Cape Town’s first professional-grade skidpan facility to enhance road safety

In a landmark development for road safety education in the Western Cape, MasterDrive has officially inaugurated Cape Town’s first professional-grade skidpan training facility this March.

This state-of-the-art venue not only promises an exciting training ground for drivers but stands as a significant step towards better road safety practices across the region.

The new skidpan facility is designed to bridge a crucial gap in South Africa’s advanced driving landscape. “It provides a controlled environment where drivers can safely experience and learn to manage vehicle dynamics in challenging conditions,” explained MasterDrive CEO, Eugene Herbert.

The facility moves beyond traditional training methods, offering participants a chance to practice emergency braking, skid recovery, and vehicle control techniques in a supervised setting that closely mimics real-world scenarios without the perilous risks.

Herbert emphasised the importance of practical, hands-on training in enhancing road safety: “The benefits of skidpan training in road safety are well-documented internationally. Drivers gain invaluable experience in understanding vehicle behaviour during emergency situations.”

Through this facility, MasterDrive aims to elevate the standards of road safety education across South Africa, providing drivers with the critical skills necessary for safe driving.

Moreover, the skidpan is not exclusive to MasterDrive’s clientele. Eugene ‘Gino’ Nourse, General Manager for coastal regions, highlighted the facility’s accessibility to other accredited training providers, allowing them to impart essential skill sets to their participants. Additionally, social car clubs are encouraged to utilise the skidpan for skill development, thereby nurturing a culture of responsible driving among motorsport enthusiasts.

The commitment to community involvement extends further; organisations focused on community development can use the facility to train underserved and vulnerable driving communities, making every investment in the skidpan an investment in driver safety.

This initiative represents more than just the establishment of a training site—it is a pivotal collaborative approach to improving road safety that reaches far beyond commercial interests.

“MasterDrive is fostering an ecosystem where various organisations can contribute to reducing road fatalities, “Herbert concluded.