Good driving's a matter of learning
Coached drivers are safer, finds research
Coached drivers tailgate less
Previous research has shown that drivers who regularly blame others for near-misses instead of taking responsibility for their own part in such incidents are more likely to be involved in fatal road accidents.
The Brunel study, carried out by Prof. Neville Stanton and Dr. Guy Walker, shows that drivers who improve their abilities behind the wheel are less likely to "play the blame game" and more likely to read the road and expect the unexpected.
Nearly 70 per cent of drivers who received advanced coaching showed significantly safer skills in a number of key areas, including cornering, gear changing, seating position, safe distances, use of mirrors and speed, according to the scientific comparison of normal and advanced drivers.
The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) commissioned the study to examine whether advanced coaching can be proven to change drivers' attitudes, skills and knowledge.
Peter Rodger, IAM Chief Examiner, said: "This research shows that motorists who think that simply accumulating years of experience on the road is enough to improve their driving are wrong. What makes the difference is having extra coaching, just as it would be in any other activity. Drivers are more likely to blame chance or bad luck, if the only training they've ever had is those early driving lessons. But they're more likely to take responsibility for avoiding and responding to incidents if they've taken the trouble to try to improve their skills later in life."
In a measure of people's attitude towards whether they believe they are controlled by luck or chance, or have 'self' control over their actions - normal drivers score 60 per cent worse than drivers with advanced coaching, and show significantly more of the attitude that previous research has shown to be implicated in involvement in fatal accidents.
Professor Neville Stanton of Brunel University said: "There were 207,000 accidents in Great Britain in 2004, involving 281,000 casualties, according to the latest Department for Transport statistics. While we have one of the best records of lowering casualties, there is still much to do. The more we can understand driver behaviour and what affects it, the better chance we have of further reducing road accidents. This is why we felt it was important to conduct such a rigorous study into whether ‘practice makes perfect’ in terms of ability - or whether people need further coaching to improve how they drive.
"This is the first research of its kind and the results are telling. The performance of those who did not receive coaching was erratic, but those who were coached showed marked improvements in the three main areas of driving - skills, knowledge and attitude. These three skills are interdependent - when all three are improved, a driver is likely to be safer. It’s as simple as that."
Rodger said: "The findings of this research lay to rest the old joke that advanced driving is all about where you position your hands on the steering wheel. It shows the value of lifelong learning in motoring, just as in the fields of work. All drivers should be encouraged to continue developing their skills, long after their driving test."
Academics concluded at the end of the 15 month study that:
- Driver attitudes changed with coaching - those who had received coaching were less likely to blame external factors when driving (increased accountability has been linked favourably to accident prevention)
- Coached drivers saw a marked improvement in driving skills - almost 70 per cent of those who received coaching improved their basic driving skills (ie. speed, gears, cornering, headway, use of mirrors).
- Drivers with coaching showed a 30 per cent increase in their knowledge, or situational awareness - i.e speed, decision-making and road features.
So many of our customers tell us after their respective driving sessions that they believe every driver should be made to complete some form of post-test training. That way the roads would be a lot safer, there would be less signs and speed limits, less speed cameras and driving would remain a pleasure.
Ride Drive said:
So many of our customers tell us after their respective driving sessions that they believe every driver should be made to complete some form of post-test training. That way the roads would be a lot safer, there would be less signs and speed limits, less speed cameras and driving would remain a pleasure.
Some form of advanced tuition is on my 'To Do' list, even if just a one-dayer.
carreraplanes said:
The government's current initiatives on road safety are a sham because, in a nutshell, the legislators don't know what they are talking about.
Abso-flippin’-lutely!!! Considering that the Government have cut some of the funding to the IAM and other similarly funded organisations, presumably to divert such funds into speed cameras and other ways to continually stamp on the motorist as if he were a petulant child, it is very much a case of the motorist being dictated to by the uninitiated.
