New driving safety training
courses from Mercedes-Benz and AMG: Helping to ensure a safe, confident and
enjoyable driving experience
Mercedes-Benz is starting the
2012/2013 season with a new wide-ranging programme of driving safety training
events designed to appeal to all types of drivers. Courses for young people,
beginners, advanced and even expert drivers are being offered at 14 locations
throughout Germany using vehicles generally provided by Mercedes-Benz – whether
saloons, coupés, roadsters or off-road vehicles. The goal of the events is to
help drivers to handle their vehicles in a safer and more confident manner,
even in emergency situations – and of course to ensure that they enjoy the experience
of driving.
One fact confirmed by the
accident statistics is that Mercedes drivers are involved in fewer accidents
than drivers of cars made by other manufacturers. And this is an area in which
the diverse range of driving safety training events offered by Mercedes-Benz
can make a contribution. It is all part of the comprehensive safety philosophy
of the brand with the star – which in addition comprises accident research and
the development of trend-setting assistance and safety systems based on this research
and which other automotive brands have also adopted.
Taking place at 14 on and
off-road locations throughout Germany, the driving safety training events
enable participants to learn how to be more aware of typical danger situations
and to practise appropriate responses. By providing courses almost nationwide
and at reasonable prices – the half-day basic compact training event for 18 to
25-year olds, for example, costs just 95 euros – Mercedes-Benz is aiming at as
many car drivers as possible. Ultimately all road users are able to benefit
from the confident car control practiced during the training, not just Mercedes
drivers. Any accident is one accident too many.
The target group for the various
courses is correspondingly diverse, ranging from learner drivers to experienced
professionals, and from sales training to events for professional drivers and
chauffeurs. The sole requirement is that the driver must hold a class 3/class B
driver's licence.
According to Wolfgang Müller,
Chief Instructor for Mercedes-Benz Driving Events: "We offer training
events to meet a variety of different interests, so for example not only
classic driving safety training sessions which can be aimed specifically at
young drivers who are still a bit inexperienced, but also pure sports driving
training events for highly motivated drivers." The sports driving training
sessions are not just geared towards fun but also towards driving safety.
Anyone who is able to control a vehicle at its limits is more composed and
considered in situations of danger. Another highlight is that the participants
take part in the training using vehicles provided by Mercedes-Benz. This
enables exercises to be incorporated which are considerably more dynamic. In
addition, the instructors also have the opportunity to demonstrate how
effective modern assistance systems can be – as a safety pioneer, Mercedes-Benz
provides technologies in this area which are simply not available, or not yet
available, in other vehicles. Almost the entire Mercedes-Benz model range is
available for the training events.
In addition to extensive driving
skills and experience, all of the instructors have the distinct ability to
convey the various interconnected driving physics principles in such an
easy-to-understand manner that the participants are able to apply them in
practice in their everyday driving.
There are on and off-road events
designed to take place both in the summer and the winter. The most important
events include:
- Basic compact training: on this half-day course, participants find out how an accident can be prevented effectively. Exercises include full brake application combined with an evasive manoeuvre, and a slalom course. Compact training is also available as a reasonably-priced special training event for 18 to 25-year-olds.
- Basic training: as part of this one-day event, the participants learn how dangerous situations can be dealt with safely and confidently with support from active control systems. The demanding programme of lessons includes taking evasive action without braking from 80 km/h, emergency braking and correcting skidding vehicles.
- Advanced training: this extension course provides additional solutions for dealing with hazardous situations at higher speeds – such as emergency braking at 100 km/h or controlling a rear-end skid on a wet bend.
- Enhanced training: here exercises are conducted at high speeds. For example, participants learn how to keep their vehicle under control during an emergency lane change manoeuvre at motorway speeds of 130 km/h. In addition, challenging drift exercises on famous race tracks are also on the agenda.
- Sports training: with this new training event, racing enthusiasts enjoy the unique opportunity to experience driving from the perspective of a racing driver. For example, they learn how to find the ideal line and optimum braking point.
- Eco training: during this half-day event, attendees take part in simple practical and theoretical exercises to learn how to reduce fuel consumption by handling their car more efficiently. On average, those who complete the eco training course subsequently use 15 percent less fuel.
- Professional basic training: this event enables professional drivers to enhance their driving skills. For example, the programme includes performing an evasive manoeuvre at 100 km/h in a predefined direction through a set of traffic lights, emergency braking scenarios and correcting a tail-skidding vehicle at motorway speed, for example. Driving practice is complemented by theoretical exercises tailored to the specific profession with trainers who also instruct police taskforces.
- Mercedes-Benz Fascination Tour: this is a new addition to the range of Mercedes-Benz driving events. This one-day driving experience in vehicles provided by Mercedes-Benz features highlights focusing on the history and present status of the brand in Stuttgart and the surrounding area.
- Mercedes-Benz Fascination Experience: this event immerses participants in the world of Mercedes-Benz for two full days. A visit to the wind tunnel and test track at the plant in Untertürkheim is followed by a voyage of discovery around the Mercedes-Benz Museum and an evening meal together. On the second day, it is on to the training circuit with the opportunity to put the current model range through its paces in slaloming, braking and evasive manoeuvres.
- Off-road events: at a variety of off-road driving training events participants are able to discover what an off-road vehicle is capable of and how to keep such a vehicle under control both on and off the road. In addition to basic training, additional stages are available such as advanced training, enhanced training and extreme training. New additions include a range of winter off-road training events. In the spacious stone quarry outside Kitzbühel, participants are able to get to grips with difficult terrain at half or full-day training events using G, GL, GLK and M-Class vehicles.
- Travel Experience: discovering the world with Mercedes – this is what the participants in the Travel Experience event can expect to enjoy. There are trips to Abu Dhabi, for example, with its endless dune-covered landscape and perfect sandy beaches offering relaxation. Other trips of a lifetime include experiencing Spain from a different perspective or enjoying an off-road adventure in the wintry Arctic Circle. A particular highlight is the "Journey to the Roof of the World": lasting some 47 days, it takes participants from Lodz in Poland all the way to India, travelling via Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.
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