Back in the day, all of us who qualified as Police class 1 drivers had to undertake skid pan training as part of their qualification. This included a non skid timed element and then a free skid where you were required to show off your car control with some fancy skid moves but under control.
Apart from being a lot of fun, it was obviously a fantastic learning tool which has stayed with us all for the rest of our lives. It was far better than the skid frames they use now as it the original pans were water on oil with bald tyres so you got a proper feel as if you were on ice.
Anyway, long story short, many years later, I developed a free skid pan for the public to sample using a product called Sure skid which was developed by Total oils.
It was a substance that went down on a concrete surface and provided perfect skid conditions (local authorities usually came up with the site) and then a couple of old bangers on bald tyres we would give demo drives and talk them through the dynamics and the mechanicals and then give them a chance to have a go themselves.
Beauty was at the end of the event, the product could be hosed off and it caused no environmental harm or damage what so ever and it was cheap, so it was a fantastic learning aid.
Long after we had finished running these events we were asked if we would be doing anymore as it was a good PR for us as we would have a couple of patrol cars and bikes on display for the public to have a browse around, Fire and Ambulance service also attended with the pan being the central main event. It was a lot of fun.
Shortly after I retired I tried to set up a similar event, but Total had discontinued the product which was a great shame.
But, the point I was going to make, is that I have always felt that skid control training should be mandatory, but the downside is that the cost and availability of a suitable site would be problematic and unworkable.
