Mercedes-Benz Promotes Skilled And Safe Driving For Young Drivers With First Gear Program

MELBOURNE – June 29, 2010: Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific introduced a unique extension to its successful Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience (formerly Active Safety Experience) driver training programme in 2008.

Titled First Gear, this carefully set programme is specifically tailored to younger road users. It is open to licenced drivers aged 24 or younger.

The programme has several aims, all derived from one core element: safety.

“As an automotive manufacturer, we have numerous important obligations,”

said Horst von Sanden, Managing Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars at Mercedes-Benz Australia / Pacific. “One of these is safety, and our company has arguably the richest history in leading this important area of vehicle development.”

“Yet, maximising on-road safety is not the sole responsibility of our engineers and helping to achieve this important goal is something many of us can contribute to, hence our driver training programmes First Gear and Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience,” said von Sanden.

First Gear seeks to introduce and enhance many of the important fundamentals of driving for its young attendees, with a specific focus on attitudes and awareness.

The learning objectives and areas of awareness targeted at the course’s participants include:

Understanding how the car operates

Recognising risks before and when driving

Identifying and avoiding dangerous situations

Safe vehicle spacing when driving

Identifying the problematic attitudinal and behavioural issues often encountered by young and inexperienced drivers

Exhibition of modern technology to help them make educated decisions when purchasing a car

Practical exercises undertaken by the course’s participants include:

Techniques for correct vision and steering when driving

Safe spacing when driving and distance demonstrations that illustrate the dangers of ‘tailigating’

Emergency braking on wet and dry surfaces (where possible)

Evasive steering manoeuvres

Swerve-and-avoid exercises demonstrating the operation of ABS braking

Experiencing a vehicle in slippery conditions both with and without the aid of ESP Electronic Stability Programme ESP

Demonstrations and practical examples of cutting edge technology, namely Distronic Plus, Night View Assist Plus and Parking Guidance

Every exercise undertaken is realistic and simulates commonly encountered obstacles. Some even incorporate adverse weather conditions which serve to heighten the level of difficulty in critical situations.

First Gear is an initiative of the successful and long-standing Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience. It does not seek to introduce ‘high-performance’ (that is, ‘racetrack-oriented’) driving skills to participants but instead places a distinct focus on basic driving attitudes and behaviours when behind the wheel, a critical necessity for drivers who are young and comparatively inexperienced.

Partnering educational initiatives such as Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience and First Gear driver education programmes with the latest cutting edge developments in the areas of active and passive vehicle safety brings Mercedes-Benz one step closer to the ultimate vision of accident-free driving.

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