John Wiseman - The SAS Survival Driver’s Handbook

Copyright

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street,

London SE1 9GF

This paperback edition 1998

First published as The SAS Driver’s Survival Handbook by HarperCollins Publishers 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