Twenty-six year old engineer Jamie regularly texts behind the wheel as he drives around the country for work.

Jasmine, a 21 year old student, applies make up when driving and regularly lets her dog sit on her lap when she is behind the wheel.

Thirty-two year old Simon is a professional singer. In-car footage shows him using his car as a mobile office while driving and swerving to miss something while texting.

Finally, Gabrielle, an 18 year old student, regularly eats behind the wheel. The camera catches her both eating an apple and texting, while driving.

Despite being confronted with their dangerous driving behaviour caught on camera, some of the drivers refuse to admit they were not in complete control of their vehicles. So they are taken to a track to assess their skills behind the wheel, in a specially designed hazards test at Alconbury Driving Centre.

Video Transcript

Many other drivers seem oblivious to their dangerous driving. Like these 4 drivers; we gave them in-car cameras to record their every day behaviour behind the wheel. In a special police camera action screening, I’ve been playing this extraordinary footage back to them.

Reporter – “At this point do you think you’re driving with due care and attention?”
Jamie – “Yeah, because my eyes are always looking at the road.”

Reporter – “Is this a one off? Or is this something you do…”
Jasmine – “No, I do this every day”
Reporter – “You genuinely look shocked watching that”
Jasmine – “Oh my god! I am so embarrassed”

Reporter – “Simon, you described your car as your office. Let’s have a look at what you’ve been up to.”
Next it’s 32 year old Simon, who’s married with two young kids. As he’s a professional singer he spends a lot of time in his car driving from gig to gig.
Reporter – “What are you fiddling with there? What are you doing there? What are you reading?”
Simon – “A receipt, I think. The car’s my office, so it’s like, I’ve got to. If the phone rings, ok, I’m on hands free but…”
Reporter – “Oh, what was that?”
Simon – “Oh my god!”
Reporter – “Hang on a minute. You’re texting away, you obviously swerved something, you’ve taken a deep breath and then you’ve started texting again!”
Simon – “Oh no! That was awful! My wife’s going to kill me!”

18 year old student Gabrielle’s car isn’t an office; it’s more like a fast food restaurant.
Reporter – “Look at that! Wow!”
Gabrielle – “That was after I finished my promotional job. I was really hungry.”
Eating an apple and texting at the same time.
Reporter – “Was that an important text?”
Gabrielle – “Probably not. I think this is on the way to college at like eight o’clock in the morning.”
Reporter – “Do you feel you were driving with due care and attention?”
Gabrielle – “I should stop eating, and maybe just pull over so I can eat.”

Reporter – “Jasmine, Gabrielle, Simon and Jamie don’t set out to intentionally hurt anybody. But I can’t help feeling quite angry after what I’ve heard in there. I can’t believe that you can be in complete control of a car whilst texting or eating a burger and even having a dog on your lap whilst you’re applying your make up…it’s just madness.”

The programme is only for serious youngsters who are committed to learn to become “better than average drivers” and are enthusiastic.

For driving on the road it is mandatory to have a license and is only permissable for people 17 and over. The ADC however offers young driver training for people as young as 14 on it’s safe, off-road, centre to help them be safer and better prepared than the average learner driver..

Students drive in dual controlled cars under their instructor’s supervision, at a maximum of 29mph, however some demonstrations may require expert drivers to drive up to 60mph, but never more than that. They are also driven by instructors on public roads so as to familiarize with the road and traffic, and observe behaviours of drivers. Skidding is demonstrated by experts and some older students are given opportunity for hands on skid training, in order to learn using vehicle control and effects of changing road and weather conditions.

“Programme 16″ is open for those above14 years and there are special offers such as birthday group booking, birthday gift or gift vouchers.

This is their video report.

Andrew Cropper (narration): ‘18 year old, Amy Gonzales was knocked down by a drink-driver in St Neots on Christmas morning nearly 3 years ago. She died a month later; another teenager who became a victim of a collision involving a young driver. Her parents have campaigned on the issue ever since’

Melanie Gonzales: ‘We need to get these young drivers, when they start driving, just to realise how dangerous it can be driving a car. I don’t think a lot of them realise that just driving a car in the wrong way makes it become a lethal weapon.’

