It's your first day at one of Advanced Driver Training Class. You have waited for this opportunity for some time and are finally ready to take the vehicle to its max. The day progresses and you feel that you have a good handle on the technique, however as your instructor increases the speed from lap to lap you find out quickly that with added speed your newly found technique has become harder and harder to perfect. While you managed to progress to a proficient speed, some laps were good some not so good, but overall you're feeling pretty confident. Your car nears the starting gate and over the radio comes a surprising message from your instructor. The instructor says, "your next three runs are for test". You’re thinking to yourself, test, nobody said anything about a test. Oh well, you decide that you have successfully completed the slalom around 36-38 mph several times, so your going to attempt the perfect score. A perfect score would mean holding your speed steady at 38 mph as you weave between four evenly spaced traffic cones. You assure yourself that you can do it. Feeling confident your foot presses on the gas pedal and your vehicle starts out down the runway. Everything feels good; car placement is perfect as you turn the steering wheel to the right and round the first cone. Quickly you turn the wheel to the left and negotiate your way around the second of four cones. As your car approaches the third cone you feel the vehicle starting to slide, you jerk the wheel back to try to correct the situation, to late the Laws of Physics just took over the controls and you find yourself seeing in all four directions without moving your head. As your cars spins out of control in a series of 360s, smoke pouring from the tires as they screech across the track, your classmates look on, some in laughter and some in horror, but all wishing they weren't next in line. Finally the car comes to a stop. From the first cone to the place where the car landed felt like forever, but only took about 3-4 seconds. After a series of loud "STAY ON THE BRAKES" from your instructor he says, "welcome to the spin out club". You just earned the title "Cone Killer" for the rest of the course.

The scenario above describes "The Slalom Course", the first exercise at a typical Advanced Driving & Security Inc. (ADSI) Protective Driving Program. Our instructors love the smell of over heated brakes and smoking tires. However, in all seriousness there is a huge importance to proper training. We can make it a lot of fun but we must remember the bottom line, which is proper training saves lives. The harder a student works in training sessions, the more proficient their skills will become for the real world, we are firm believers in the saying "practice does not make perfect but, perfect practice makes perfect."

The answer to perfect practice is first good instruction. The most important element to any professional school is a solid proven curriculum and exceptional instructors. Instructors who not only know the material but, have the natural ability to interpret complicated information and simplify it to a form that students can easily absorb. A successful instructor is not just a dictator of information, but a true leader. A leader has the ability to understand people as well as direct, educate and coach them. They are true visionaries who can see the students’ strengths and push them toward a successful path. Most of all, good instructors must have a genuine love for the subject matter and believe in educating their students. These traits will be recognized quickly and allow the student to have faith in the instructor and willingly follow their direction.

The first criteria we look for when hiring a new instructor is a person with good people skills and the gift of being a natural teacher. Secondly, we look at "real world" skills and past job history. To allow a driving school to have a well rounded mind set it is important to hire instructors from a variety of backgrounds such as Teaching, Law Enforcement, Military, Racing and Stunt Driving. To some this hiring process may sound backwards however the students’ success depends on the quality of instruction given. Therefore, instruction should be the most important element in any training school. No matter what their background instructors should share a common interest in the subject matter, and most of all they should take pride in helping the student reach proficiency in the specific topic being taught. (Check out our instructors’ resumes on www.1adsi.com)

