New high-speed driving training regulations for blue light users are nigh

It’s been on the cards for years, but late 2023 is when the new regulations for “training courses for driving vehicles at high speed” are likely to be enacted in the UK. These legal changes will have far-reaching effects on all blue light users entitled to exceed the speed limit.

For the driving of cars and emergency ambulances at high speed, forthcoming legislation is likely to require initial courses consisting of a minimum of 120 hours. New drivers of “class 4” emergency vehicles, such as fire appliances, will need to pass an initial emergency driving course of at least 80 hours. Drivers trained to drive at high speed before the new regulations come into force will enjoy grandfather rights, provided that their “old course” had been approved by their organisation’s chief officer.

Ambulance, police and fire authority staff who are already qualified to drive a particular class of vehicle in excess of the speed limit, but who need to drive as part of their employment another class of vehicle at high speed, will be required to complete a “crossover speed training course.” Whilst the new regulations likely won’t require another full, initial course, the crossover training requirements outlined in the table below will necessitate further driver training.

Other forthcoming legislation – The Road Traffic (Exemptions from Speed Limits) Regulations 2020 – is likely to result in specific exemptions for additional organisations if observance of the speed limit would hinder their use of a vehicle for a specific purpose. The UK’s intelligence services, for example, are specifically mentioned in the prospective legislation. HM Revenue and Customs will likely gain an exemption from the speed limit when discharging their investigatory functions, including surveillance in connection with the prevention or detection of offences. Regarding The Driving College’s training of high-speed driving instructors, the regulations will exempt us from the speed limit for “instructor training purposes”.

Changes are afoot. If your organisation requires guidance and training to help your staff or volunteers to drive safely at high speed, contact us and we’ll help you to tread a careful path.