IN 1934, Leslie Hore-Belisha became the Minister of Transport. He successfully reduced the number of road accidents by introducing Belisha beacons at pedestrian crossings, a new highway code and driving tests for motorists.

He also realised that the police were enforcing road traffic laws and yet were no better at driving than the general public, so he set up police driving schools all over the country.

Lancashire Constabulary became one of the country's leaders in Police Driver Training and over a period of about 60 years gained vast knowledge by dealing with every conceivable road and traffic situation that motorists would ever encounter. British Police 'Class One' drivers were the most highly trained drivers in the world and "British Police Trained" was a description that immediately commanded great respect.

Police forces from all over the world came to the UK to learn. That included the Australian Police from whom we now, as a sign of the times, take example from in relation to the grossly exploitive and ineffective speed camera policy.

However, in 1989, at the commencement of a "politically correct society," it was decided that these police driving high standards were "elitist." The "Class One" description was replaced with "Police Advanced" and stadnards began to decline. In the old "Class One" days it wasn't uncommon for 50 per cent to fail a police driving course. Now, in some areas, everyone passes. Standards are much lower.

Over the past few years I have lost count of the number of police officers driving vehicles, during their everyday duties who aren't wearing seat belts; only one hand on the steering wheel in order to use a mobile telephone or personal radio; parking their vehicle on the footpath or within the zig-zag lines on the approach to a pedestrian crossing. In my day as a Lancashire Police Driving Instructor these would have resulted in the officer having their police vehicle driving permit taken off them.

Police should not be seen to be closely affiliated to the political monster called Lancashire County Council -- for whom the police should work "with" and not "for" -- hence my criticism of the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership (Police and Council).

The sooner the Lancashire Police (in relation to road safety) get back to the old way of standards and discipline, the better. There's a lot of experience waiting to be utilised by way of former officers who are only too willing to assist. In years to come, all this experience will no longer be available and it will be a sad loss, never to be replaced.

ADRIAN SHURMER, Lyndon Avenue, Great Harwood.