It’s never too early or too late to learn to drive better

No one can deny the positive effects of enforcement on road safety, but there is a better way, that of education.

An engaged and competent driver will always be safer on the road, but they will also find more satisfaction and enjoyment in each of their trips, even on very busy roads and during regular commutes.

The vast majority of drivers have received no training since obtaining their license, and although each day of driving adds a bit more experience, it also builds new bad habits. Whether you’re a motorcyclist or a motorist, you know those little moments of inattention, hesitations at a yield, that speedometer creeping higher without real intent to go faster,… You have also necessarily found yourself in a potentially dangerous situation with an unexpected obstacle on the road, a sudden loss of traction, or rapidly changing weather conditions. Each of these perilous situations can be approached calmly if you know the right gestures and have learned the best ways to deal with them. Like memory, driving needs to be maintained, so why not give yourself a little update?

A road safety awareness course allows you to discover a different way of driving, calmer, safer, more respectful of others and the environment. They also serve a road safety prevention purpose. Note, we are not talking about points recovery courses, but rather training in better driving. The goal is to learn in real conditions how to keep control of your vehicle regardless of speed, anticipate road risks, and react properly in dangers to avoid ending up in a potentially catastrophic situation.

These courses are particularly fun and interactive. Forget tedious slide shows and multiple-choice quizzes, most of the time you’ll be at the wheel or on the handlebars with a series of practical workshops supervised by instructors. In a motorcycle course, a few slalom runs will help you master leaning techniques and adjust your position to avoid cramps. You will also learn to brake more effectively both in normal conditions and in curves, as well as on degraded surfaces. Braking is also a priority in cars where good technique can improve your safety and that of your passengers, but most importantly, pedestrians and cyclists you may encounter.

Finally, these courses teach you some essential vehicle maintenance skills. Tires, to name just one, are the only link between the vehicle and the road. Regularly checking their pressure and knowing how to adjust it if necessary for weather conditions and load takes only a few seconds and is the best way to enhance their performance and increase their lifespan. With significant savings as a result!

Insurers are aware that improving driver behavior is the best way to reduce accidents and road fatalities. Most offer these courses, and some, such as Groupama, have gone even further by creating their own centers, Centaure, dedicated to the brand dear to Cerise. This allows the company to offer a discounted rate on the course, or even cover the entire cost. To top it off, and we’ll stop the easy references to the face of Groupama, participation in these courses often results in a reduction on your auto insurance premium.

A day of training costs about 200 euros on average and provides solid foundations for safer driving. They are suitable for all types of drivers, but especially accessible and even recommended for young drivers who will learn more in one day than in 40 hours of training for the driving test. Fuel for life.

ALSO READ: Salt the roads before snow arrives? It’s pointless!