Volkswagen SA launches night driving safety online course

In partnership with its Advanced Driving Academy, Volkswagen SA has developed a night driving safety course.

The course was launched at a night-time event held at VW’s Zwartkops Raceway driving academy and attended by media and Road Traffic Management Corporation executives.

It is available to the public from November 1. 

The programme encompasses three main aspects: vehicle safety technologies, driver education and upskilling. A comprehensive and free online curriculum that is fully dedicated to night-time driving education has been developed.

It covers a range of night driving topics from understanding your vehicle, visibility and poor vision, driver fatigue, recklessness, personal safety, weather conditions and a host of factors that compromise a driver’s ability when on the roads after dark. Learners complete a test at the end of each chapter.

In addition to the online curriculum, Volkswagen’s Advanced Driving Academy will also offer a real-world theoretical and practical course using a range of VW products at the Zwartkops Raceway. It is priced at R3,500 and will be hosted by defensive driving instructors.

SA has one of the highest road accident fatality rates in the world, with over 55% of these fatal accidents occurring at night.

“With over half of our country’s fatal accidents occurring at night, we asked ourselves, then why do we all only learn to drive during the day?” said Bridget Harpur, head of marketing at Volkswagen SA Harpur.

“Through our night school curriculum we are hoping to provide a tangible and affective solution that will help play a part in reducing the country’s night-time road accident statistics and as a result, help save lives.”

Volkswagen SA has partnered with Spec-Savers and Vida e Caffe which will provide all curriculum graduates with additional rewards for completing the course.