SOCAR announced on the 21st that it will hold a discount event for "driver training vehicles" to help beginner and long-term license holders gain driving experience more safely.
SOCAR's driver training vehicles are specially equipped with auxiliary brakes on the passenger side. This allows a co-passenger to respond immediately in case of an emergency, enabling safer driving instruction. While the existing SOCAR car-sharing service targets individuals aged 21 and older with at least one year of driving experience, those reserving the driver training vehicles must have at least two years of driving experience, allowing members with less than one year of licensing to use the vehicles as co-drivers.
Currently, the driver training vehicles are operated in six SOCAR zones in Seoul and Goyang, including ▲Sillim Station ▲Hapjeong Station ▲Seoul Forest Station ▲Mongchontoseong Station ▲Jonggak Station ▲Goyang One Mount. A SOCAR official noted, "Compared to private driving lessons, it is popular among beginner drivers because they can practice without burden with close friends at a lower expense" and "after starting a trial operation in December last year, we expanded the operation area to Seoul this year due to the positive response."
SOCAR is conducting a discount event in collaboration with Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance to help improve the skills of beginner drivers. It will provide 50% discount coupons for driver training vehicles to the first 500 people who receive their licenses at the Gangnam Driving License Examination Center of the Korea Road Traffic Authority. Coupons can be obtained at the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance event zone within the examination center, where participants can also experience a driving simulator. In addition, 50% discount coupons for SOCAR car-sharing will be offered through a lottery for license renewals. The event will take place from the 24th to the 7th of next month for two weeks.
Kim Won-seop, head of SOCAR's fleet group, said, "We prepared this event to create an environment where both beginner and experienced drivers can drive safely and enjoyably," and "we will continue to contribute to fostering a culture of safe driving by collaborating with various partners in the future."