNING YOUR JOURNEY

Maps

Motorway travel

Route cards

Lost!

Route planners

Navigating

READING THE ROAD

Road markings

TRAFFIC SIGNS

Junctions

Road layout

Priority signs

Speed restrictions

Hazards

Level crossings

LOOKING FOR CLUES

Accessible Table

Acknowledgements

Other Books By

About the Publisher

Foreword

Almost every family owns a car. In fact, it is not uncommon to find several vehicles per household, which means that every year more cars are introduced on to our congested roads, adding to the dangers and frustrations of motoring. The sheer volume of traffic results in gridlock and long delays. Drivers become impatient, and sometimes reckless, as they try to beat the jam and get to their destination on time. The result is that accidents that need never happen claim lives on a daily basis.

Motoring must be safe, and with a little forethought and common sense it can be. You don’t need to be an expert mechanic to maintain your car in prime condition, and anyone who has passed the driving test has the capability to master the advanced skills required for defensive driving. The aim of this book is to teach safe, easy-to-learn techniques and instil the confidence you need to be able to drive anywhere safely.

If you need an incentive to learn, think about the thousands of people who are killed or maimed in road traffic accidents every year. The majority of victims will claim that their accident was someone else’s fault. They may even be right — but that’s no consolation when lives have been lost or ruined.

You have it in your power to prevent yourself becoming a victim. In the chapters that follow, I will take you through the dangers that face the modern motorist and teach you the safest strategies for dealing with them. Between us we will make the roads a safer place and bring the enjoyment back into motoring.

John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman

Hereford 1997

WARNING

Great care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate at the time of going to press. No responsibility can be accepted by the publishers or the author for any prosecutions or proceedings brought or instituted against any person or body, or any loss or damage, caused by reliance upon the accuracy of the information. When using electrical, or other motor vehicle equipment, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The terms and conditions of the manufacturer’s, or dealer’s, warranty must be regarded as paramount.

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