Young Driver Traing Program

BGTV8

Well, I am finally back home after a loong day at Sandown International Raceway with my 17-yo nephew who spent the day with me in the Z34 doing some "pre-license" driver training (my birthday rpesent to him).

Commercially run, the course takes young drivers thru a series of classroom and practical exercise on the track to expose them to the "theory" (including some graphic video's) and the practise of speed and consequences. Mainly low-speed work, not a lot above 80-90 kph, but enough to get the car out of shape so that the kids understand what "losing control" is about, and also so they understand what it feels like to trigger the ABS and stablility control.

I understand that driver-ed in the US is a tad more advanced that we have down here, but I have to say that I was very impressed with the simplicity of the messages and the improvement in the kids driving (most were 17 and a half and have 18 months "experience" as learner-drivers - i.e. driving whilst accompanied by a supervising adult who is a fully licensed driver).

I'd imagine that the stats are similary worldwide - 18-25 year-olds run 4 times the risk of death in a motor vehicle accident and 11 times the risk of a non-fatal accident that has a permenant legacy (usually an aquired brain injury).

Certainly makes you think a little ... and for those in Oz, I can highly recommend these types of courses.

RB