Also insurance companies could do a lot. If companies would offer a significant discount to the customer who subjected themselves to some advanced training more people would take it up. We see a great many people pass through our hands, but they are the ones who are enthusiastic about getting it right. The ones we really need to grab hold of, the ones that are the risk factor, won’t do anything unless there is a huge great big carrot to dangle in front of them.
carreraplanes said:
..... The government's current initiatives on road safety are a sham because, in a nutshell, the legislators don't know what they are talking about.
What are the chances of anyone who knows what they're talking about having a say in road safety policy on a local or a national level?
Any advance on nil?
Has anyone been to any Road Safety conferences? It wouldn’t be so bad if the point of having them was anything to do with Road Safety, but it isn’t. What they do tend to be about is the speakers concerned, each trying to outdo the next in an attempt to win favour and power. It is all about individual gratification of an over inflated ego by empty-headed nobodies trying to be some bodies. They don’t give a toss about what the title of the meeting is meant to mean. I gave up going to these things on the grounds that if I did continue to put in an appearance I would probably end up lumping someone for being so bloody self-righteous and pompous.
Ride Drive said:
Policy group meetings. Now there is a covern to get involved with. The trouble is that you can argue your case to government officials and alike until you are blue in the face, but it will get you nowhere. They will do what they want to regardless of any advice people ‘in the know’ will have to offer.
Has anyone been to any Road Safety conferences? It wouldn’t be so bad if the point of having them was anything to do with Road Safety, but it isn’t. What they do tend to be about is the speakers concerned, each trying to outdo the next in an attempt to win favour and power. It is all about individual gratification of an over inflated ego by empty-headed nobodies trying to be some bodies. They don’t give a toss about what the title of the meeting is meant to mean. I gave up going to these things on the grounds that if I did continue to put in an appearance I would probably end up lumping someone for being so bloody self-righteous and pompous.
Not your favourite species then?
tvrgit said:
How many polititians and policy makers in transport and road safety don't hold driving licences?
Mr Livingstone I presume?
Agreed insurers could take a lead here but would probably need government prodding (i.e meddling). However this brings its own problems with self styled experts going their own way as mentioned above.
I can see that this would be a hot potato, but surely it would be easy to instigate and genuinely save lives. What excuses could politicians possibly have for not even considering it?
However I still say that being aware and critical of your own driving, being self-concious of doing a good job of anything you do, can help alot more than training.
Afterall, how many people are trained already who then go on to drive very badly, simply because they have a bad attitude towards driving.
You could train till your blue in the face, but sorry to say it, there will always be people who have to get somewhere that bit quicker, or cut you up, or drive agressively etc.
A bit of self-control and awareness of ones driving would go much further than training that falls already on essentially deaf ears!
Dave
paulejacobs said:
Isn't it about time that we had a five yearly retest regime? It would be self funding, and generate jobs. If a driver can't get through the standard L test, then should they be on the road at all?
I can see that this would be a hot potato, but surely it would be easy to instigate and genuinely save lives. What excuses could politicians possibly have for not even considering it?
The current DSA Examiners struggle to cope with the number of people sitting tests as it stands now, (let alone the number of 'check' tests for ADIs) so introducing a few million extra tests to be conducted per year is hardly going to improve matters. If you also assume that it takes a modicum of skill to be an examiner, you can hardly ramp up the number required in short enough time.
That said, it's a wonderful idea, as would be a proper 'Advanced' licence before you were allowed to drive a high performance car.
Rather than getting points for being naughty you get additional points for being good, accident and claim free, advanced training and so on. Lose the points for transgressions.
What do points make?
Well not exactly prizes but certain privileges as in entitlement to drive higher powered vehicles being just one example. What else? Badges? :cringe:
The British being the anally retentive "one up on the Joneses" nation that we are it might make more people enter into learning a life skill that truly is a life skill.
Might also get rid of the cardigan and slippers image too.
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