-Can I get a driving licence after taking your course?
- Yes. In driving school "Virazh", which is part of the Centre "Shturman" you can listen to the full course of the theory and obtain a driving license categories "A" and "B".
-Maybe I should use your services after getting a driving license at the driving school?
-The fewer skills you gain at the driving school, the easier it will be for you to master the right technique. People who come to us after the driving school need to be trained completely anew. Our students usually don`t attend practical classes at the driving school.
-Do you train beginners?
-Yes, of course. Beginners make up most part of our clientele, and we are proud to say that we help them reach a very high level of driving skills. As already said, the less you can, the easier it will be for us to train you. It`s common knowledge that retraining is always very difficult. So, if you come to us without any driving experience at all - you are very lucky! You are free of negative experience, misjudgements, and dangerous habits which all the skilled drivers possess. More...
-Where do classes take place?
-We work on a specially equipped motordrome near the Yugo-Zapadnaya underground station. The motordrome dimensions allow holding classes of any complexity - from the first steps to dynamic anti-accident training, as well as contests on speed maneuvering.
-Where do your training routes lie?
-We have no training routes. We do not drive in quiet little streets. Our classes are held on busy roads both in the city and outside it. We explore the city, follow your individual routes - to work, school, kindergarten, shopping mall, dacha, garage, etc. Moreover, having proven that slow driving is not less risky than superfast one, we preach dynamic driving in the traffic flow.
-What cars do you use?
-Our students drive only new cars of foreign manufacturers. Here comes an important addition! We are the only center that trains our students in the cars without pedals of dual control in the city traffic. This becomes possible after our students have polished their driving skills on the motordrome. Being confident in skills their students have gained, our instructors hold their classes in the difficult city environment in usual cars.
-When will we drive in the city?
- This issue is very individual, and there is no need to hurry. The first successful driving in the city inspires very much, but to reach success, you need preliminary training.
-I don`t need to train on the motordrome. Can I just take classes with your instructor in the city?
- Even if you have more than twenty-year driving experience, we won`t go to the city at once, unless it is a scheduled testing. There is no sense in driving in the city until basic driving techniques are not polished on the motordrome. This service is offered by numerous private instructors, but we think that such training brings zero efficiency.
-What is your difference from the traditional driving school?
-We have absolutely NOTHING in common with the driving school. You will understand it in the very first class.
-Do you have simulator training?
-Yes, but..Unlike many schools where simulators are considered a mere formality, we put great value upon simulator training. Moreover, our driving training is based on the steering technique. Do you know that in most elite driving schools an impressive word "simulator" implies usual steering wheels adjusted to the desks in the classroom? We think that training on such stimulators, students can only familiarize themselves with the steering technique. To get high results in this area, you need to train in a real vehicle. A steering wheel adjusted to the desk will NEVER convey efforts and reactions arising when you drive a real car. You won`t be able to understand how trajectory of the moving car is connected with speed and steering manner. For this reason we ruled out such simulators and teach the steering technique in the real vehicle ONLY. We can say in all modesty that our practices of steering technique teaching are incomparable in their effectiveness, and even professional sport drivers admire our students` skills.
-How many classes need I take?
-To answer this question, we need to know your tasks and goals and estimate the level of your skills. After a preliminary testing, the instructor will design your individual program. The first classes will show how fast you learn. So, after several classes, relying on the instructor`s advice, the student can say how many classes he/she would like to take.
-Do you teach extreme driving?
-Oh, we dislike the word "extreme" so much! We think that the very fact of the driver getting into the car is extreme. The most extreme thing is to drive poorly - as most drivers do! How can you tell where the borderline between extreme and non-extreme driving lies? We have noticed that the word "extreme" has become very fashionable and acts like a bait for those willing to get adrenaline rush in a couple of classes. They are ready to pay lots of money, thinking that such an express driving course can let them "feel" the car! One more surprising thing - driving schools tend to provide such classes only for experienced drivers, as if beginners didn`t need to "feel" the car! We all go the same roads, drive the same cars, so we all must be able to get out of a difficult road case, and what is even better - to avoid it.
-Can you teach me how to U-turn?
- Actually, this element is called "a reverse 180-degree turn". To be honest, we don`t focus on this element: all our students do it as a part of the winter driving course. Moreover, it takes no more than 15-20 minutes to master this element. This exercise allows improve coordination of movements, as well as be ready for the car rotating and stabilize it. We would like to warn you against doing this element on your own. It is hard to do it without correct feet movements and polished steering technique. Lack of knowledge and mistakes may cause overturning.
-What courses do you offer?
