Defender Safety

instead of advanced driving, maybe just a harder test... more exposure to situations etc etc..

was it top gear that showed the finnish system.. they expose the kids to skidpans etc etc and make sure even if they are driving unsafely they have some clue of how to control the car...

same argument tho... it could instill over confidence, but then again it may make them realise that you cannot brake hard enough and fast enough when you are 6ft from someones rear bumper!

As for the OP well i dont have kids, but i would trust my defender. the only thing i think it needs is new seats in the rear as they are quite poor for passengers...


Steve

Young people are overconfident anyway.

Driver training won;t make them over over confident.

But the skills may well save their life in a situation where their overconfidence leads them into a dangerous situation.

its simple really,,
how do you know what an out of control car does,
till you try and drive one thats out of control?

and NO_ONE crashes whilst in control,, do they.

This is what the NRMA has to say on the subject onto which this thread seems to have drifted.

Will an Advanced Driving Course help my Learner Driver?
Advanced driving courses are usually one day events located away from public roads. The NRMA does not recommend these courses for anyone under 25 years of age as they build over-confidence, with a resulting increase in crash statistics.
The courses often claim to make drivers safer, but they can have the opposite effect. Male drivers under 25 years of age, who are already over-represented in road fatality figures, are particularly at risk after attending such courses.
Many young people come to grief when they try to apply newly-learned high end car control skills on public roads. Drivers often become overconfident and more aggressive after attending these courses.
Racetracks and public roads are two completely different driving environments and young people often have difficulty drawing a distinction between the two.
Advanced driving courses can be fun but are better suited to mature drivers over 25 or those who are keen on amateur motor sport.
Defensive driving techniques are built into the NRMA Safer Driving Program. We teach young drivers how to react in all real world driving situations so they don't have to rely on emotional responses and undeveloped skills.

Source: Safer Driving FAQs - Safer Driving School - NRMA Motoring & Services

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Originally Posted by vnx205

This is what the NRMA has to say on the subject onto which this thread seems to have drifted.

Will an Advanced Driving Course help my Learner Driver?
Advanced driving courses are usually one day events located away from public roads. The NRMA does not recommend these courses for anyone under 25 years of age as they build over-confidence, with a resulting increase in crash statistics.
The courses often claim to make drivers safer, but they can have the opposite effect. Male drivers under 25 years of age, who are already over-represented in road fatality figures, are particularly at risk after attending such courses.
Many young people come to grief when they try to apply newly-learned high end car control skills on public roads. Drivers often become overconfident and more aggressive after attending these courses.
Racetracks and public roads are two completely different driving environments and young people often have difficulty drawing a distinction between the two.
Advanced driving courses can be fun but are better suited to mature drivers over 25 or those who are keen on amateur motor sport.
Defensive driving techniques are built into the NRMA Safer Driving Program. We teach young drivers how to react in all real world driving situations so they don't have to rely on emotional responses and undeveloped skills.

Source: Safer Driving FAQs - Safer Driving School - NRMA Motoring & Services

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Could it be that drivers who have a tendency or wish to drive more dangerously (or simply faster) will seek out advanced driver training to develop their skills? IMO this is more likely the case.

First a few facts then an opinion:
Airbags are now mostly set for each country according to laws and practices: e.g U.S have a lower speed setting as most drivers/ states dont require seat belts to be used so the bag has to stop a seppo in full flight whereas in Aus. belts and usage are law and around the 98% mark so the bags are set slower and to pop at a higher kph speed.
NSW under 7's need a booster seat and it is required that all other seats are filled before they sit in the front with the pass. bag
A 98 jeep wrangler I drove had a warning on the passenger side that no kids under(from memory) 12 sit there.
EARLY PROFESSIONAL LEARNER DRIVER TRAINING at purpose built facilities has been proven to reduce death and accident rates signifigaintly since it's introduction in AUSTRIA. This is a fact.
In my opinion I would and do trust my defender to carry my children.:D

Thanks to all of you who provided an intelligent response to the question in topic.

I'm now more confident that the Defender is up to the task, and I'm not being irresponsible in placing my kids in it. :BigThumb:

Changed my mind now that the question has been satisfactorily answered :)

apparently air bags are harm full to kids when they come out so the landy is the choice car to carry all them little kiddies around

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NOZ

Advanced driving is something I think should be manditory for all new drivers and be part of passing your driving test, but if you have a tyre give out at 80ks as suggested earlier then all the training in the world wont save you, it will be up to the saftey of your vehicle.

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yes no maybe, it depends on what you define an advanced driver course as.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by incisor

dam sure i saw something not long ago that led me to believe the major motoring organizations beg to differ as it instills too much confidence.

will go looking when i get time...

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yep, young drivers (generally males) would then go an put their new advanced "skills" to the test in public.

IMHO some of the things that have been done like limiting max power of the vehicle for P platers are a good step but poorly implemented, sending them out on the "offensive drivers course" on a skid pan is a bad idea. Teaching them to drive their vehicle like it was an old school inter road train with vac actuated baby drum brakes on all 6 wheels an none on the trailer would be a better idea.

as for the safety of the vehicle, I drive and have driven Alex around in pretty much every varient of a landrover except the freelander and the FC's and thats only because I dont know anyone who has one that would be taking me + Alex somewhere.