As grim and depressing as it might sounds, the sad truth for many is that the season of celebration somehow always ends-up in mourning given the seemingly increasing rate of fatalities on our roads. Whether as a result of changing weather conditions, negligence or by pure accident, there appears to be no solution in sight to clamp down on irresponsible drivers regardless of the countless road safety campaigns or the supposed high presence of the police.
The advanced driving argument
In recent years, an ongoing point that has continuously popped-up, is that drivers, after getting their licences, should be subjected to an advanced driving course to better their skills in a way that the much lamented K53 will never be able to. As fantastic and appropriate as this sounds, the reality is that these courses are still expensive and only offered by a handful of manufactures, mainly up here in Gauteng.
Most recently, a number of scribes as well as yours truly were subjected to what many drivers are likely to encounter this festive season, when we joined up with Opel at the Gerotek Testing Facility outside Pretoria for a basic understanding of what to and not to do behind the wheel.
After meeting up at the Sidibane Restaurant within the grounds of the once secretive military vehicle testing area, we were provided with the day’s itinerary by our instructor, Marius Janse van Rensburg and his team of the Opel Driving Academy, before heading off to the so-called straight track for our first task.
Too much of the loud pedal
Before any driving was to take place however, we were given a frank pep-talk by Marius, a veteran instructor of well over a decade, that likely stung many in attendance as hard as the summer sun was roasting us. Among the topics included finding the correct driving position, being vigilant and adjusting your attitude so as not to do something you are likely to regret behind the wheel.
Talking over, an academy driver then proceeded to carry out a simple braking test using one of the two Astra 1.6T Sport’s provided, with a set of cones simulating the stopping point before impact with the cause of the most deaths on our roads, pedestrians.
Stopping from 60km/h, 120km/h and then a highly illegal 180km/h, each made for truly shocking results with the former taking 24m and the latter pair 53m and 130m respectively. The most disturbing though was that braking from 120km/h carried the same velocity as falling out of a 27 storey building, more than likely with similar results.
Countering in the wet
While we didn’t get the chance to slam on the brakes ourselves, the next challenge, sliding around on the water logged skidpan, proved rather fun but also demanded a certain amount of skill. Simulating driving and then swerving in the wet, which required us to relay more on our reactions than simply mashing the brake pedal, we also discovered what could happen when hitting a large patch of water and then aquaplaning.
Using the handbrake to set the “out-of-control” motion off, we had to counter by turning into the slide with only gentle throttle inputs and not touching the clutch at all. Using the flagship Opel Corsa Sport to set everything off, the experience of sliding and then countering numerous times, while incredibly fun, demanded a great deal of finesse and concentration, which will more than likely double in real world conditions.
Finding the limits
For our final test, we were let loose around the incredibly daunting handling track with its fast chicanes, blind entry-points, neck bending hairpins and unforgiving uphill crest. As well as speed and learning about apexes, we were able to push our own boundaries and really get the sense of what each vehicle could do.
Admittedly, both the Corsa and Astra Sport were quickly accounted for, leaving me with the wholly unsuitable Grandland X, which nonetheless acquitted itself reasonably well in spite lacking paddle shifters for the six-speed automatic gearbox and exerting some body roll in the tight bits.
It was then on to the regular Corsa 1.0T Enjoy, which, unsurprisingly, felt better suited and could be chucked into the corners with more vigour, brakes that allowed for later braking and came with more usable power thanks to being fitted with a six-speed manual ‘box.
Like the skidpan though, the dynamic handling track command even more respect as one wrong move or missing a braking point, would result in a definite accident given the tight layout and little margin for error. In short, like being out on the road, it requires you to know your limits, judging your next move accordingly and having a neutral attitude.
Conclusion
Fun but with a great deal of learning and knowing your own ability behind the wheel is perhaps the best way to describe my experience of flinging some of the blitz’s models around Gerotek. Having learned a great deal from the experience, the question once again remains, should an advanced driving course be mandatory after getting your license? I would think so.
