The Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS) wants to see 3 000 of its members graduate in advanced driving courses by March, in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Around 940 operational members have already received training, with a pass rate of 65%. Members who fail may attend the course a second time.

Yokohama Driving Dynamics is responsible for the training, which is conducted at the Gerotek facility, near Pretoria, using vehicles supplied by General Motors South Africa (GMSA).

SAPS provincial supply chain management senior superintendent Tinus Swart says the training aims to improve police members' reaction time in reaching incidents, while also reducing the cost of civil claims filed against the police, as well as general accident bills.

The goal is for another 6 000 police members to receive training following the global sports event.

Swart says the training started in March this year, but that it is already possible to see a drop in fuel consumption in the Gauteng police fleet.

However, he notes that it is still too early to do a true assessment of the benefits garnered from the training.

Yokohama Driving Dynamics owner Grant McCleery says the SAPS course include several modules, such as skidpan driving, theory, high speed driving, defensive driving, as well as how to pull over and search another vehicle.

West Rand flying squad's superintendent Cornell de Lange tells Engineering News, while out on the skidpan testing the effects of ABS braking in wet conditions, that the "training should already have been implemented a long time ago. My observation is better, my awareness. It feels as if I can handle an emergency situation much better while out in my vehicle".

GMSA sold around 3 000 vehicles to the SAPS last year, largely Chevrolet Optras and Isuzu KB pick-ups.

The Yokohama Driving Dynamics academy won the training contract in an open tender.