2022 Winter Driving Clinic Recap
Winters in the Pacific Northwest are often met with mild but wet conditions. Despite the advances in tire technology over the past several years, these conditions lead to lower grip levels where the rubber meets the road. Even equipped with winter weather tires, a solid reminder of defensive driving techniques makes the roads a little bit safer for all of us.
After a 2-year hiatus, Club OpenRoad once again hosted its popular Winter Driving Clinic in January for Club members to learn some new skills, brush up on some old ones and break some of those pesky bad habits that we all build over time. The event was held at the Lansdowne Centre parking lot, centrally located in Richmond, BC. Club OpenRoad members from all over the Lower Mainland came out to practice some valuable driving skills in their own vehicles.
The two-day event offered several morning and afternoon sessions, all of them beginning with a meeting in the main tent for an instructional lecture by the professional driving instructors. After a short break, Club members were split into groups and got behind the wheel of their cars to put theory into practice. The main goal of the program was to allow students to get a better feel for the limits of their vehicles in unpredictable conditions, and build their confidence in emergency situations. The purpose-built, wide-open course offered a safe and controlled environment to push the limits while minimizing the risk of damage to vehicles and drivers alike.
The exercises included slalom, hard braking, and dynamic handling exercises, which were all supervised by the professional driving instructors. After each run, members received feedback to improve technique for subsequent runs in each exercise. Drivers were treated to a catered lunch before hitting the (safer) road, with next year’s program already firmly on their minds. Interested in joining the next Club OpenRoad event? Make sure you’re an activated member and watch your email inbox for the next event invitation!
