No reverse gear
THE driving of South Yorkshire Police's traffic officers should not be so haphazard that it necessitates the installation of parking sensors in patrol cars. Nor should the taxpayer be expected to fund a crash course in advanced driving, the suggestion of David Blunkett, the former Home Secretary and Sheffield MP.
Surely, these police staff should have reached a suitable level of competence behind the wheel before they are allowed out on the road to apprehend ordinary motorists who are breaking the law? Of course, police vehicles are likely to be subjected to above-average wear and tear; that is accepted. High-speed pursuits also bring about their own risks, and repair bills.
Yet there can be no excuse for absent-minded officers, in a non-emergency situation, reversing so poorly that they crash into bollards, lamp posts or other patrol cars. If a member of the public's driving was so unsafe, they would expect to be penalised – or face an increase in insurance premiums. Why, therefore, should the police be treated any differently?