Nick Sanders, Mercedes Benz Driving Academy presentation from the 2nd DriverMetrics Users Conference, 1st March 2013

1. Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy &
Drivermetrics’ “Learner Driver Risk Index”
Users Conference
Cranfield
March 1, 2013

2. Our Academies worldwide
Vancouver (2013)
Los Angeles (2011)
Amsterdam (2012)
London (2009)
Beijing (2012)
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3. MBDA learning-to-drive philosophy
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4. 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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5. 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
Mercedes-Benz DrivingAcademy

6. 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)
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 Diverse weather

7. 4. Heads Up! New driver risk factors
New driver risk
factors:
 Driving with friends
 Distractions (e.g.
smartphones)
 Alcohol/drugs/medi
cation
 Tiredness
 Driving at night
 Unfamiliar roads
….
Mercedes-Benz DrivingAcademy

8. 5. Who you are is how you drive: Personality,
lifestyle
Personality / lifestyle
factors:
 (Over-)confidence
 Thrill-seeking
 Anxiety
 Anti-social driving
attitudes
….
Mercedes-Benz DrivingAcademy

9. 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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10. The MBDA LDRI….and where it fits
“Personal Risk Assessment”
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11. 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
Mercedes-Benz DrivingAcademy

12. 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...”
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13. 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.
Mercedes-Benz DrivingAcademy

14. Thanks for your attention.
Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy
Mercedes-Benz DrivingAcademy