Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy &

Drivermetrics’ “Learner Driver Risk

Index”Users ConferenceCranfieldMarch 1, 2013

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Vancouver (2013)

Los Angeles (2011)

Amsterdam (2012)

London (2009)

Beijing (2012)

Our Academies worldwide

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MBDA learning-to-drive philosophy

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1. Getting started: Vehicle control

Vehicle control:

Vehicle checks

Driver set-up

360° Observation

Starting / stopping

Accelerating / decelerating

Steering (left/right)

Tracking

Reversing

Parking

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2. Using the road system: Traffic interaction

Traffic interaction:

Hi-aim vision

Distance-scanning

Road signs, signals & markings

Bends and slopes

Junctions and turns

Single/multi-lane roads

Distance-keeping / safe margins

Speed control

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3. Gaining experience: Supervised driving practice

Supervised driving practice:

Repetition of basic skills / manoeuvres

Different road types & speeds

Varied traffic densities

Different trip lengths

Driving in low visibility (dusk/dark)

Diverse weather conditions

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4. Heads Up! New driver risk factors

New driver risk factors:

Driving with friends

Distractions (e.g. smartphones)

Alcohol/drugs/medication

Tiredness

Driving at night

Unfamiliar roads

….

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5. Who you are is how you drive: Personality, lifestyle

Personality / lifestyle factors:

(Over-)confidence

Thrill-seeking

Anxiety

Anti-social driving attitudes

….

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6. Make the right choice! Decision-making

• We use a coaching / questioning approach to encourage better decision-making through:

Personal goal-setting

Taking responsibility for the learning-to-drive process

Self-evaluation (insight into personal strengths and weaknesses)

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The MBDA LDRI….and where it fits

“Personal Risk Assessment”

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Behavioural Risk Factors

1. Overconfidence

2. Social responsibility

3. Anti-social driving attitudes

4. Driving excitement (thrill-seeking)

5. Anxious driving

Situational risk factors take into account age, gender and driving experience

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Predictive validity?• One of the challenges of using psychometrics with learner

drivers is that you can’t measure risk according to their current driving behaviour…..because they haven’t started driving solo yet!

• Hence general behavioural questions such as:

“I like the idea of getting drunk regularly…..I have been in trouble

with the police or [ ] at school.”

• Attitudes and beliefs are also measured, however:

“Everybody breaks the traffic rules….I believe I have better skills than

other learner drivers.”

• As is the conditional tense :

“I love the idea of driving a powerful car….I would stick to the speed

limit even if [ ]….I would be prepared drive a car carrying more passengers than it was designed to hold...”

• This LDRI is a prototype…

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A few facts…

• TIMING: just before the practical test

• PRINCIPLES: if the student is under 18, the parent gets a copy of the report too. The report is solely designed to give feedback to the new driver.

• E-LEARNING: not directly linked to an individual’s risk factors but designed to be taken around the same time as the Personal Risk Assessment. Themes include peer pressure, driver fatigue, distractions, alcohol/drugs and emotions.

• REMEDIAL COACHING: MBDA coaches to be trained through Driver Risk Index Workshop

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Thanks for your attention.

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