Beyond basic vehicle handling, commentary driving is the most important skill a driver must master to evolve into a highly capable emergency response operator.
Not speed.
Not braking technique.
Not even pursuit tactics.
Commentary driving.
Early in my instructing career, I noticed something consistent.
Drivers who looked smooth and controlled at moderate speed would begin to fall apart as complexity increased. Their steering was fine. Their braking was acceptable. But their situational awareness started to narrow.
The first indicator?
Their commentary faded.
Gaps appeared.
Observations became vague.
Then silence.
That silence wasn’t a speaking problem — it was cognitive overload.
Commentary driving forces the driver to actively scan, prioritize, and verbalize threats. It keeps the eyes moving, reduces tunnel vision, and conditions the mind to stay engaged even as workload increases.
In simple terms: if they can say it, they’re likely seeing it.
Starting at the Right Speed
Commentary must begin at low or normal traffic speeds. For many drivers, simply talking through their drive is uncomfortable at first. That’s normal.
The basic structure starts with three looks forward and one look rear:
Left, right, straight — rear (preferred)
orLeft, centre, right — rear
A typical commentary might sound like:
“No vehicles approaching from the left… pickup edging toward the crosswalk on the right… next two lights green with clear sightline… one vehicle following at distance behind.”
Then repeat.
Done properly, the cycle should take roughly five to eight seconds — familiar territory for anyone who follows the Smith System.
Early sessions should be limited to about ten minutes. This is a mental exercise, and fatigue sets in quickly. Debrief afterward, reinforce observations, and gradually build duration.
Once drivers become comfortable, complexity can increase:
Attention-switching exercises
Denser traffic environments
Higher speeds
Avoiding “Perfunctory Commentary”
One of the biggest pitfalls is commentary becoming robotic.
If drivers begin repeating generic statements without identifying real threats, the value disappears. This is not a narrative — it’s a threat detection exercise.
As speed and complexity increase, commentary should shift from simple observation to anticipation and planning:
“…vehicle edging from driveway — covering brake…”
“…pedestrian near curb — adjusting position…”
Eventually, during emergency response, the driver stops verbalizing every action because they are already executing them.
That’s when you know the habit has taken hold.
It’s also music to an instructor’s ears — and very calming for a Field Training Officer.
Adapting for Non-Native English Speakers
I’ve worked with many drivers whose first language wasn’t English. Initially, they struggled with commentary because too much cognitive effort went into finding the right words.
The solution was simple: let them conduct commentary in their preferred language.
As complexity increased, their performance improved immediately. The goal isn’t perfect language — it’s active scanning and threat recognition.
I’ve heard commentary in French, Portuguese, Punjabi, and others. The language doesn’t matter. The scanning does.
Commentary as a Diagnostic Tool
For instructors and coach officers, commentary is one of the best indicators of cognitive overload.
As speeds increase, one of two things fades first:
The driver stops speaking
The driver stops moving their eyes
Either way, it signals saturation.
When commentary breaks down in training, slow things down or stop and reset. In the field, it may be time for the coach to switch seats.
Ignoring that signal is where risk increases.
Instructor Takeaway:
Introduce commentary at low speed and build gradually
Use commentary to diagnose cognitive overload
Ensure observations remain specific and threat-focused
If you never read another one of my newsletters, take this:
Commentary driving is the most important and foundational component of emergency vehicle operation.
Master it, and everything else improves — awareness, decision-making, and control under pressure.
It’s also one of the core skills required for surveillance work, where continuous scanning and anticipation are essential.
Where do you introduce commentary in your training — early, or after basic vehicle control is established?
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Hugh Anderson EVOC Trainer | Author of Emergency Vehicle Operation Instruction: 5 Steps to Enhancing Your EVOC Training Grab the book on Amazon
