Fridae

Held over the 11 days from 9th April to 19th April, only 400 lucky participants consisting of mostly customers were able to get a slot in this sell-out program. Using a wide range of standard Mercedes-Benz vehicles, participants were guided by the helpful instructors through the following:

Slalom: Steering the vehicle around a row of cones.
Fun Rating: 5 out of 5

Braking: This exercise will stimulate a potentially dangerous situation which will necessitate evading an obstacle and then continuing the drive in the same lane.
Fun Rating: 2 out of 5

Evasive ABS Braking: This is for participants to experience pushing ABS to its limits. Objective is to learn how to co-ordinate hard braking and smooth steering movements to prevent under steer or skidding.
Fun Rating: 3 out of 5

Cornering: Participants will experience the cause of both under steer and over steer, as well as the effect of extreme driver behaviour when cornering.
Fun Rating: 3 out of 5

Braking on different surfaces: This is for drivers to experience the effect of ABS on two different road surfaces, including braking on a partially-slippery road surface.
Fun Rating: 2 out of 5

Lane Change: Demonstrates the effects of ESP to the driver the behaviours of a car over a stimulated dangerous situation when the ESP is turned on and off.
Fun Rating: 5 out of 5

Final Exercise: Play time. A test of how much you have learnt over the day. A lapped time over a course. One could sense the competitive spirit rising up to the occasion.

Safety and performance have always been integral to the Mercedes-Benz philosophy. There are plenty of evidence of the advancements car makers had been achieving in the pursuit of a safer car in both passive and active safety measures, perhaps a program as such held by Mercedes Benz, emphasizing on the driver's know-how under critical driving situation would be somewhat even more helpful.

Equipping the car with the state-of-the-art- safety technology is no strange thing to Mercedes Benz. But as the Aussie instructors were keen to point out, safety extends further than just in the progress in technology, the drivers behind the wheels of the vehicles play a major role in safety and performance.

Personally, I did have a lot of fun and a bruised left index finger. On another note, it was interesting to see Mercedes-Benz using their best selling cars in this event, and not AMG models which most customers aren't driving. Do contact your local Mercedes-Benz dealer for information on the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Annual Driving Experience, before the slots all get snapped up!

Participation Fee (2009):
Public Participation fee (S$400 per pax Weekday)
(S$600 per pax Weekends and P.H)

Mercedes-Benz Customer fee (S$300 per pax Weekday)
(S$500 per pax Weekends and P.H)