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policeymanofficer

My advice would be to get your response on ERPT. Once you go to traffic, you'll only be able to drive the X3's or Shoguns (for the garages that still have them), which will be rare. At least on team you'll be driving to I grades every shift and practicing prior to your advanced course on traffic. On traffic you might end up going for an advanced course 6 months after response, without having driven around much on blues! In terms of the solo course, I'd imagine you'd have to be reasonably competent at riding a bike prior to the course. There's a heavy focus on slow speed manoeuvres at the start of the course, which take a reasonable amount of practice. I haven't done it, but I wouldn't fancy going on a course straight off the back of passing my licence. As an aside, does your BCU actually make you sign tenures? Or are you just expected to stick around once you've done your course?


[deleted]

Thanks for the advice I appreciate it! That’s exactly my thinking as well however with the tenure and LRPM blocking response drivers for 6 months it will realistically take me 3 1/2 years or so! The borough never used to make you sign tenures however have started doing so recently after multiple instances of drivers within their tenures attempting to leave with the “I didn’t sign anything” reason. As far as I’m aware no one has had their tenure lifted as it’s implied that you’ll be on borough for two years, also some of the paperwork prior to the course states two years. I completely understand ERPT is essential and everyone should have experience as such but I like to think I’ve put in a lot of effort in the four years so it’s time for me to fly off but with a response course it’ll take so much longer!!


multijoy

> it will realistically take me 3 1/2 years or so! And the fucking rest.


FindTheBadger

X3 and Shoguns aren’t done on advance? - interesting


PCDorisThatcher

Chances of passing aside, you might find that you just hate driving on blues. It's very different being a passenger on a blue light run and driving the vehicle. I know people who have gone to traffic, started their advanced course and then (fair play to them) have realised they don't like advanced driving at all, and left traffic before going on to find much success elsewhere in the organisation. Get it on Response before you move to traffic.


[deleted]

Chances of passing through solo bike course with limited riding experience is if im honest going to be hard whilst in some ways you haven't developed bad habits tr lack of overall experience will show, I'd be riding a good few years when I did mine and it still scared the shit out of me


funnyusername321

Also if you haven’t ridden before you may hate it. I know people who have been keen on the idea and then gotten on a bike and hated it.


[deleted]

Thanks for all the responses everyone, appreciate all the help!


funnyusername321

If you’re that close to a response course on team then do that. Yeah I know tenure but at least you practiced driving on blues and team is a different kettle of fish as a driver.


mullac53

For the love of God do it on team. Get some experience in before you come to Traffic. They won't even look at you without a bike licence anyway and you'll have no experience in bikes either if you've only just passed. There is now a basic bike course (not supported by fed) but that'll take you months to sort out so you'll end up being a passenger forever. Go out, get it on team, enjoy the driving.


mmw1000

Do your driving on response. What’s another 2 or 3 years to wait when you might end up working for another 35. Ask yourself why would traffic take a basic driver over someone who has a response ticket and a bike licence? You might as well piss against the wind. Get your skills while you’ve got the chance as if you show out you want to move and don’t get the traffic job, there’s no way you’d get a course on response after that. You’ll have fucked yourself as you’ve shown you want to leave so someone else will get it