Having emigrated to New Zealand from the UK last year, I was forced to recognise an unpalatable truth – to get to where I really want to get in New Zealand, I’d have to learn to drive rather than rely on public transport. Eek! So when eDrive, a virtual driver training programme, ran a deal with GrabOne earlier this year, they offered us the chance to go for a test-drive – and I was first in line.
Signing into eDrive, I was impressed – bright, cartoon-esque graphics instilled a sense of fun and game-like quality, although not detracting from the serious aim of the programme. Fabulously interactive graphics mingled with a consistent journey theme as you travel through a postcard.
eDrive literally puts you in the driving seat as you ‘drive’ through a series of driving scenarios, all filmed around New Zealand which adds a great local touch. Don’t expect this to be a driving game though – the focus here is on the skills you need to be a safe and confident driving – think hazard spotting, field of vision and risk management. The stages are broken down into a series of exercises which include multiple choice questions at the end of the videos and clicking hazards as they appear or when the car comes to a stop. You quickly become accustomed to the incredibly important skill of scanning all around you when in the car – you constantly need to check wing mirrors, the rear view mirror, windscreen, peripheries…
The exercises are perfectly bite-sized, with fantastic picture quality and incredibly detailed graphics (check out the accurately moving speedometer, left and right indicators and even things like broken wing mirrors). Simple and clear instructions keep the programme fast-paced and you quickly build up your learning, from the basics to more advanced skills. With a range of scenarios, including night time driving, sun strike, city and country locations, the experience offered is vast. If, like me, you do get exercises wrong, you’re forced to re-watch to cement your learning and see where you went wrong the first time.
eDrive is a truly Kiwi driving experience, with plenty of Kiwi-isms as praise and familiar landscapes. What I really loved was the ability to just dip into the programme – fit a quick go in if you’ve just got a spare 10 minutes or devote a whole hour (like I did). For me, I felt that eDrive further developed the skills I’m gaining as I learn to drive and I know I’ll feel safer behind the wheel when I next hop in the car.