Volvo Car Malaysia's Selamat Driving Experience at SIC — here's what it was like

KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) took its Selamat road safety campaign initiative to the next step recently. Held at the newly opened SIC Driving Experience Centre in the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) throughout last weekend was its special Selamat Driving Experience safety driving course.

Besides current owners, VCM had opened pre-registration for the program to non-Volvo owners and customers too. Whilst the latter were subjected to a participation fee of RM300 per driver, existing VCM customers and owners were instead treated with a discounted participation fee of just RM150 per driver.

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We were invited for a special early session to experience the program ahead of its weekend running. Indeed, there was more to this driving course besides serving as an extension of VCM’s corporate social responsibility initiative mentioned. Here’s what we garnered from this specially curated driving course that lasted a good half-day.

Like most other programmes, the Selamat Driving Experience kicked off with a lengthy classroom session covering all the essential and basic theories. This session also aided participants in assessing and identifying common bad habits and traits with certified instructors on hand before practising which across four key driving exercises.

Next, VCM pulled out all the stops for the ensuing exercises, fleeting all its current models for participants to sample and practice with first hand. Highlights include signature all-electric (EV) models like the EX30, EC40 and newly ES90, not forgetting staple best-sellers like the XC60 and XC90 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs too.

Arguably the most exciting drill here was the Skid Plate. Not only were driver skills properly tested here, much of the active safety and driver assist systems were also tested fully by participants in a safe controlled environment. Indeed, this was something many would not have a chance to fully experience outside programs as such.

Another key session was the Familiarisation Drive. Essentially, this allowed drivers to take several laps of the Handling Course section in the SIC Driving Experience Centre. The key aim for this exercise was for drivers to practice good sitting and steering position, expanding their driving vision, as well as practice to curb bad driving habits too.

The next key exercise is a common staple in any driving course – Emergency Lane Change. Through which, drivers were able to fully tests things like ABS and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems on top of sharpening up their reaction times. Critically, this also let participants fully experience the agility of modern Volvo models on offer today.

Also another staple basic driving course exercise conducted was the ABS Avoidance Manoeuvre drill. Again, this exercise allowed participating drivers to fully experience the safety systems equipped in current Volvo models plus sharpen their skills behind the wheel, all with the expert guidance and debriefs of certified instructors on hand too.

Whilst we’ll agree that much of the drills and exercises conducted are rather basic, we’ll argue that these are core basics worth refreshing on for any driver, regardless experience, mileage and vehicle type. Above all, these were also fitting with Volvo’s key brand image in pioneering safety on four wheels.

It’s unclear if VCM will set out to host another edition of the Selamat Driving Experience just yet. However, given the high turn-out of participants – online registrations were all filled up in less than three days! – from last weekend’s running, we won’t be surprised to see the Swedish marque conducting another round in the near future.