Dauphin did a Defensive Driving Course

[Dauphin]

Hi everyone,

Spent the day at Calder and did theory, braking and steering stuff, in awful weather. I was the only Ford there. A lot of the debates about road rules was the most interesting part, especially in regards to small roundabouts here in Victoria.

I felt that the lecturing part could have included a few more things but the big surprise was driving out of there. I was tailgated the whole way and onto the freeway, then eventually overtaken way in excess of the 100 km/h limit by another course attendee I recognised.

The whole day went in one of her ears and out the other.

Surprisingly, the bulk of my Fairlane did pretty well when hard-stopping and the best stopping distance was done by a smaller new Pulsar.

The instructor took over one lady's car to show her how it's done and he knocked over a cone!

Well now I'm going to see if my insurance company will discount my permium.

Andrew.

[jspec_sti]

Was it the John Bowe Driving course and would you recommend it?

[Dauphin]

No, Murcotts Driving Excellence. Yes, definately worth doing one of these to be reminded about tyres, braking, the 2-second gap, etc.

Some people turned up with Commodores that had 20 psi and some cars had 47 and 50 psi in them. They secretly check your tyres as you sit in the lecture building, then let everyone see the results on a clipboard.

[Shonky]

Not secretly anymore... Thanks for ruining the surprise Dauphin!

Did they teach you to threshold break?

[Dauphin]

Sorry, Young 'un.

Lizard, I am unsure what that means but they got us to do the following (when the instructor blows the whistles):

a) stop the car as fast as we could from 60 km/h.
b) the same at 65 km/h (to see the "wipe off 5" difference).
c) use the brakes to stop and assist steering grip around a sudden obstacle from 60 km/h.
d) the same at 65 km/h.
e) slalome exercise.
f) reversing around obstacles.

They told us we couldn't do a lap of the track but I saw someone do it.

Originally Posted by Dauphin

Sorry, Young 'un.

Lizard, I am unsure what that means but they got us to do the following (when the instructor blows the whistles):

a) stop the car as fast as we could from 60 km/h.
b) the same at 65 km/h (to see the "wipe off 5" difference).
c) use the brakes to stop and assist steering grip around a sudden obstacle from 60 km/h.
d) the same at 65 km/h.
e) slalome exercise.
f) reversing around obstacles.

They told us we couldn't do a lap of the track but I saw someone do it.

Sounds more like the AAMI one then the John bowe one I did. The john bowe one was good because they tought people proper breaking techniques instead of irratating wipe off 5 BS. Some of the people who had old cars with no ABS had cut their stopping distances in half by the end of the day. We had some time left over at the end so the instructer took us for laps in our cars around the track. :

[Trevor 57]

The only company I know that offers reductions is AAMI, but only if you do one of 'their' courses.

BTW, I am really glad the course was of benefit to you, but please don't forget all the good things you learnt.

[XD-Machine]

guys can somebody please recomend a top driving place in sydney

[zetec]

Ian Luff at Oran Park I believe...

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by XD-Machine

guys can somebody please recomend a top driving place in sydney

For some on the road training, with a little bit of skid pan stuff ring DECA out at Quakers Hill

[Dauphin]

I got an answer from my insurer (GIO):

"I can advise that currently GIO to not offer a specific discount on motor insurance for having completed driving courses, however other discounts do apply such as no claim discount, etc."

[Casper]

I've done both the Murcott and Bowe courses and they are almost identical in what they teach. Either one would be a valuable addition to any driver. I was lucky enough to win the Murcott course while I was on my P plates (in 1988...hes been around a while now) and I can say the skills I learnt saved my life at least twice and saved panal damage countless times over the years.