Defensive and Off-Road Driving
In Egypt, road traffic accidents are the second major cause of death superseded
only by heart disease. With the majority of road accidents in Egypt caused by poor driving
habits and bad behaviour on the road, Exploration Logistics driving instructors were
called in to train Halliburton personnel in defensive and off-road driving.
Training was conducted in Ras Shukier with two students per day obtaining
instruction. The course concentrated on Occupational Training (LGV) with an emphasis
on safety awareness. All candidates from Halliburton had completed the light vehicle
defensive driving course prior to attending.
Instruction took place both in a classroom and in an outdoor area designated
for practical training adequate for the manoeuvring tests. After a tricky start with
an unroadworthy vehicle being supplied, a more suitable vehicle was hired to cover
the Class 2 training and this proved to be very successful. An interpreter was also
supplied to enable the English instructor to communicate more effectively with the
students.
Each day of training consisted of the following with two new
students participating per day:
- Student registration
- Daily theory checks
- Daily practical checks
- How the differential works
- How the differential lock works
- How the inter-axle differential works
- How the inter-axle differential selection switch works
- When to use the inter-axle differential switch and differential lock to best effect
- Leading a vehicle
- Axle weight limits
- Load restraint
- Tyre construction and fault diagnosis
- Instruction and fault diagnosis
- Instruction on manoeuvring both forward and backward
- Forward and reverse manoeuvring
Even though the emphasis in these training sessions dealt with light vehicle
training the surrounding area was not really suited for these types of vehicles.
Ras Gharib does not have enough traffic and the roads were dirt track. The instructor
felt that the students would have benefited from training sessions in Cairo.
Overall the structure of the class and the instruction given was successful and
of benefit to the personnel involved in light vehicle driving.
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