Online driving assessments
Discussion
Has anybody done one of these or got any experience with them?
We are experimenting with one such system and I'm in two minds about it.
In car video part shows drivers view, also mirrors, but it just felt wrong somehow.
The perspective was as if you were trying to drive the car sitting in the back seat. Not helped by either the video making it seem as if the pace of the camera car was a bit quick or it was indeed a bit quick.
You are supposed to click on the major danger as soon as you see it, and timing of your click goes towards your score.
One scenario nothing significant developed for a while, there was a lot going on and the pace the driver was going towards a number of potential situations felt just too quick. So there I am thinking, it must be the approach speed that is the danger, tried to click on the speedo right at the bottom of the video window, and then missed the motorcyclist in banzai mode coming up the nearside bus lane. DOH!
Perhaps evidence that concentration on speed can be detriment to safe driving. Hmmmm.
So I'm in two minds, though managed to get a good score, in lowest possible risk category, no need for further training modules, TFFT!!! Would have been a shade embarrassing if not.
We are experimenting with one such system and I'm in two minds about it.
In car video part shows drivers view, also mirrors, but it just felt wrong somehow.
The perspective was as if you were trying to drive the car sitting in the back seat. Not helped by either the video making it seem as if the pace of the camera car was a bit quick or it was indeed a bit quick.
You are supposed to click on the major danger as soon as you see it, and timing of your click goes towards your score.
One scenario nothing significant developed for a while, there was a lot going on and the pace the driver was going towards a number of potential situations felt just too quick. So there I am thinking, it must be the approach speed that is the danger, tried to click on the speedo right at the bottom of the video window, and then missed the motorcyclist in banzai mode coming up the nearside bus lane. DOH!
Perhaps evidence that concentration on speed can be detriment to safe driving. Hmmmm.
So I'm in two minds, though managed to get a good score, in lowest possible risk category, no need for further training modules, TFFT!!! Would have been a shade embarrassing if not.
Not done one myself but my brother did one at work. He said it was fairly noddy and he reckoned that the majority of drivers would get through it without thinking too deeply about their driving. The prize for doing well on the online assessment was not spending a half day with the advanced driving instructor helping him to improve his driving and so he made sure he failed his second attempt at the online assessment 
Chris
Chris
Yes, I have. It was required at work. Also, I was one of those involved in its roll-out. In my experience of analysing the crash reports of several hundred drivers at work, these on-line assessments are no substitute for in-car assessment.
The bottom line is that a RoSPA Experienced Driver Assessment is cheap at £35, i.e. about the same as an on-line assessment. RoSPA EDAs are valuable and correlate with accident risk.
www.roadar.org/drivers/safety/eda.htm
Whereas we found that on-line risk profiles correlated poorly with actual accidents, based on my company's analysis of over 300 drivers.
For those judged at high risk, we found that a half-day's in-car training was a poor investment, because it had negligable impact on risk profile. Whereas a full day's 1:1 training was a good investment, because it did improve risk profile. Purely from a business perspective, sometimes it's worth investing a little more to realise the benefit. There must be some sort of minimum/critical mass of training needed to get results for fleet drivers in general.
The bottom line is that a RoSPA Experienced Driver Assessment is cheap at £35, i.e. about the same as an on-line assessment. RoSPA EDAs are valuable and correlate with accident risk.
www.roadar.org/drivers/safety/eda.htm
Whereas we found that on-line risk profiles correlated poorly with actual accidents, based on my company's analysis of over 300 drivers.
For those judged at high risk, we found that a half-day's in-car training was a poor investment, because it had negligable impact on risk profile. Whereas a full day's 1:1 training was a good investment, because it did improve risk profile. Purely from a business perspective, sometimes it's worth investing a little more to realise the benefit. There must be some sort of minimum/critical mass of training needed to get results for fleet drivers in general.
ScoobyChris said:
He said it was fairly noddy and he reckoned that the majority of drivers would get through it without thinking too deeply about their driving.
I agree 100% with the feedback from ScoobyChris' brother.I had to do one of these when I worked for a merc dealership. I came away with the best score in the company (about 95people) so I was happy. Again I dont see how clicking away makes you a better driver. it's also a bit unrealistic as you are sat there waiting to see something dodgy where in the real world people will be going along thinking about lunch or shopping etc and not see the hazard.
SVS said:
The bottom line is that a RoSPA Experienced Driver Assessment is cheap at £35, i.e. about the same as an on-line assessment. RoSPA EDAs are valuable and correlate with accident risk.
Thanks for a very interesting post.I looked at the EDA link. Who carries out these assessments? Can any tutor, as with an IAM so-called assessment which most groups probably still offer for free, or is it a more professional job carried out by an Examiner or Diploma holder? Is the report given generally an honest report, rather than a bit of marketing for a Rospa course, and an attempt to encourage the candidate?
we tried RoSPA and we found them extremely pedantic.
In the small pilot they even managed to turn off and irritate us who are generally pro advanced driving minded.
We reasoned that the chance of this approach engaging and working with your average company car bod just wouldn't fly.
The people we use in UK for the general drivers have a haulage background but are very flexible and will work with you to get people involved and thinking and will build a course around your needs and profile.
Usually a classroom discussion then on road ssession. The on road assessors are very laid back and all good approachable guys with an easy way about them.
In the small pilot they even managed to turn off and irritate us who are generally pro advanced driving minded.
We reasoned that the chance of this approach engaging and working with your average company car bod just wouldn't fly.
The people we use in UK for the general drivers have a haulage background but are very flexible and will work with you to get people involved and thinking and will build a course around your needs and profile.
Usually a classroom discussion then on road ssession. The on road assessors are very laid back and all good approachable guys with an easy way about them.
Hi again,
RoSPA HQ may be pedantic. However, RoSPA normally uses an Examiner (i.e. police Class 1) to deliver an EDA. I've only heard positive feedback from the Experienced Driver Assessment.
There can be a world of difference between RoSPA Examiners, who are generally a practical bunch of ex-coppers, and RoSPA HQ pedantry. The Examiners I've known have been exasperated by HQ at times. The experience that RoSPA Examiners deliver to punters, however, has generally been first class (at least in my experience).
RoSPA HQ may be pedantic. However, RoSPA normally uses an Examiner (i.e. police Class 1) to deliver an EDA. I've only heard positive feedback from the Experienced Driver Assessment.
There can be a world of difference between RoSPA Examiners, who are generally a practical bunch of ex-coppers, and RoSPA HQ pedantry. The Examiners I've known have been exasperated by HQ at times. The experience that RoSPA Examiners deliver to punters, however, has generally been first class (at least in my experience).
Starfighter said:
Sitting at a PC is not like being in a car. There is no feedabck and you loose situational awareness very easily. I tried one once and hated it as much as I do Flight Simulator. I just can't get on with that type of "simulator" as they are not leke the real thing, driving or flying.
Real flight simulators are accepted, by the relevant authorities, as being able to provide evidence of proficiency.It might be that driving simulators haven't had the investment necessary to make them truly useful or applicable.
Of course, no ATC on the road.
WhoseGeneration said:
Starfighter said:
Sitting at a PC is not like being in a car. There is no feedabck and you loose situational awareness very easily. I tried one once and hated it as much as I do Flight Simulator. I just can't get on with that type of "simulator" as they are not leke the real thing, driving or flying.
Real flight simulators are accepted, by the relevant authorities, as being able to provide evidence of proficiency.It might be that driving simulators haven't had the investment necessary to make them truly useful or applicable.
Of course, no ATC on the road.
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