Andrew Cropper (narration): ‘Today it was reporters spinning round Alconbury Airfield, but when the new course opens for business next week, it will be a mix of teenagers at school and fee paying adults.’

Terry Turner: ‘You could think this was purely commercial, but it’s not. 90% of what we’re going to be doing here is going to be working with young drivers. We know that they are 3-4 times more likely to have a bad collision than any other age group.’

Student: ‘We’ve learned basically how to drive and we get taught about it to help us out we come to taking our driving test.’

Andrew Cropper: ‘So youngsters who have done courses like this before have given it the thumbs up. Well now it’s time to give it a go myself.’

Andrew Cropper: ‘Right then Jim, how did I do?’

Jim Hawkins: ‘I’ve got my score sheet here, and I’m afraid it’s only 3 out of 10 at the moment.’

Andrew Cropper: ‘More work needed.’

Jim Hawkins: ‘A lot more.’

Andrew Cropper (narration): ‘While today was just a bit of fun, there remains a serious side. It’s hoped this course will offer a chance to reduce the heavy death toll of young drivers on our regions roads. Andrew Cropper, BBC Look East, Alconbury Airfield’

Please download the attached guide from the DVLA which shows the 10 security features of the new UK driving licence.

ITV Anglia Tonight visited the centre to report on this service and you can see their report here with the transcript below.

Female presenter: ‘…driving skills before they’ve even passed their test’

Male presenter: ‘Instructors are using a ‘skid-car’ to simulate dangerous situations. Our reporter Mathew Hudson has had a go.’

Mathew Hudson (narration): ‘It looks like fun, and it is, but it might also help keep you alive. And here’s a stark fact for you; drivers ages 17 to 25 are four times more likely to lose control of the wheel than anyone else. Driving lessons teach the basics, but not how to drive in dangerous conditions. This new scheme provides teenagers with some of the skills you need before they ever drive on a road.’

Terry Turner: ‘We run programmes for 16 year old, non-licence holders, and from the moment they come here and we start teaching them advanced driving methods. So that we know that when they’re actually on the road they should be better than average drivers. It’s a tremendous opportunity for them.’

Matthew Hudson (narration): ‘The disused runway at the former RAF Alconbury, near Huntingdon makes an ideal skid pan. The special skid-car is mounted on a hydraulic frame. The instructor can lift the weight of the car off the tyres, replicating wet or icy conditions. Even at low speed the effect is stunning.’

Matthew Hudson: ‘Of course the beauty of this scheme is it’s able to simulate a number of different driving conditions for drivers, without actually having to wait for the rain or the snow to come down. And until you’ve had a go here you really don’t realise just what difference a certain amount of ice on the road can make. You don’t realise it, perhaps, until it’s too late.’

Matthew Hudson (narration): ‘The charity behind the scheme subsidises classes for schools by hosting corporate events. Because it’s on the airfield, even 15 and 16 year olds can have a go; invaluable experience for when they start driving for real.’

Ben Hobbs: ‘We all know already how to drive properly, and so we should be able to get through our driving test a lot easier and quicker.’

Matthew Hudson (narration): ‘Young irresponsible drivers can kill other people as well as themselves. Amy Gonzales was killed by a drunk 21 year old racing through St Neots on Christmas morning 2004. Her parents are helping to promote the initiative.’

Kevin Gonzales: ‘We’ve seen first-hand the carnage and pain & suffering that can be caused by driving a car in the wrong way. And any initiative like this, anyway we can get the message across we’re delighted to be involved with.’

Matthew Hudson (narration): ‘Teaching teenagers how to deal with a sudden skid could save their life. Better to go out of control here, than on a busy motorway. Matthew Hudson, Anglia News, at Alconbury, near Huntingdon.’

ADC’s experts advise companies on their duty of care regarding company drivers. They help the officials in formulating an ‘occupational road risk policy’, that speaks about rules and guidelines related to driving at work, and safety measures to be taken in order to minimize the likelihood of accidents. The policy also enlists the responsibilities of the managers and drivers both. It mentions in detail what measures a manager must take to ensure drivers are well-trained and equipped to drive company vehicles, and how drivers must follow rules and drive carefully.

