Benz teaches our young safety

The German company has launched an education course called First Gear. It is designed to teach new drivers about the safety systems available on its cars and demonstrate their use.

First Gear is open to the family of customers and their friends under 24 years of age.

Mercedes chief driving instructor Peter Hackett leads the program. The former Australian Formula Three champion has assembled eight instructors for the half-day schedule.

First Gear is the latest addition to Mercedes' Active Safety Experience.

This year Hackett and his team will hold 110 driver training days throughout Australia and Asia.

The idea for the course came after the company's older customers took part in the Active Safety Experience and wanted their children do it.

The demand was such that Mercedes added the new course. It comes at the perfect time as the Victorian Government changes the way new drivers have to earn a licence as well as the news that electronic stability control will become standard on all cars by 2011.

Mercedes believes so strongly that the technology is crucial to cutting the road toll; it is offering its patented technology free to any rival carmaker who wants it.

The First Gear course highlights just how effective it can be. The local program has a C Class on a hydraulic rig that can raise and lower front and rear wheels to simulate a loss of traction.

When the ESP system is not turned on, the wheels spin with ease and the car is hard to control as the instructor guides you through the marked layout. When the system is switched on you can put your foot down and the system does the rest. It modulates the brakes and throttle to keep the car under control.

It is an eye-opener for the young drivers doing the course.

The rest of the day involves experiencing the Anti-Lock Braking System and working on steering control.