City invests in safety of response vehicle drivers

12 June 2023

The City of Cape Town’s Fleet Management, Environmental Management and Safety and Security Departments have started their advanced Smart Driver skidpan training for response vehicle drivers. The training takes place at the Killarney Skidpan track today and continues on 19, 20 and 22 June 2023 from 08:00 to 16:00. Through the training the City hopes to help protect drivers and other road users. 

The training is intended for the City's fleet drivers that are involved in Emergency response and pursuit driving, including staff responsible for the drawing up of specifications and procurement of vehicles.

The skidpan training consists of:

•        How and why a car skids

•        Emergency braking techniques

•        Emergency lane change to avoid a collision

•        Correcting a Skid

•        Reverse turn

•        Emergency brake turn

•        Corrective steering entering corners

A vehicle on the Skidpan track in Killarney.

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This programme aims to allow the response vehicle driver to apply emergency braking and advanced driving techniques under supervision and controlled circumstances when responding or in pursuit mode.

The Smart Driver Training theory deals extensively with forces, vehicle dynamics, physics, and time management with regards to perception or reaction and actuation times versus velocity and distance to stop.

'This training lays the foundation for safe vehicle operation with an understanding of forces, physics and dynamics. During pursuit and response, these factors increase significantly. I took part in today's training session and can confidently say that our drivers will benefit immensely and come out of this as much better drivers that can proactively minimise risks and accidents,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office