The main goal of the Driver Training Program is to teach drivers about performance and safety while behind the wheel of their vehicle. The day started off in a classroom where some theory was taught by instructors Ross Bentley and Tony Riddle. For those readers who are in school, or have completed school, can no doubt vouch that theory first thing in the morning is rarely ideal, but not at BMW Driver Training. Both Ross and Tony shared such a passion and enthusiasm for their job, it made the short lesson a hoot, and through yawns and full body stretches I even learned a thing or two.
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| At Driver Training the instructors encourage us to break old habits and form new ones to make us safer drivers. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Unfortunately I can't very well explain the entire day's experience in mere words, practical application being the most eye opening aspect of the course, but I can offer some tidbits of information on the things we did. What I found to be one of the most interesting facts in theory class was that the brain processes 2,000 bits of information in the conscious state, whereas the unconscious brain processes 4 billion bits of information per second. My reason for bringing this point up is that when we are behind the wheel, and an uncommon situation occurs, it is our habits/subconscious that we rely on to get us out of the problem. At Driver Training the instructors encourage us to break old habits and form new ones to make us safer drivers. They do this when we are out on the course and they constantly remind us of how our hands should be positioned - 9-o'clock, 3 o'clock - and where we should be looking - where you want to go not at what you don't want to hit. I found these two rules really helped improve my reaction to emergency situations during testing.
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| Testing occurred throughout the afternoon, and provided us with ample opportunity to apply our newly learned classroom knowledge. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
That testing occurred throughout the afternoon, where we practiced various techniques in the BMW 330i BMW sedans that were provided. Each car had two people in it. I shared a 3-Series with a wonderful woman named Anne, an accountant from Richmond who signed up for the course to learn new skills in becoming a better driver. We had a blast together.