-Our center`s major distinctive feature is an individual approach to each of our students, so we design individual programs. We have no group classes, one instructor teaches just one student! We think that only this form of training allows to control the tiniest elements of the driving technique - posture, head bending, hands position on the steering wheel, breath, etc. Moreover, only this form of training gives the opportunity to take into account the student`s psychological state and his/her peculiar features.
-What are your working hours?
-We work weekdays only, 8.00 - 22.00
-My wife is afraid of driving. Can you help her?
-As women and teenagers constitute the most part of our students, we continuously face problems caused by emotional traumas after a recent or old car accident; intimidating stories told by experienced drivers; shock after the first untimely driving in the city with a husband or an instructor, etc. Being more sensitive and emotional than men, women are easily influenced by various stereotypes and attitudes, such as: limiting belief ("I will never learn how to drive", "All women are not capable of driving "); certainty about lack of abilities ("I have slow reaction", "I can`t orientate myself around the city"); negative opinions, friends` and relatives` experience, their false ideas of driving. Many men experience the same problems and doubts, but they are used to hiding them. There are two ways to overcome negative attitudes: - "by word" - the instructor`s positive mood, his ability to create a favorable psychological environment, focus on success, his ability of being tolerant, reserved, and tactful. - "by practice" - step-by-step polishing all the driving technique elements. By scoring success at every stage the student is gaining increased confidence of his/her strengths.
-My husband doesn`t want to hear of me driving a car.
- Such attitude may be caused by two reasons. Firstly, knowing how hard it is to drive on the chaotic city, the man who loves you may fear for your life. Secondly, a lot of men don`t want women to interfere in such a traditionally masculine area as driving a car. Driving means gaining freedom and independency in movements - the thing not all men are ready to put up with. Women who depend on their men financially often have to obey their decisions because the woman`s inability to do something flatters the man a lot. The fact that women think they can`t drive didn't develop on its own. This misjudgement is almost always caused by negative statements of men - husbands, fathers, close friends, and acquaintances.
-I think I am not capable of driving at all. This is not my cup of tea.
"We, men, after working with women for more than 20 years, have to admit that you are much more talented than us. You are more disciplined and easy-to-teach. You have stronger senses of beauty and self-preservation. Finally, you don`t suffer from hang-ups typical for us men. Come to us! We will teach you a rational driving technique and skilled maneuvering in the city, help you comprehend psychology of the flow and become a rightful members of the drivers` community. We will inspire you with confidence and give you joy! Men will be proud of you and…be jealous! " This paragraph was written more than 10 years ago but even today we still have nothing to add… :)
-Do you teach children and teenagers?
-Yes, of course! Our youngest student is 9 years old. This is the age when success after the first couple of lessons can greatly surprise parents as well as instructors. Children of this age absorb information very fast. Moreover, the ability to drive a car improves the child`s self-esteem greatly. Our students` parents say that after learning what a vehicle is, their children have become much more disciplined pedestrians. Teenagers don`t get into their friend`s car, who is a poor driver. We will try to teach them to value their life. Amusing and interesting driving classes can be the best reward for good grades at school.
-How many people can take classes at once?
-A standard schedule implies no more than 5 cars under the condition 1 instructor for 1 car. Our center does not provide group classes! We consider group classes as ineffective as training simulators.
-What can you give for 2 hours?
-We will conduct a testing with detailed discussion of results; train the right posture; teach you the basics of driving technique and feet movement technique; explain the tactics of turning, driving around obstacles; train reverse driving; teach you parking methods.
-Can a person take a 4(6, 8)-hour class?
-It depends on the student`s stamina and the aim of training. The instructor has the right to vary the amount of training load. Practice has shown that 120-minute classes prove to be an optimal choice. By the end of the second hour students usually get tired and need a break before continuing their training on the same day.
-Do you have an insurance?
-The cars belonging to the center have an auto insurance with no limit on the number of drivers.
-What practices do you use?
-Practices developed by the Shturman Center`s employees more than 30 years ago made up the basis of training programs for agents at a number of KGB of the USSR and FSB of the Russian Federation departments; drivers at motor transport enterprises of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the Presidential Administration of Russia; drivers at private security services companies. Those practices were adjusted for teaching individuals.
-What documents shall I get?
-We issue a certificate in training.
-Can you conduct classes in other cities?
-Yes, this is possible.
-Do you drive with your students in the city?
-Of course we do. Competent driving in the city is the main goal of our training.
-Do you provide training for drivers-bodyguards?
-Yes, we do. Moreover, we have long-term partnership relations with some private security services companies. Their employees, who have taken our course, often bring their family members to us. More...
-Can you organize a holiday for our employees?
-Yes. For more information, please call +7 (495) 799-78-99.
-How much does a training session cost?
-One 120-minute training session in our car (1 instructor for 1 student) costs 5,000 rubles.