Is it worth being an advanced driver?
With the innovation and evolution of cars by today’s standards, most drivers aren’t put in situations that rely on the kinds of responses that come with extreme incidents — which of course is a good thing! But accidents do still happen, and it is a sobering reality that your wellbeing on the road isn’t only about your attitude to driving, taking responsibility for yourself and your passengers, but is based on the actions and reactions of every driver in every car around you — and even pedestrian behaviours too.
Advanced driving techniques go beyond what basic driving teaches you. The ability to preempt errors, make responsive decisions and judgement based on the possibility of hazardous errors by those around you — or even the road conditions — and react in ways that can help save lives. It is after all often small mistakes or misjudging time and space between other stationary or moving objects that cause detrimental accidents.
What is advanced driving?
Advanced driving is a safe, attentive and systematic approach to driving that makes drivers far more observant and able to efficiently and effectively react to challenges that may occur in daily life. Advanced driving techniques such as defensive driving help to develop your skills for maintaining speed, positioning and control of your vehicle while conforming to traffic rules and incidents outside of your own control.
The Benefits Of Being An Advanced Driver
How to improve your advanced driving skills?
You can improve your driving skills by taking an advanced driving course which offers several reasons for why it makes sense:
- Prevent accidents
- Learn to make quick-thinking decisions for reactions that keep you safe on the road
- Save your own life and the lives of your own passengers, passengers in other cars and even pedestrians too
- Lower your fuel consumption (by learning the best and safest cruising speeds for your car’s engine)
- Lower maintenance expenses (by learning how to avoid incidents that add to wear and tear)
- Earn a no-claims bonus1 and/or a reduced insurance premium2 based on your advanced driving certification
While earning your advanced driving certification cannot completely rule out the possibility of an accident altogether, it will help your confidence, reaction techniques and elevate your overall experience as a driver.
Safety and the Subaru context
As a Subaru fan, you know that safety isn’t something we’ve ever glossed over. It’s the very benchmark of our brand and has been the starting point with which we develop innovation and the approach to building cars. Ergo, you get safe… and then you get Subaru safe!
While we respect the invaluable advanced driving techniques learned through an advanced driving course, we are committed to doing our part too so that Subaru drivers are safe drivers.
In 2008, we introduced the world’s first camera-based driver assistance technology called Subaru EyeSight. We were ahead of our time then and are streets ahead of the competition today when it comes to Subaru safety features.
We are the only car brand across the globe to have a 5-star safety rating and have achieved several Top Safety Pick Plus awards too. Here’s an overview of how Subaru safety is put to work, keeping you safer on the roads.
EyeSight Driver Assistance
This cutting-edge technology monitors the road ahead, recognising potentially dangerous driving situations by examining the presence of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and other potential hazards up to 110m in front of it.
Pre-Collision Braking System
The Pre-Collision Braking System provides automatic braking to help avoid or reduce the severity of detected frontal accident impacts.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive Cruise Control maintains the speed set by the driver, but also regulates the vehicle’s speed in order to maintain a set distance from the car in front of it (as selected by the driver from three different distances).
Pre-Collision Throttle Management
Reduces available acceleration in situations where the system detects objects in front of the vehicle that the vehicle is likely to hit.
Lane Departure & Sway Warning
Subaru’s driver focus distraction mitigation system monitors the vehicle’s position within road lane markings and sounds a warning to the driver if their vehicle sways within or moves out of its lane unintentionally.
Ring-Shaped Reinforcement
Ring-shaped reinforcement frames create a safe area within the cabin, diverting the force of any impact away from passengers and keeping passengers out of harm’s way.
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System
Only in a Subaru do you have the confidence of the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (SAWD) System which means double the grip capacity for better cornering and acceleration, and greater control and confidence for a much safer drive.
Lower Positioned Boxer Engine
If a severe frontal collision occurs, the Boxer engine will slide below the cabin — not through it. Its rearward movement and contact with the road surface also absorbs more impact energy, which contributes to the crumple zone action and further reduces the risk of injury.
Reverse Automatic Braking
Reverse Automatic Braking will sense and alert you if it detects you are about to hit something behind you. And now it will even apply the brakes in the event that you don’t.
Blind Spot Monitor with Lane Change Assist
If a vehicle is in your blind spot, Subaru uses a light symbol within your side mirror, alerting you (on the side of the obstacle) to let you know. If you’re changing lanes and a fast-approaching vehicle is behind you, the light symbol warns you of its presence.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
If you’re reversing and a vehicle drives past behind you, you will receive an audible and visual warning. Perfect for Saturday-morning shopping.
Seven Airbags Standard
Dual front airbags are met by side airbags for each front seat, as well as curtain airbags that run the full length of the cabin on each side of the vehicle. In the event of a frontal impact, a crucial driver’s knee airbag is also included to minimise injury to the driver’s knees.
Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)
Featuring a range of stability and braking technologies, VDC steps in to help prevent accidents. VDC contains an array of sensors that constantly analyse and assess conditions, and take action when needed.
Driving a Subaru should be an exceptional experience on all levels. We are committed to producing cars that keep you safe and secure, while taking your hopes and dreams of owning a performance-delivering car to new levels.
If you would like to see how we’ve channeled advanced driving into the decisions made behind building our range of impressive Subaru vehicles, why not book a test drive and let’s get you started on your new (or next) Subaru journey?
Use our store locator to find your nearest dealership, and if you would like to know more about the Subaru range, you can call us on +27 11 608 0116 or email info@subaru.co.za and a skilled member of our team will be happy to assist you.
1 & 2 Contact your insurer directly to see what offers and reductions they have based on certified advanced driving courses.
