It takes skill to drive safely<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa and Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post,
\nSentul\/West Java<\/p>\n
Certain limits are assigned to almost everything, including
\ndriving.<\/p>\n
The increasing concern for safety -- of car drivers,
\npassengers and other road users -- has forced carmakers to govern
\nthe top speed of their products.<\/p>\n
However, the temptation to speed remains in most drivers'
\nhearts, although they know that the speed limit on toll roads
\nhere is \"only\" 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and 60 kph on most
\ncity roads.<\/p>\n
To minimize the possibility of accidents that could jeopardize
\ndrivers, passengers and road users, carmakers have installed a
\nvariety of safety mechanisms, including passive features like air
\nbags and seat belts, and active features like antilock braking
\nsystems (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and
\nbrake-assist (BA).<\/p>\n
Each brand also has its own technology with, for example, BMW
\noffering technology such as active driving, dynamic stability
\ncontrol (DSC), dynamic brake control (DBC) and cornering brake
\ncontrol (CBC).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Audi is relying on an electronic stabilization
\nprogram (ESP) and Quattro all-wheel drive system.<\/p>\n
Since some of the technology is advanced and may not be
\nfamiliar to car users, it is necessary for them to have direct
\ndriving experience. This was organized for the first time ever by
\nPT BMW Indonesia and PT Garuda Mataram Motor, the sole
\ndistributor of Audi, on two separate occasions recently at Sentul
\ncircuit in Bogor, for prospective customers, brand loyalists and
\nthe media.<\/p>\n
The Audi driving experience was launched in 1980, when Freddy
\nGraf Kottulinsky started training employees from Audi's motor
\nsport department.<\/p>\n
More than 100,000 participants took part in the Audi driving
\nexperience, with Audi organizing an average of 600 training
\nsessions per year in more than 20 countries.<\/p>\n
While the details varied, both carmakers included a slalom
\nsession to experience the handling ability of a variety of car
\ntypes, emergency braking sessions to test the ABS, as well as hot
\nlaps on the track.<\/p>\n
A hot lap is a session where participants are driven by a
\nqualified instructor, usually those from a racing background, to
\nexperience every bend and curve of the race track.<\/p>\n
Audi instructors drove two 4,200cc, V8, bi-turbo RS6s brought
\ndirectly from Germany, while BMW had two inline 3,200 cc BMW M3s
\nfrom Australia.<\/p>\n
While both BMW M3s were coupes, the RS6s were saloon and
\nestate types. The cars easily reached 150 kph and topped speeds
\nof 210 kph.<\/p>\n
BMW also included a pace-lap driving session in which
\nparticipants could test the race track on their own, led by
\ninstructors, to get first-hand experience, although the speed was
\nlower than in the hot-lap session.<\/p>\n
In what was essentially a convoy on the race track,
\nparticipants took turns in driving four BMW models -- the 330i,
\n530i, 730i sedan and X3 sports utility vehicle (SUV) -- at a
\nmoderate speed as the instructors said it was not a racing nor
\nspeeding activity, but an opportunity instead to experience
\nhandling the cars.<\/p>\n
There were two rules: no overtaking and no speeding.<\/p>\n
Cones were placed at certain corners to show drivers when and
\nwhere to turn.<\/p>\n
The pace-lap driving session was without a doubt the most
\nvaluable experience, as it is almost impossible to drive on a
\nrace track unless you have the requisite skills. BMW instructor
\nAlistair Bye showed off his skills, particularly on sharp
\ncorners.<\/p>\n
Thanks to BMW, participants were allowed four laps on the
\nSentul circuit.<\/p>\n
As for the slalom and ABS sessions, Audi separated each of
\nthem, while BMW bundled them into only one session.<\/p>\n
Audi provided the Audi A6 and Audi Allroad for the slalom
\ntest, as both cars were equipped with the Quattro all-wheel-drive
\nsystem, to ensure more stable driving around the cones.<\/p>\n
\"Do not depress and release the accelerator pedal hastily. Do
\nit gradually and find the rhythm,\" said Audi instructor Jerry
\nAhlin. \"Also, in moving the steering wheel, find the rhythm. Make
\nit natural and smooth.\"<\/p>\n
Another Audi instructor, Harald Buettner, said it was
\nimportant to keep looking forward and anticipating what was to
\ncome, as shown in the ABS session, using the Audi A3 and Audi A4.<\/p>\n
\"Once you hit the brake pedal, upon seeing an obstacle, you
\nmust immediately find the exit and drive as under normal
\nconditions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A typical ABS session started with an approach to get maximum
\nspeed before entering the braking area and activating the ABS
\nupon seeing an obstacle. Once the ABS was activated, the car
\ncould be maneuvered as usual.<\/p>\n
BMW provided a wider choice of vehicles for the integrated
\nslalom and ABS session in 318i, 325i, 330i, 520i, 530i and 730i
\nsedans, and X3 and X5 SUVs.<\/p>\n
All in all, the driving experience was invaluable to help car
\nusers handle vehicles better, particularly as accidents can so
\neasily occur in everyday driving.<\/p>",
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