Nowra High School students experience Safe Driving Techniques at Marulan Driver Training

SKYDS (Skilled or Killed Young Drivers Safety) is a safe-driver education program delivered to local school students in grades 10 -12 in the Shoalhaven.

The program provides valuable driver education and allows students the opportunity to gain hands-on advanced driving skills.

The SKYDS program was nominated for an Australian Road Safety Award in both the School Programs and Local Government Initiative categories.

Shoalhaven City Council Road Safety Officer, Kathy Wiseham said “Council currently has three separate SKYDS programs which target Year 10 pre drivers, Year 11 drivers who have just attained their L plates and SKYDS Beyond which focuses on P Plate drivers.”

SKYDS Beyond provides P Plate students an opportunity to learn a host of safe driving techniques while experiencing and advanced driver training session at Marulan Driver Training Centre.

“Offered over three years, the SKYDS course allows students to revisit previous road safety messages and can be a timely reminder of the consequences of their actions the older they get.”

Shoalhaven City Council also provide free advanced driver training for local residents aged between 17-25 years of age.

The courses are being held as part of the ongoing Skilled or Killed Young Drivers Safety Drivers (SKYDS) program funded by the IMB Community Foundation.

The advanced driver training provides participants with hands on driving experience through a number of different scenarios including sudden braking, swerving, skidding and lane changing activities at Marulan Driver Training Centre.

Shoalhaven City Council Mayor, Paul Green said the SKYDS program provided the area’s younger drivers with invaluable experience in dealing with a number of different potentially threatening situations.

“Young drivers in the 17-25 years age bracket are over-represented in serious crash statistics,” said Clr Green.

“The SKYDS program is a fantastic community initiative designed to better educate these drivers about the vital importance of road safety.  Presenting young drivers with hands on driving experience through a number of different training scenarios, the SKYDS program provides participants with confidence behind the wheel while also educating them to the dangers of negligent driving”.

Sanctuary Point Community Bank – Defensive Driver Training Course

On Saturday the 30th July, eighteen local P platers attended a defensive driving course in Marulan. The costs of the course, food and transport were entirely subsided by the Bendigo Bank Sanctuary Point as a community project. At 7:30am we met outside of the bank, and boarded the bus provided by Serco Sedexo.

Upon arrival, we were introduced to the instructors and mentors of the day who led us to our seats. The beginning of the course featured lessons about the influence of drugs, alcohol and peer pressure in influencing our ability to make decisions, maintain balance and coordination and react safely to hazards. Following this, we were taught about the variety of different ‘skids’, of which we would be attempting during the afternoon, and how to respond to them. We were also taught about the physical forces that created these ‘skids’, such as speed or braking, and how best to avoid them.

Following the verbal tutorial, we were provided with lunch and drinks and access to the canteen. After that, we walked towards the end of the course and positioned ourselves on a hill slope where we could safely watch the instructors and later the participants manoeuvre the car through the course. Taking turns, with the instructors in the passenger seats, we attempted three ‘skids’, the ‘four wheel skid’, ‘front wheel skid’ and the ‘rear wheel skid’.

Despite being in a learning environment, the defensive driving course was incredibly FUN! Everybody got along, teasing and praising each other on their ability to drive. The manoeuvres were exciting and the adrenalin rush that came with almost losing control, but having the ability to regain power over the car was fantastic.

I myself, and I am sure that the other participants would agree, had an amazing time and are so thankful to the Bendigo Bank for providing the opportunity to do something we would have otherwise never experienced. I feel so much more confident on the roads, and assured of my abilities to come out safely from hazardous driving situations. Living out in the country, where the closest defensive driving course is over two hours away, I would urge everybody on their P’s to take advantage of the prospect of participating in an incredible course, with fantastic mentors, completely free of charge.

Had I known in advance, how this course would boost my confidence, make me feel safer in the car for myself and my passengers and how much I would enjoy the day, I would have happily paid for it. If you are, or know a P plater who would be interested, get involved with this project next year – it was fantastic!

Pamela Barling
School Captain
Vincentia High School

Driver Training Day - Boral Cement

I would like to thank you for the excellent day of training which the Boral Cement team received yesterday. Having previously attended two driver training sessions run by other organisations, I can clearly say that the day at Marulan Driver Training Centre was the best I have experienced. You certainly have a great facility, with an interesting and well laid out track, and great facilities.

Our instructor Jason was excellent in both the theory and practical sessions of the course. He kept us interested and motivated all day, and was able to explain things in a clear and understandable way.

Thanks once again for creating such an informative, practical and enjoyable day.

Regards,
Mike Boadle - Engineering Services Manager

NSW BMW Drivers Club driver training day Sunday 18 April 2010

I spent the day today at Marulan Driver Training Centre with the BMW Drivers Club NSW and had a fantastic time. I have been doing club sprinting the last 2 years and recently drove at Mt Panorama with the Festival of Sporting Cars Easter event. I found the track has honed my driving skills. The track is well designed. It is not a fast track, speeds from 60 - 100kph, and this makes it ideal to hone car control skills. I noticed that on the drive back to the Blue Moutains that I was paying more attention to the traffic and road conditions and therefore driving more safely. My car control is smoother because I have spent the day feeling the balance of the car. Facilities such as this should be more widely available so that more drivers young and experienced can hone their skills and increase their safe driving habits. Other members of the club came from Canberra and as far away as Newcastle. I commend the local council and residents for supporting a facility that is dedicated in a practical way, to making drivers safer, and in particular new and young drivers.
Brian.

Thanks

Nat, Thanks to MDTC for your kind assistance on the 25th. Your training facility is first class.Regards, Sam

Top Rider Motorcycle Rider Training

Excellent Day

To Garry and staff,
Our group had an amazing day at your complex, we would like to thank you and your staff for the hospitality, the help with car set up and the running of an incident free day with alot of track time, the canteen was top class, excellent facilities and all round friendly atmosphere.
Looking forward to our next day with many more to come.
Matt Hambridge