First Gear Skid School

At First Gear Driving Academy, our mission is to save lives through hands-on simulation training. We teach drivers how to recognize, control, and safely navigate skids and other hazardous road conditions. Founder Michal’s background as an EMT inspired him to start the academy. While years of operating emergency vehicles in severe weather taught him how to handle high-stakes driving scenarios, the hardest part of his job was consistently arriving at devastating, preventable car crashes. He quickly realized that proper training and awareness could stop many of these accidents before they happen. In 2011, Michal founded First Gear Driving Academy to unite his two greatest passions: safe driving and saving lives. The centerpiece of our safety curriculum is the Skid Car system. We equip standard vehicles with an electro-hydraulic suspension system and specialized training controls that allow a certified coach to safely simulate rain, ice, and sudden loss of traction from the passenger seat. This approach gives students critical, real-world experience in a completely controlled environment. Today, First Gear operates two fully equipped training vehicles: an SUV and a 15,000-pound full-size truck. We provide specialized instruction for individual drivers, families, commercial and corporate fleet operators, and emergency responders, including police officers, firefighters, and EMTs.