BMW advanced driver training: Better than an airbag!
For quite some time, manufacturers have been making big efforts to improve vehicle safety and save lives in cases of accidents. In fact, we could even accuse them of going a bit too far, as some systems, while genuinely effective, hinder your sense of control over the vehicle. In short, we’re living in an era where responsibility for a safe ride lies with everything other than the individual driver.
Meanwhile, most of us don’t hesitate to invest time and money to improve our performance in sports or other activities. Tennis classes, golf classes, ski classes, etc. And yet, we spend several hours behind the wheel every day without ever investing in our driving skills. As Pierre Savoie, chief instructor at the BMW school, puts it, “Driving is the most intimate thing you do fully dressed.” Vehicles evolve quickly, just like the technology that goes into them. Nonetheless, the government has determined that driving courses should no longer be mandatory (no doubt one of their worst decisions to date). Learning to drive involves a lot more than simply learning the techniques; it’s about learning a code of conduct. Plus, it includes learning how to identify problems, in addition to preventing them.
BMW training: learning while having fun
BMW has been offering a series of advanced driving courses for several years. It’s not so much the brand name that’s important here, but rather the company’s involvement in training drivers, something which few Canadian manufacturers do. Since there’s more money to be made selling cars than offering training courses, we’ve got to give a nod to BMW (even though they should make more of an effort to advertise their courses).
In all, BMW offers five levels of training, ranging from half a day to two days. The classes are designed for all drivers and cost between $300 and $3,250. In addition to enhancing your knowledge, they give you the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a BMW 3 Series or even a mythical M3. You get to increase your knowledge and try out some amazing cars during an experience that is truly enriching! While some of the courses used to be held all over Canada, the first three levels have only been offered in Toronto for the past two years. However, they may be offered in the Montreal area once again next year. The two final levels are offered exclusively on the Mont-Tremblant circuit in Quebec. As one of the most beautiful circuits in the world, it’s also used by the only Ferrari driving school outside of Italy.
Different levels offered
It goes without saying that to progress through the levels, you have to take the courses in order. Compact, the first level, lasts half a day. It aims to give you a better grasp of the essentials for improving your driving, such as posture, steering techniques and braking. Ensuring that you are in the right sitting position alone will improve your control over the vehicle. Next, you’ll be presented with a series of practical exercises that recreate different everyday scenarios, so you can learn how to avoid difficult situations or get out of them without a hitch. For example, when skidding, you’ll learn to look toward the solution and not at the problem. By doing so, your body will naturally direct the car to where it needs to go – not toward the problem, such as a pole!
The second level, called Advanced, takes the concepts learned in the first level up a notch and offers drivers a little more training, as the class spans an entire day. The Perfection and Fascination levels let you experience more advanced driving techniques, particularly at faster speeds. During the Fascination I and Fascination II courses, you’ll get to drive a BMW M3, a magnificent sports sedan producing upwards of 410 hp. Fascination I is a two-day course that lets you try out the legendary M3 on the Mont-Tremblant circuit. This course will give you a more complete knowledge of driving techniques, such as how to swerve in braking, turning and exit areas. While these are obviously more advanced techniques, the theory still applies to everyday driving.
I’ve got to say I loved all of my experiences at the BMW school, and the things I learned have helped me avoid sticky situations on numerous occasions. In addition to being enjoyable, these courses will make you a better driver. You just have to see how badly you fail at exercises that look fairly simple, then think about if you had to execute them in emergency situations!
As parents, don’t we all wish the best for our kids? Well, keep in mind that the best way to improve their safety behind the wheel is to make a small investment in their driving abilities. After all, driving defensively is a must in this day and age.