TEST & TRAINING

Car drivers are generally very satisfied with their driving style. Nonetheless, many accidents happen each year that could have been prevented if the involved parties would have had better insight into their driving style and the potential risks associated with that driving style. Regular driving style training is a perfect aid and as of September 2009 is mandatory for truck drivers. Driving style training courses are particularly popular among older people who (of necessity) realise that their skills are diminishing. Nevertheless it is also good for younger drivers to critically review their driving style on a regular basis. The risk of being involved in an accident is over four times as high for young novice drivers (18-24 years) than that of experienced drivers (30-59 years) (source: SWOV 2007).

Driving with greater awareness

Many drivers take great risks on the road without being aware of this. This result is that the probability of an accident is much higher than perceived by the driver. A good example is the speed at which an intersection is approached. A higher speed of approach means that the time available to the driver to survey the intersection decreases. This means that the danger of failing to see a vehicle that has priority decreases and this danger is further heightened by the fact that the higher speed makes it more difficult to stop on time. Releasing the accelerator pedal earlier is the solution in this case. As soon as the accelerator pedal is released, the driver will be more aware of the changed traffic situation. This enhances traffic safety and also conserves fuel.

Regular testing

Aside from personal suffering, the financial consequences of an accident are often underestimated by (younger) car drivers. Furthermore, they have no idea of the indirect costs. The costs of a traffic fatality are estimated at €7.7 million (source: SWOV 2004). Regular testing and coaching is an important aid in reducing the number of both fatal and non-fatal accidents.

Regular driving skills tests are not popular due to the costs and effort associated with this, nonetheless taking such a test is desirable from the perspective of traffic safety and fuel conservation. A Driving Style Test & Training Course can be administered on our leased simulators. Research conducted by the Delft University of Technology shows that our driving simulators are suitable for objectively evaluating driving skills and predicting an increased probability of accidents.