Dad and mom, be trustworthy, have you ever ever struggled along with your baby’s homework? I don’t have youngsters, however I’m fairly assured. Assured that I’ll pull out the entire remaining hair on my head if you happen to give me a sheet of highschool maths. It shouldn’t be that manner, proper? We all know what it’s, we’ve studied it earlier than, and a few might need even scored As within the topic again within the day.
Mates, it’s all about follow. Similar to in sports activities, you may’t simply present up after a few years away and curl one into the highest nook or hit a one-handed backhand winner such as you by no means left.
It’s the identical with driving. Whereas we drive on a regular basis, it’s not usually that we get right into a state of affairs that’s near the automotive’s (and our personal) limits. Many drivers haven’t even been in such conditions earlier than – we’re taking a couple of automotive’s most braking energy and the sting of traction. It has been a few years since I participated in a driving course and pushed a automotive to its limits in a secure, managed atmosphere, so again to high school it was.
Final month, Volvo Automotive Malaysia (VCM) hosted its first-ever Security Driving Expertise to cap its ‘For Life’ marketing campaign at KL’s Sungai Besi airfield. The marketing campaign highlights the a long time of security improvements by the Swedish carmaker, which have in all probability saved tens of millions of lives.
Notable firsts embrace the three-point security belt (1959), the rearward-facing baby seat (1972), booster cushion for youths (1978), side-impact airbags (1994), facet curtain airbags (1998), blind spot info system (BLIS, 2003) and pedestrian detection with full auto-brake (2010), amongst different security options that are actually ubiquitous in automobiles.
Nearly as intelligent is the enduring Volvo For Life tagline – I can’t consider many cases the place simply two phrases in a slogan can say a lot a couple of model.
“The Volvo Security Driving Expertise completely sums up the ethos of our ‘For Life’ marketing campaign – Whenever you really feel secure, you may really be free,” stated Patricia Yaw, head of promoting and PR at VCM. “We need to empower Volvo drivers with the right mindset and data for security on the highway, studying life-saving expertise with confidence within the newest Volvo automobiles outfitted with cutting-edge superior driver help programs and security improvements appearing as a further security web,” she added.
The 2-day occasion noticed 240 (only a coincidence, I’m certain) members consisting of Volvo prospects, lovers and the media studying important defensive driving expertise, and placing the teachings into follow. Kudos to VCM for being so beneficiant – 102 of the members have been non-Volvo house owners, they usually solely needed to pay RM100 for the expertise.
The day began off early with an IKEA breakfast (a novel pairing of two iconic Swedish manufacturers) earlier than a briefing on the fundamentals. Seating accurately is the inspiration of driving properly – whether or not from a efficiency or security standpoint – but, most individuals don’t do that accurately. An excessive amount of recline and limbs absolutely stretched out is the most typical mistake.
In case you’re not seated proper (elbows and knees bent, arms on the wheel’s 3 and 9 place) you’ll have restricted steering vary and received’t be capable to step laborious sufficient in emergency braking, setting your self up for failure for ALL the workout routines, which simulate precise essential conditions.
The security driving module then proceeded to introduce members to ABS braking and emergency lane change within the XC40 and C40 Recharge Pure Electrical EVs. Nearly everybody has heard of ABS and stability management, and we wish these security options in our automobiles, however not everybody is aware of how ABS works, what occurs when it really works, and the way we must always react along side it.
The train had us stand on the brakes (actually, else anti-lock received’t have interaction) from 60 km/h to a full cease, to familiarise members with the protection characteristic, earlier than upping the sport to contain avoiding an impediment. In actual life, this might be a canine or a baby, so figuring out what to do is important.
From laborious braking to no braking for the subsequent train – emergency lane change. As soon as once more, we accelerated to round 60 km/h (feels quicker than you suppose in a slim lane of cones) earlier than swerving into one other lane with out touching the brakes, and straightening after that. The instructors gave the left or proper command on the final second within the remaining run, testing our reflexes.
Not each real-life emergency state of affairs permits us the time and house to brake, and this train confirmed us how we must always react, and the way the automotive will react, in break up second situations.
With the basics lined, the programme shifted to the runway for the ‘experiential’ module, the place we received to check out chosen driver help options which are related in day by day driving, reminiscent of Pilot Help (adaptive cruise management with steering, cease and go) and cross visitors alert with auto brake. These options are your pals, get to know your pals.
We’re on an airstrip, the most effective place for a high velocity take a look at, however this can be a security occasion, I sighed. To my shock, we got high velocity runs on the 1.8 km-runway, the place I managed to hit the XC60 PHEV‘s 180 km/h velocity cap.
In case you don’t already know, all new Volvo automobiles since 2020 are restricted to 180 km/h ‘to ship sturdy sign in regards to the risks of dashing’. That’s nonetheless greater than sufficient velocity on faucet, and plenty of would have left the occasion with an indelible reminiscence of hitting high velocity on a metropolis airstrip, with the KL skyline in full view and the double-deck SPE freeway alongside.
However the most effective was but to come back, for me no less than. The occasion ended with a timed slalom course that wanted greater than aggressive juices. This was the time for members to place into follow all that they’ve discovered about automotive management on the restrict, and piece all of them collectively right into a easy lap.
The important thing phrase is easy – it’s not simple to attain the fragile stability between getting in laborious (you’ll run large and/or ESC will lower energy, dropping you treasured seconds) and being too cautious (five-second penalty for hitting a cone would possibly weigh closely for some, however too secure = too gradual), however that’s what separates the great from the remainder, and the most effective from the great. You’ve received to push the automotive to the sting, however not let it fall off the imaginary cliff – it’s a nice line.
A line that this participant managed to stroll on slightly properly, solely to journey and fall on the remaining hurdle, which is to cease the automotive absolutely inside a field after full energy on the ultimate straight. I overshot, and the following five-second penalty turned a rating that was title contender into mid-table. By no means thoughts the prize, it was nice enjoyable.
However greater than enjoyable, the Volvo Security Driving Expertise was a well timed refresher course for this driver, one which reactivated the muscle reminiscence of how you can react in essential conditions, along side a automotive’s security options. I’m fairly sure that lots of my fellow members have been new to such situations, and what they discovered and skilled that day at Sungai Besi air base would stick to them. For Life.
GALLERY: Volvo Security Driving Expertise
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