A comprehensive defensive driving program created by ALD Automotive in partnership with Titi Aur

Driving a car often seems a simple gesture which we are used to and which we might even consider inoffensive because of the daily driving routine. We sometimes might forget our responsibility for the passengers in our car and for the other drivers on the road. A defensive driving course reminds us about being responsible and also teaches us how to improve our driving skills, by making us more attentive and increasing our capability

October 2012 - From the Print Edition

An ALD defensive driving program

In September last year, ALD Automotive officially launched its defensive driving program, which is offered in exclusive partnership with the Titi Aur defensive driving and piloting School. The program is designed for all ALD Automotive customers and represents the solution to a safer driving behavior, as well as a tool to optimize the vehicle fleet costs.
With a fleet of more than 7,000 vehicles, ALD Automotive is aware of the significance such a program has for the employees of its customers. Offering programs focused on defensive and even ecological driving is a main concern for the ALD Group, so developing a local program in Romania was just a matter of time.
After a one year experience in defensive driving courses, the company provides in partnership with Titi Aur one of the most comprehensive programs on the Romanian market, which perfectly combines theoretical and practical courses:
"Choosing the most experienced defensive driving trainer on the market was not difficult, as Titi Aur and his team proved their abilities to teach drivers how to adopt a defensive driving behavior and improve their skills behind the wheel. He has been providing companies with defensive driving courses for more than 12 years and during this period of time he has trained over 20,000 course participants. We are pleased to say that 400 of the ALD vehicle drivers have attended the courses since the ALD program was launched. The positive feedback received from our customers encourages us to further develop the program and invest in our partnership with Titi Aur", said Shane Dowling, ALD Automotive General Manager.

A flourishing partnership

ALD Automotive summarized the first results of the program for a sample of 350 of the drivers attending the courses: approximately 75% of the drivers, who registered vehicle damages before attending the courses, decreased their number of damages after the program.
"We are happy to know that the program has positive results after only one year of implementation and we′re confident that our partnership with ALD Automotive is an initiative which will contribute to achieving a more responsible driving style for the ALD clients", concluded Titi Aur.

Why to attend the ALD program?

The program has several impacts on the administration of a vehicle fleet and is focused on a full range of fleet cost reductions, thus companies will:
- decrease the costs related to vehicle damages and accidents,
- reduce the number of replacement vehicle days,
- optimize the fuel consumption for the fleet,
- avoid unnecessary wear and tear of tires,
- ensure that a more economical driving style is adopted by the staff.

Other important benefits, which contribute to an increased level of motivation among the employees refer to improving their driving skills, ensure their road safety, reduce their absence due to injuries, reduce the time spent by the staff with the insurer or at repair shops and generally maintain a strong company image.


What you learn and practice

During the ALD Automotive defensive driving program, the participants attend a theoretical course, where they are instructed about:
- their company safety policy
- statistics, legislation,
- the first aid,
- the vehicle behavior: adherence, acceleration and braking, inertia, skidding, trajectory;
- defensive and economical driving techniques and
- dangerous actions when driving and negative effects.

The program is focused on a comprehensive practice of defensive driving techniques and vehicle control procedures within limited situations imposed by different traffic events:
- correct braking with and without ABS,
- vehicle control when skidding using specially designed car simulators,
- collision and overturn tests using special simulators.

The program is flexible in terms of mobility and the ALD Automotive customers can choose to schedule the defensive driving courses at the Titi Aur School, located in Bucharest or alternatively, they can have the program organized at their company premises.

This is possible through the school mobile unit, which allows the organization of theoretical courses and the practice of the vehicle simulators.
Further details at: www.ald-condusdefensiv.ro