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According to Gary Ronald of the Automobil Association (AA), “The real focus,” says Ronald, “is not just the skills to pass the K53 but the skills needed to survive on our roads.”
Our country has one of the highest road fatalities in the world. According to the SA Road Traffic Report from 2010/2011 was 13 802 fatalities on the road. A recent article by safe cycling activist, Andrew Wheeldon, said 100 million people have died on the roads in the last 100 years. When you consider that 160 million people died in 20th Century warfare he says, ‘the act of mobility is an act of travel from origin to destination, not an effort to destroy, maim or kill. Or is it?’
The Easter weekend and other public holidays always highlight our high accident statistics and this year was no exception. 241 People were killed on the roads between 28 March and 1 April according to the Automobile Association. This is up 59% on the 151 who died in 201. AA spokesperson Gary Ronald says that ‘little has been done to create change or prevent road deaths during the busiest times of the year.’
Why the high accident statistics?
South Africans do not rate highly in terms of obedience of laws and rules of the road are no different. National Transport Minister Ben Martin has highlighted this non-aherence to basic rules of speeding, disobeying traffic signals, not using indicators, overtaking in dangerous situations and tragically still driving under the influence of alcohol despite repeated campaigns by the government and private sector. Without restricting the blame to younger drivers, a 2012 survey by Goodyear entitled ‘Young Drivers Safety Survey’ surveyed drivers under the age of 25 in 16 countries and unfortunately South Africans scored highest in several misbehaviours, including speeding to get through an orange traffic light and lane swopping in order to get ahead. “The real focus,” says Ronald, “is not just the skills to pass the K53 but the skills needed to survive on our roads.”
“Although our alarming statistics cannot be blamed on young drivers” says Andrew Antonis, Country Manager for Monroe South Africa,” there is an urgent need for advanced training and a change in attitudes on the road.
“Monroe’s focus has always been on safety and we already offer free shock absorber testing and support various road safety campaigns such as The Road Safety Foundation, as well as Pick n Pay Stay Alert Stay Alive.
We obviously also focus on the dangers of worn shock absorbers and the fact that shock absorbers from an integral part of a vehicle’s safety triangle: steering, stopping and stability. Neglecting any one of these arms of the triangle, can make the car unsafe to drive.
Most people are not even aware of the potential dangers of worn shock absorbers, or that the safety of their vehicle, its occupants and other road users is seriously compromised.
A logical extension and evolution to our current safety programmes is to add more value to our customers and make the road an even safer place by offering affordable advanced driver training.
“Although we realise there are a number of factors contributing to the high accident rate we have chosen to address driving skills in this programme. Not just over the much publicised high-accident periods like the Easter and Christmas holidays but 365 days a year. “
What’s different?
“Advanced Driving programmes are traditionally fairly costly,” says Antonis, “so Monroe is subsidising the training, making it accessible to a far larger number of drivers – newly qualified, younger drivers on the road, as well as ‘experienced drivers’. In a perfect world, we would like to see all newly licenced drivers complete the advanced driving course.”
Antonis is careful to stress that the programme is not about ‘bashing around the track’ but a comprehensive theoretical and practical session on skilled driving, which includes:
• Introduction lecture
• Brake recognition demonstration
• Oval drive slalom
• Sharing the roads safely with motorcyclists and cyclists
• Pedestrian safety
• Aquaplane track
• Skid pan
• Lunch / debrief.
Alicia Knoetze of the Monroe Advanced Driving Academy says, “Monroe is subsidising the training, making it accessible to a far larger number of drivers. They should be commended for investing in this when many other corporate concerns turn a blind eye to the annual carnage on our roads.”
The Academy will use highly professional, proficient and qualified Advanced Driving Instructors to ensure the quality of the programme and that they are all inclusive.
For further information on the Monroe Advanced Driving Academy please contact Alicia Knoetze:
Office: 012 753 7477
Mobile: 081 013 1224
Email: alicia@monroedriving.co.za
