Overview

Worldwide road crashes kill 1.2 million people per year (3242 per day) and injure or disable up to 50 million people annually, with young drivers being over-represented in these crash statistics.

Therefore if there is one certainty in life, it is that young drivers are accidents waiting to happen.

As part of our commitment to improve the driver education of young novice drivers, Safe Drive Training commenced High School based driver education programs in South-east Queensland schools in 1996 (the program was originally known as the Quest Safe Drive 2000). Since then our experience in training over 40,000 novice drivers has unlocked the secrets, to reduce the risks for young drivers.

The SAFE DRIVE TEST DRIVE: Young Driver Safety Program is a special one-day driver awareness course aimed particularly at young and novice drivers. It is like a Defensive Driving Course but offers participants the following unique advantages:

1. A fleet of specially modified vehicles is provided to allow participants to test drive a range of vehicles to understand their characteristics
2. Fatal Vision Alcohol and Drug Impairment Simulation Goggles are used for participants to experience in safety the impairment of alcohol and drugs on driving performance (we are the Australian distributors for these goggles)
3. Unlike other driver training programs this course is based on best-practice methodology to reduce over-confidence and risk taking in participants by showing them the limits of their ability and the limits of a vehicle.
4. Unlike other driver training programs this course changes learned behaviour and habits using "Right-way: Wrong-way" teaching principles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I learn?

The full day course involves a mixture of PowerPoint lectures, video presentations, demonstrations and numerous in-car driving experiences to enhance your active driving skills and road safety awareness (all based on Safe Drive Training's extensive research into road crashes and driver behaviour).

The course covers:

At the end of the day, you will be surprised how little your driver's licence taught you and what years of experience have failed to show you.

	CLICK HERE TO SEE A PARTICIPANTS VIDEO ABOUT THE COURSE

Check out the many testimonials from parents, teachers and novice drivers. 98% of participants believe this course should be compulsory!

	What is the REAL FATAL 4? Safe Drive Training developed the Real Fatal 4 Factors in Novice Driver Crashes in 1999. It is our belief these 4 factors are the underlying reason why so many novice drivers are killed on Australian roads. OVERCONFIDENCE RISK-TAKING INEXPERIENCE PEER INFLUENCE

Who can attend?

The course is open to all drivers of any age. Many parents attend with their teenager and benefit from the experience. However the majority of participants are under 25. Safe Drive Training requires all participants to have had a minimum of 5 hours of driving experience. This is not a learn-to-drive course. Please do not attend if you cannot drive, steer or brake

Why attend the course?

Novice drivers already think they are experts and that a crash won’t happen to them, but this course can reduce the risks, the embarrassment, injury and enormous costs of having a crash. The course is also heaps of fun and a great experience.

But I am already a good driver!

Are you sure? Most people regard themselves as an above average driver. Good drivers are not born they are made. Our course will show you things you will not otherwise discover about driving safely. We guarantee that even the most experienced driver will learn a lot from this course.

We make good drivers out of those that already think they are!

What is the cost?

Private Individuals (inc. GST)

School groups (inc. GST)

The Safe Drive Test Drive program is offered annually to over 950 High Schools throughout Queensland and New South Wales. School groups pre-book an attendance date.

Click here to download a list of participating schools

As a group discount, students attending through schools pay different attendance fees:

The prices shown above include GST, however schools may elect to charge students the ex-GST price and process the attendance fees as a school excursion and therefore claim the GST refund

Why is the course so inexpensive?

Since Safe Drive Training is the largest supplier of novice driver education in Australia we can offer low attendance fees compared to our competitors who run only occasional courses and despite using the same venues as us, charge $250 - $350 per person which does not include the supply of training cars.

When are courses held?

Each course commences at 8:30 am and concludes before 4:00 pm.

In Brisbane and Sydney courses are held on most weekends and many weekdays throughout the year. In most regional locations courses are held every few months.

Click below to download upcoming course dates:

DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM

How do I get to the venue?

Private individuals must make their own transport arrangements.

A map and attendance details will be sent to you.

Can I use my own car?

