[article] More than 2,000 gardaí driving without adequate training

Bluetonic

More than 2,000 gardaí driving without adequate training
10/02/2006 - 07:47:14

More than 2,000 Gardaí are reportedly driving official vehicles on Ireland's roads without adequate training.

Reports this morning said garda rules required all members of the force to have completed a basic driver training programme before getting behind the wheel of an official car.

However, this can be bypassed with written permission from a chief superintendent, as long as the garda in question holds a full licence.

That system was initially envisaged as a temporary measure, but this morning's reports said Justice Minister Michael McDowell had confirmed that more than 2,000 gardaí were now driving official vehicles under the measure.

The large numbers driving without adequate training is believed to be linked to the fact that the Gardaí can only provide training for 720 officers every year.

Fine Gael TD Jim O'Keefe has expressed concern about the situation, saying it is worrying that large numbers of untrained gardaí could be involved in high-speed pursuits in high-powered cars.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/02/10/story244002.html

Alun

Bluetonic wrote:

Fine Gael TD Jim O'Keefe has expressed concern about the situation, saying it is worrying that large numbers of untrained gardaí could be involved in high-speed pursuits in high-powered cars.

Like Toyota Yaris's for example?

murphaph

Just last night I saw a squad car driven through red lights, at speed, through a blind junction with NO blues and twos on. Fcuking disgraceful display of 'driving'. We're still a joke of a country in many respects.

Keyzer

murphaph wrote:

Just last night I saw a squad car driven through red lights, at speed, through a blind junction with NO blues and twos on. Fcuking disgraceful display of 'driving'. We're still a joke of a country in many respects.

Couldn't agree more...
They were probably en route to buy some donuts...

Turner

Or possibly a burglary in progress, panic attack alarm, robbery in progress, armed incident,
....where using sirens would obviously give the crims time to escape and using blue lights would tip off any get away drivers.

Or else a joyriding incident where joy riders would happily ram a garda car with big identifying blue lights on it.


Just because you are going down to the park to walk your dog or to the shop to stock up on crisps does not mean the law are doing the same.

TBH unless you are in the actual police car and know what call they are responding too you shouldnt say otherwise.

Amount of these anti garda threads popping up are serious.

MT

I too was nearly involved in accident, through no fault of my own, when some idiot in a Garda car pulled out to overtake me on a bend on the brow of a hill in Donegal. Of course s/he met a car coming over the hill in the opposite direction and had to almost drive over my bonet to get out of the way. Madness!

Surely, part of the job spec. for a garda driver should be to set a good example to the general motoring public. Who will respect the rules of the road when even the cops don't?

MrPudding

Chief--- wrote:

Or possibly a burglary in progress, panic attack alarm, robbery in progress, armed incident,
....where using sirens would obviously give the crims time to escape and using blue lights would tip off any get away drivers.

Or else a joyriding incident where joy riders would happily ram a garda car with big identifying blue lights on it.

Sorry, but regardless of what they are going to it is unacceptable to run red lights with no lights or siren.

MrP

murphaph

Chief--- wrote:

Or possibly a burglary in progress, panic attack alarm, robbery in progress, armed incident,
....where using sirens would obviously give the crims time to escape and using blue lights would tip off any get away drivers.

Or else a joyriding incident where joy riders would happily ram a garda car with big identifying blue lights on it.


Just because you are going down to the park to walk your dog or to the shop to stock up on crisps does not mean the law are doing the same.

TBH unless you are in the actual police car and know what call they are responding too you shouldnt say otherwise.

Amount of these anti garda threads popping up are serious.

The blues without twos were switched on after the car had passed through the blind junction. It was just bad and dangerous driving Chief.

_Kaiser_

Chief--- wrote:

Amount of these anti garda threads popping up are serious.

I better not say anything so.. but believe me if I did you'd be anti-gardai too!