In the latest available global statistics, South Africa ranks third-highest in the fatality rate per 10 000 vehicles. A sobering enough thought, but a recent study suggests that our road death toll has been underestimated by more than half. While the Department of Transport gives a figure of 10 000/year, in reality it is nearer 18 000.
So if your experience of handing over the key to your newly-licensed teenager was more out of panic than mere trepidation, know this - you have every right to be concerned. Grant Mccleery, a multiple SA motorsport champion, who heads up Yokohama Driving Dynamics, has been teaching specialised driving skills for nearly two decades and, in his opinion, every man, woman and especially teenager, needs more than just basic driver training to ensure their safety on our roads.
"The K53 driver training system is a great way to learn the basics, but you need more sophisticated skills to deal with the unexpected, like avoiding collisions, regaining control of your vehicle, recovering from aquaplaning, or even just braking properly in an emergency. Don't make the mistake of thinking of these skills as the exclusive domain of racing drivers," he warns. "Your child needs to know this stuff if he/she is going to get around safely on our roads."
Yokohama Driving Dyamics is based at the Gerotek Vehicle Test Facility near Pretoria, and offers its courses at a variety of venues countrywide.
www.drivingdynamics.co.za