At 9 a.m. I pulled into the wide-open parking lot. Orange cones set up in different patterns scattered the pavement. At 10 a.m. I was going 40 mph swerving in and out of cones in my white Toyota pick-up truck. By 11:30 a.m. I was speeding up to about 45 mph and in a split second I applied maximum pressure on my breaks initializing my Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) while coming to a quick, complete stop. And this was only two of the many defense drills I put my truck through. Not bad for an otherwise bland Sunday afternoon.
I was enrolled in the Defensive Driving Academy put on by Danny Mckeever’s Fast Lane Racing School. The Defensive Driving Academy is a course taught by instructors that have professional ties in the racing world. Their main goals are to teach vehicle safety and defense mechanisms to drivers so they can feel safe and adequate on the road. The course goes beyond any DMV driving tests and offers knowledgeable information that can only help drivers everywhere. The academy covers vehicle and skid control exercises, dangers of distracted driving, ABS braking exercises, reaction time and much more.
Little did I know my Sunday would be a day packed with defensive driving activities that would ultimately lead to better driving techniques and awareness on the road. The best part is most of the exercises are done in your personal car. Not only are you learning sufficient tactics to better your driving skills, but you are also getting to know your car better than ever before.
I had no idea what my truck would do if I had to completely stop at 45 mph on wet pavement while making a hard left turn. I had little clue as to what would happen if I had a split second to make a decision and jump into a specified lane. These are all potential situations that can occur on the road every day. The problem is that most of us don’t know what we would in an emergency situation until it actually happens. But what if we could prepare ourselves beforehand? The difference is exponential and it could save your life.
The day started with about an hour of class time where an instructor gave some tips on handling our vehicle and prepped us for what was yet to come. Then it was time to start up our cars and begin the courses. There were three exercises set up, and we rotated in groups of about six. After seeing a demonstration, it was our turn to drive. The day went on and the exercises were designed for a specific skill and situation. The Defensive Driving Academy proved to be a successful learning tool that anyone can take on the road with them.
Kylie Hoffman, a 16-year-old new driver, said, “I took it to learn more safety. It’s more than regular driving school.” Her father, Bruce Hoffman, was glad his daughter was going through the course. “It’s something that can’t hurt, it can only help. Driving can be so competitive and dangerous,” Bruce said. Although most of the class was comprised of young, new drivers, the instructors stressed importance of defensive driving at any age.
“It’s not an age thing,” owner Danny Mckeever said. He believed the course would be helpful for anyone. He said from an adult standpoint, if you get into a couple accidents it can really hurt your confidence on the road. If that confidence is lost, driving can become a stressful and intimidating thing.
Adults, or anyone who’s been in an accident, can go through the exercises provided and learn what to do in an emergency. Not only will you feel more confident after the course, but you will have more knowledge than ever before.
“You don’t have to have a lot of skills for a license,” Danny said. The problem is that we are only taught the basics, but the fact of the matter is that driving goes way beyond the basics.
Emergency situations happen all the time. Especially when living in Southern California. Fast Lane Racing’s Defensive Driving Academy can help you gain control of your driving. “If you’re focused at the task at hand, driving, than all the details will fall into place,” instructor Jeff Bodnar said. This doesn’t mean talking on your phone, playing with music and eating all at the same time. “I’ve seen everything,” Jeff said. From shaving to reading, there are some people that don’t pay attention.
So why not be as prepared as possible while driving? We do it everyday and don’t think twice before getting in a car. The Defensive Driving Academy helps you get more prepared and aware on the road. So why not take the time? It’s one day that could potentially save your life.
For more information, please call 661-257-8980.