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Whether you’re a seasoned motorist or new driver just starting out, there’s always room for improvement. An advanced driving course will help hone your driving skills which are important for your own safety and other road users.
As long as you hold a valid driver’s licence, you can choose from a number of driving courses on offer across South Africa. There are various types of advanced driving courses (such as 4x4 skills and hi-jack prevention) – here, we specifically deal with general advanced driving in the form of vehicle control and defensive driving.
Driver self-confidence
An advanced driving course instils confidence you never thought you needed as you learn to handle things in a more knowledgable and controlled manner.
A typical course begins with assessing your current driving skills and attitude on the road. Training involves both theoretical and practical training and may include:
- Vehicle dynamics and safety features
- The importance of tyres in road safety
- Driver attitude
- Distracted and impaired driving
- Driving fuel efficiency
- Hazard recognition
- Space and speed management
- Advanced driving techniques such as:
- emergency braking at high speed
- lane changing in both wet and dry surfaces
- steering control
- crash avoidance
- aquaplaning
- skid control
- defensive driving
Since each training school has their own format and offering, it’s best to decide what you want out of a course and find the one best suited to you.
Read: Are your driving habits making you a risk on the road?
Improved fuel efficiency
Your driving style and proper understanding of your car can have a huge influence on fuel consumption. Advanced driving instils fuel-efficient habits such as:
- Minimising harsh and rapid acceleration, maintaining smooth driving habits and efficient use of gears.
- Avoiding prolonged idling by switching off the engine if you expect to be sitting for a while, and restarting only when you need to move off.
- Anticipating stops or situations ahead and slowing down ahead of time instead of abruptly.
Read: Fuel saving tips
Lower crash rates
Utimately, advanced driving courses aim to make drivers more alert and competent. As a result, besides the cost savings on fuel, according to driving.co.za, their training have shown proven results in fewer crash rates, and less severe crashes when they do happen. This shows a huge safety advantage to you as a driver, as well as to South Africa as a whole, where R200 million was spent in one year compensating people involved in road accidents.
Read: Most Road Accidents Be Prevented - fact or fallacy?
Reduced insurance premiums
Once you’ve completed and passed the course, you’ll be issued with an advance driving course certificate. As long as you choose a reputable company, this certificate will be recognised by most major car insurancers – present this to your insurance company and let them re-evaluate your profile. Discount rates on premiums, if granted, will vary and might even be slight. However, remember that the main purpose of completing the course is your safety!
Read:Why is Car Insurance for Young Drivers Higher?
Popular Advanced Driving Schools in South Africa
Whichever training school and course you choose, make sure you choose a reputable driving school with qualified accredited instructors.
- Adrenalin Specialised Driving
- AMG Driving Academy
- BMW Driving Experience
- Ford Driving Skills for Life
- Toyota Advanced Driving Courses
- VW Driving Academy
Advanced driver training courses are well worth the time and money. While reducing your levels of stress on the road, it will go a long way to saving fuel, and most importantly, promote better road safety.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational, or entertainment purposes only. It must not be construed as advice, legal, financial, or otherwise. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. The views expressed in this article are the views of the author and not necessarily the views of Supa Quick.
