Staying Safe In The Driving Seat With Sturgess

[Newsroom]

Leicester’s women drivers pick up tips on how to avoid the perils of the road Road rage, car awareness and driving defensively were once again top of the bill for the third in a series of car confidence evening courses held by Jaguar Land Rover dealer Sturgess in Leicester this month.

With stories about aggressive driving behaviour never far from the headlines, more than 130 women (and quite a few men) attending a Women in Gear car workshop evening at Sturgess of Leicester on May 13 turned out en masse to learn about driving in today’s stressful conditions.

There was so much to learn about - how to change a wheel, roadside get-youhome tips, defensive driving and how to ward off a possible ‘road rage’ attacker. Self-protection specialist Grant Hicks made the subject of defending yourself from a would-be mugger both entertaining and instructive. He developed the personal safety theme and demonstrated a quick-fire method of foiling a wouldbe assailant, which involved disarming him - or her - in three easy moves with the aid of everyday objects such as car keys or a pen.

The evening continued with the psychology behind dangerous and aggressive driving behaviour and dealing with behind-the-wheel bullies, explored by ex- Police Chief Inspector Vic Botterill, who invited members of the audience to share their experiences - often with dramatic revelations about their own behaviour when under pressure.

“It’s aggressive and angry behaviour behind the wheel that creates the sorts of incidents we have all been hearing about recently. It usually starts with something minor - a flash of the headlights, a sound of a horn, then a bit of verbal abuse and the next thing is there’s an ugly confrontation - or worse. In places like the local supermarket, everyone’s polite. It’s ‘after you’, ‘no, after you’, but not on the road. I think people mostly get aggressive on the road because of stress and the car becomes an extension of us,” added Vic.

Others were surprised to find they were the aggressors themselves. “I’d give them a piece of my mind,” one woman protested. “Yes,” countered Vic, “but that’s inviting trouble and will only increase your stress level. And, if you’re wound up,you’re going to pay less attention to the road.”

The security tips and safe driving presentation over, the visitors then headed for Sturgess’s workshops. Here, volunteers were encouraged to try changing a car’s wheel under the expert eye of the Jaguar Land Rover dealership’s service technicians and were given practical advice including dealing with roadside emergencies, routine car maintenance and checking oil and fluid levels.

Clare Freer, who is company secretary of Wigston-based medical plastics manufacturer Meason Freer, welcomed Sturgess of Leicester’s practical approach. “I came because I felt I needed some practical advice and experience of dealing with situations we might encounter on today’s roads. I don’t think women can afford any longer to ignore the dangers on our roads and I certainly feel a lot happier about being able to deal with roadside emergencies,” she confessed. “Sturgess’s Women in Gear evening was well organised and great fun too. I feel that I have learned something useful about my car today.”

Sue Moriarty, who works for a local pharmacy, brought her two daughters with her who had just learned to drive and whom she felt needed more experience of the road: “I particularly wanted to learn about how to steer clear of confrontation situations that can lead to ‘road rage’ attacks and what one is supposed to do. Courses like these equip women to take control in these situations and be better able to cope with today’s road conditions,” she said.