So what is the main objective that our instructors are teaching? I would like to go back to the second paragraph where I stressed “the bottom line is proper training saves lives”. When training a Security Driver, Executive Protection Unit, or for that matter anyone in need of personal security we need to remember lives are at stake. For whatever reason (could be many) our principle could be targeted or even worse has already been targeted. A target who if captured is worth a large amount of money or if killed could bring about detrimental changes. This is probably a good time to add the fact that if the terrorist got as far as capturing or killing the principal, the Driver and Protection team is not released and nicely asked to go home. Some would say that if the driver makes it out so does the principle. Therefore in our world, the world where we have one chance to survive, we need to teach "Speed Kills… Precision Counts… Drive To Survive". Students need to know that in the event of an attack they may only have one chance for survival and that one chance better be successful. Knowing how to use the vehicle to its fullest potential, having the ability to sense when the vehicle is reaching it’s limitations and staying within these limits is an extremely important part of driving out of the kill zone. It could be the difference between making it to a safe haven or landing in a ditch 100 feet from the attackers. After students understand Vehicle Dynamics and the fine line between loss of control and out of control, then we can concentrate on more advanced security techniques concerning escaping the kill zone. These techniques include time and distance and reacting to an attack. If a driver reacts within the first two to three seconds of when he/she recognizes the dangerous situation they have just increased their chances of survival ten fold. We require our students to put a minimum of ninety feet between themselves and the attack in under five seconds. Whether performing forward or reverse 180, ramming through a barricade, or just driving around a potential attack having enough time and distance is crucial to the result of life or death. After understanding the time and distance theory and the ability to recognize a dangerous situation whether accident or ambush our students must perfect these techniques so they can be performed without any hesitation just pure instinct and muscle memory.

How do you know if your driver has the skill to perform in this mannerism? It is essential when looking for a training school one asks about testing procedures and scoring systems. An experienced and professional school will have a structured test procedure in place so that the student can be properly evaluated. This evaluation must be based on solid evidence that can be proven. When your driver goes off to Security Driver Training it is nice if they are entertained but for the conscientious Corporate Security Director/Transportation Manager or owner of a Private Executive Protection firm it is critical that written proof is on file that your driver was evaluated and possesses the skills required to serve as a Security Driver. It is one thing to say a driver went fast, drove well, or did not hit anything but what does that really mean? A professional school must bring testing and scoring to a totally different level. A report should be sent to the client stating on this particular day, with these particular conditions this driver was able to demonstrate the ability to utilize xx % of the cars capabilities (hopefully about 90%), and your driver proved to maintain a competent level under induced stress. ADSI’s test is based on mathematics and the Laws of Physics. Each radius is pre-measured, speeds are controlled and we know the limitations of our cars. Any Accident Reconstructionist knows that when you put these variables into a Lateral Acceleration or Rate of Deceleration formulas the result will show how much of the cars capabilities were utilized to get through a particular turn or brought to an emergency stop. This process demonstrates the drivers understanding of the subject matter and skill level in utilizing the vehicles capabilities. Who would you want driving the CEO of your company or driving your family, a driver who is capable of using 30% of the bosses Ferrari or a driver who can successfully use 90% of his family mini-van? When there is an obstacle in your path of travel 60 feet away traveling at 45 MPH or over you better hope that the driver can utilize at least 90% of that vehicle's performance capabilities and not exceed them.

In summary a professional driver does not need to know how to drive fast but to control speed relevant to the situation and terrain. They will need to know how to adjust, understand, and drive within the vehicle’s limitations, their skill limitations and the environment in which they are driving within.

Based on ten years of training Corporate Security Drivers and Executive Protection Teams, here is a brief list outlining the minimal characteristics that we feel a necessary for a good security driver selection?

1. Clean driving record.
2. Clean criminal and civil background check.
3. Has obtained any necessary certificates or permits pertinent to the job and/or environment i.e. CDL, Chauffeur’s License, Carry Permit, etc.
4. Drug and alcohol free as well as sound medical condition. (eyes and reflexes)
5. Personality and attitude necessary to read and adapt to different corporate situations. (Respects boundaries between principal and driver’s role)
6. Willingness to follow orders.
7. Demonstrates traits of discretion and trustworthiness when referring to conversations and business matters taken place in the vehicle.
8. Accommodating to principal’s wishes, however willing to properly advise in the event of a possible threatening situation.
9. Well spoken and possesses good communication skills (bilingual a plus)
10. Certified in First Aid, CPR and AED.
11. Ability to recognize, perceive and react quickly to a dangerous situation.
12. Observant to surroundings - Surveillance Detection skills.
13. Understands company’s use of force policy, laws and legalities in using a car as a weapon.
14. Extensive knowledge of environment and dedication necessary to advance new routes.
15. Overall excellent driving skills and the ability to use a car to its full potential when need be. (accident or ambush)