No, because you won't always drive your current vehicle. The Safe Drive Test Drive program will allow you to test drive yourself whilst test driving a range of specially modified vehicles.

These cars are deliberately set-up for you to experience the limits and characteristics of:

Participants are encouraged to test drive all cars to understand the unique characteristics of each.

Click here for more information on our training car fleet.

If you want to use your own car you can do so at our Advanced Car Control course.

How do I enrol?

Please download our 2011 Enrolment Form:

<Brisbane version> <Sydney/Canberra version> <Regional QLD & NSW version>

Private participants should return the enrolment form and full payment to Safe Drive Training. Please note the date you wish to attend the course on. If attending with a school group, return the enrolment form to the course co-ordinator at your school.

Booking Policy

Payment must be made in advance to confirm your attendance. Failure to attend a booked course is just like any concert, your seat is still consumed in your absence. Therefore under no circumstances will a refund or rebooking be available for non-attendance unless cancellation is received more than 2 days in advance.

Do we use skid-frames or skid pans in the Safe Drive Test Drive Program?

No, we do not use skid-frames as they provide artificial simulation of how a car behaves when skidding.

Safe Drive Training does use a skid pan for our specialized Skid Pan Experience and Drift School Motorsport Program, but attendance is limited to drivers over 21 or those that have completed the Safe Drive Test Drive Program, these dedicated programs allow the time to correctly teach these techniques.

Best practice training for novice drivers is for skill failure experiences that provide an insight into their own capabilities and a vehicles limitations.

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SPECIAL OFFERS & HANDOUTS:

	Course Notes: All participants receive FREE ACCESS to our on-line Safe Driving Directory which contains 100's of pages of safe driving tips and road safety information which is constantly being updated and expanded. Unlike other training companies we do not charge fees for passwords to access on-line information
	Certificate of Attendance: All participants will receive a quality Certificate of Course Completion for display in their portfolio. Many of Australia’s largest companies now require staff to undertake Defensive Driving Courses as part of their employment. As such this certificate may be beneficial to participants when applying for a job position especially if driving is involved. Participants can also show certificates when renewing car/life/medical insurance as rebates or discounts are available from certain insurance companies.
	Phone Condom: Distracted driving is a major problem for young drivers on Australian roads. All course participants will receive a Phone Condom , this practical zip-up PVC bag reminds mobile phone users to zip-up phone distractions while driving. When the phone is in the bag, the message couldn't be clearer "Park Your Phone, Drive Your Car."

SAFE DRIVE GUARANTEE:

	We are so confident that our driver training course will make better drivers, we GUARANTEE IT. Any participant completing the SAFE DRIVE TEST DRIVE course that has an AT FAULT accident within 12 MONTHS OR 20,000 km of the course date will be able to re-attend the SAFE DRIVE TEST DRIVE course AT NO EXTRA CHARGE

WARNING ON POST LICENCE TRAINING:

Research has shown that the training methodology adopted by some advanced (post-licence) driving schools is flawed. The courses introduce advanced/motor sport car control skills without addressing behavioral and attitudinal changes in those gaining these skills. This in turn can produce drivers with greater confidence who readily accept more risk; possibly leading to an increased level of crash involvement for course participants. All Safe Drive Training courses are based on proven worlds best practice training techniques to ensure participants improve their driving safety and ultimately become the best driver they can be.

LOGBOOK HOURS:

Amazingly, Queensland Transport does not recognize attendance at any defensive/advanced driving courses as counting towards the 100 hours of logbook experience required by L-plate drivers. Therefore the hours of essential driving theory and practical skills training undertaken at this course cannot be credited towards your logbook hours. Participants at this course will be asked to sign a petition to change this decision.

Click here to read the Courier Mail story on this issue

DOWNLOADS:

SDTD Course Brochure

2012 course dates:

DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM

2011 Enrolment Form:

<Brisbane version> <Sydney/Canberra version> <Regional QLD & NSW version>

CLICK HERE for Defensive Driving for Company Fleets

CLICK HERE for School Driver Training programs

	CLICK HERE TO SEE A PARTICIPANTS VIDEO ABOUT THE COURSE