Beyond Driving returns to Humberside Police for another double delivery day of professional off-road vehicle training

Beyond Driving has been back with Humberside Police near Hull, delivering another Lantra UTV operator training course – and another double delivery day for the Beyond Driving instructor team.

It was particularly good to see some familiar faces among the delegates, having previously worked with members of the team during winch operator training earlier in the year.

For police officers and other emergency service personnel who may need to use specialist vehicles away from conventional roads, familiarity with a UTV is only part of the requirement. Operators need to understand how the vehicle behaves, where its limitations lie and how to make safe decisions when the terrain becomes more demanding.

That is exactly what practical, professionally delivered UTV training is designed to develop.

Practical UTV training for police operations

Utility Terrain Vehicles – or UTVs – provide a combination of off-road mobility, load-carrying capacity and compact dimensions that makes them useful for organisations working beyond the normal road network.

Beyond Driving already works extensively with the emergency services, and its Lantra-assured Sit-In ATV/UTV course is designed to develop safe vehicle operation across a variety of terrain.  

The latest training with Humberside Police combined classroom instruction with practical vehicle operation.

As the photographs from the day show, candidates began with structured instruction covering the principles behind safe UTV use before moving outside to work directly with the vehicles.

The practical element is particularly important. Although the controls of a side-by-side UTV can appear familiar to anyone accustomed to driving a conventional vehicle, its dimensions, weight distribution, ground clearance, traction and stability characteristics mean it needs to be driven differently.

Learning what a UTV can – and cannot – do

A key part of professional UTV operator training is understanding the capabilities and limitations of the machine.

Beyond Driving’s training covers areas including vehicle familiarisation and pre-use checks, steering and throttle control, ascents and descents, side slopes, uneven or loose surfaces, route selection and the effects of carrying loads or towing.  

For an operational user, this isn’t simply about successfully negotiating an obstacle. The objective is to develop the judgement to assess the terrain before committing the vehicle to it.

That includes considering gradients, surface conditions, available traction, obstacles, escape routes and how a change in load can affect vehicle behaviour.

Practical exercises give delegates an opportunity to experience these factors in a controlled training environment, supported by an instructor who can explain why a particular approach or technique should be used.

UTVs, trailers and operational equipment

The images from the Humberside Police training also demonstrate another important aspect of UTV operations: these vehicles rarely work in isolation.

UTVs may need to be transported to an operational area on a trailer and can themselves be used for carrying people and equipment or, where appropriate, towing.

One of the vehicles used during the training can be seen secured to a twin-axle plant trailer, while another multi-seat UTV provides a good illustration of the versatility these machines can offer operational teams.

Loads and towing can alter stability, braking and handling characteristics, which is why Beyond Driving’s UTV programme addresses manufacturer limits and the effects that additional loads can have on vehicle behaviour.  

Building capability through complementary training

Returning to work with delegates who have previously completed winch training with Beyond Driving is significant because it demonstrates how specialist vehicle skills can form part of a broader programme of operational competence.

UTV operation and winching are separate disciplines, each requiring appropriate training. But personnel working in difficult or restricted terrain may encounter situations where several specialist skills become relevant.

Beyond Driving’s winch training, for example, addresses equipment checks, risk assessment, rigging, stabilisation, personnel safety and controlled recovery techniques.  

Combined with appropriate UTV operator training, organisations can develop teams with a broader understanding of how to operate specialist vehicles safely and how to respond when conditions become more challenging.

Find out more about Beyond Driving’s Winch Operation Training

Why professional UTV operator training matters

A UTV is designed to tackle conditions that an ordinary road vehicle cannot. That capability should not be confused with invulnerability.

Slopes, cambers, loose surfaces, ruts and sudden changes in terrain can all affect vehicle stability. Speed, steering input and load distribution can compound those risks.

Beyond Driving therefore places the emphasis on controlled, deliberate vehicle operation rather than simply demonstrating what the vehicle is capable of doing.

The aim is to give operators the knowledge and practical experience required to make sound decisions when they subsequently use the vehicle in their working environment.

For employers, formal training also helps demonstrate operator competence and supports responsibilities relating to work equipment and workplace safety. Beyond Driving’s UTV training specifically addresses these requirements, including PUWER considerations.  

Lantra UTV training for emergency services across the UK

The latest course near Hull continues Beyond Driving’s work delivering specialist off-road training to police, ambulance and other emergency service teams.

Training can be structured around the vehicles, equipment and operating requirements of the organisation, helping make the skills learned directly relevant to the work delegates will subsequently undertake. Beyond Driving can also deliver training at suitable client locations or dedicated off-road training facilities.  

Another productive day with Humberside Police – and particularly good to welcome back delegates we had previously trained in winch operation.

If your police force, emergency service or organisation operates UTVs as part of its work, talk to Beyond Driving about Lantra UTV operator training delivered around your operational requirements.
https://www.beyonddriving.co.uk/off-road-driving-courses/atv-utv-operation/