This is the verdict of the Renault Driving School instructors, who trained nine finalists of the third edition of the defensywnikierowcy.pl program in defensive driving principles. The practical training was a reward for the participants distinguished in the defensywnikierowcy.pl online competition and served as the final stage of the third edition of this nationwide program. After a full day of competition at the Warsaw autodrom, the instructors chose the best among the finalists. The competition task involved obtaining a certificate on the defensywnikierowcy.pl website confirming the flawless completion of an e-learning course and proposing an interesting slogan promoting the idea of defensive driving. The best slogans became the pass to the final stage of this year’s edition of the program – practical training in safe driving principles, culminating in the selection of the Driver of the Year 2010. The nine winners were able to refine their skills under the guidance of experts who acted in a dual role at the autodrom – as instructors and as the jury. The education combined with competition included an audit on an eco-driving simulator, a defensive driving skills test, a timed agility trial, circle driving, a skid pad slalom, lane changing on a slippery surface, the Stewart test, and a “double” slalom on a skid pad. The best behind the wheel proved to be Tomasz Wachowiak, a thirty-year-old fleet manager from Gdynia. The Driver of the Year 2010 manages the vehicle fleet of the Vectra company.
– Defensive driving did not pose any problems for the finalists, and they were rated very highly by the trainers. However, the exercises on the skid pads, on the skid circle, i.e., simulations of difficult road situations, were very demanding, which the training participants themselves agreed with. The winner of the competition was Tomasz Wachowiak, who received ten points for practically every exercise during the defensive driving audit and was a very strong competitor. He also ranked among the top during the agility trials and while driving on the eco-driving simulator. He is a truly good driver, a highly recommended ambassador for the defensywnikierowcy.pl program – said Zbigniew Weseli, Director of the Renault Driving School.
– I feel a great sense of satisfaction. I did not expect my results to be this good. Whenever I can, I take advantage of this type of training. I believe it is worth improving one’s skills. When I was driving from Gdańsk to Warsaw, I was fractions of a second away from never reaching Bemowo. However, I used the knowledge I had, and here I am. The most interesting competition during the training was recovering the car from a skid on the skid pads. It pays to acquire this skill, which is so useful in winter. Every driver should visit the website www.defensywnikierowcy.pl, confirm their knowledge and skills, and simultaneously test themselves in practice. I wish all drivers as many returns home as there are departures – said Tomasz Wachowiak, Driver of the Year 2010.
The test at the autodrom concluded the 3rd edition of the defensywnikierowcy.pl program. The next installment is traditionally planned for January of next year. The organizers promise many new features for both fleet and individual drivers, including the first safe driving guide in Poland for young drivers and their parents.
– The more well-trained, prudent, and defensive drivers we have on our roads, the fewer dangerous incidents and accidents there will be. That is why Goodyear, a brand associated with safety for over a century, is actively supporting the Safe Company Car program once again. We see that this campaign brings measurable results, as evidenced by the participants of this year’s final, who handled the difficult tasks brilliantly. These are drivers who drive in a responsible and safe manner, both for themselves and for other road users – also thanks to the knowledge gained from the program – said Marta Konopacka, Communications Director of Goodyear Poland Group.
Goodyear Poland Group, as a partner of all editions of the defensywnikierowcy.pl program, decides on its goals, content, and formula together with the organizer. Instructors from the Renault Driving School oversee the correctness of the practical training and the professional selection of the Driver of the Year 2010.
– The fourth edition of the defensywnikierowcy.pl program is ahead of us. We want to develop it because we are convinced that it is constant work on the mentality of Polish drivers that is the key to lowering the alarming accident statistics. Nothing will change on the roads if nothing changes in our heads. That is why we are still working on new features that will attractively and effectively convince drivers of this driving philosophy – said Dorota Murzyńska, member of the IPM board.
The program’s website defensywnikierowcy.pl remains available, providing internet users with continuous access to current information, videos, tests, and e-learning. You can also watch a video report from the final on it. The program was prepared with company car drivers in mind, who constitute a high-risk group in road traffic.