The Managers, Directors and Staff, all need to make sure that the vehicles being used in the company are running well, insured and maintained appropriately, and that the drivers are well-trained and competent, have a valid driving license, and are medically fit to drive. ADC has compiled and developed a very elaborate ‘Driving At Work Questionnaire’ that is very helpful for corporates to assess occupational road risk and serves as a health & safety checklist tool for managers.

Minibus Driver Training

The centre also provides Van Driver Training and Assessments for companies to ensure that their drivers are efficient, well-trained and know the current health & safety legislation. Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) is a one day training programme, suitable and relevant to companies. The training covers occupational road risk, vehicle loading, defensive driving, speed limits, etc.

For consultation and more information on various trainings and assessments, contact ADC

The vast majority of these accidents were preventable.

Extract from Health & Safety Executive

Work Related Road Safety – Employers Responsibilities              

Some employers believe incorrectly that provided they comply with certain road traffic law requirements, such as ensuring that company vehicles have a valid MOT certificate, they are doing all that is necessary to ensure the safety of their employees when on the road.

Health and safety law requires employers, and the self-employed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practical, the health, safety and welfare of all employees, at all times. Employers also have a responsibility to ensure that others are not put at risk by the work activities of their employees.

Although the driver is ultimately responsible for how a vehicle is driven on the road the employer can have a significant influence on what the driver does. For example, the imposition of unrealistic delivery schedules, inadequate training and failure to properly maintain vehicles all increase the risk of road accidents.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require every employer to carry out an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees, or themselves, whilst they are at work, and to other people who may be affected by their work activities. This includes any driving activity on the road. The regulations require the risk assessment to be reviewed periodically to ensure that it remains valid. Employers should consider the risks to employees on the road in the same way as for those in a workplace.

Driver Training is offered by the Alconbury Driving Centre as part of an employers duty of care responsibilities. For more information see our corporate driver training page

Taken From:
Health & Safety Executive
Reducing Risks Protecting People

Skids don’t just happen. They are human error. Usually as result of poor concentration and failure to take road conditions into account. If you tackle a corner too fast, for example, the front tyres might not have enough grip to cope with what you are asking them to do, and the car will tend to plough straight on (a car without anti-lock brakes will also slide straight on, irrespective of any steering adjustments, if you lock up the wheels under emergency braking).
This is under steer, so called because the car is literally turning less than you want it to.

Likewise with the back end, this will slide wide and the car might start to spin. This is known as over steer because the car is turning more than you want it to.

It is harder to contain an over steering car, particularly if you are inexperienced. You can apply “opposite lock” by turning “into” the skid (in the same direction the tail is moving). Because you are pointing the front wheels in the direction you want to go, this is a more natural reaction than it sounds, but many drivers do it too aggressively. If that happens, the car might start to over steer in the opposite direction when the tyres bite, and you are likely to find yourself “fishtailing” down the road.

If the worst happens and you should start to over steer or under steer for whatever reason, the quickest way to regain control is to take the correct very prompt action. Remember that a car is much more likely to spin out of control in damp, wet or icy conditions, but never forget that you could encounter an unexpected hazard – such a slippery diesel spillage, mud, sand, loose gravel or fallen leaves – on an apparently dry surface.

More than 90 per cent of all accidents involve some sort of skid.

Stay alert and observant and you might have no need to worry about such things, if you’re lucky, but it brings a huge safety benefit for all drivers to invest a few hours in some form of skid control, skid prevention training, just in case. No amount of theory will help you in a sudden emergency, when the natural human reaction is to panic and freeze. But with a skid control, skid prevention training course and practice in a safe environment, you can gain an instinctive understanding of how to stay out of trouble and this course could save your life.

1. Best way: If other cars/trucks are present, ask for help from them .They might tug your car out of the mud/sand/ice/snow.
2. Put the transmission into four-wheel drive and active the differential locks (if equipped).
3. Shift into the lowest gear available (if wheels spin try a higher gear ie 2nd gear).
4. If the car won’t get out in one direction, drive back and forward alternately.
5. Turn the steering wheel slightly and try driving in a different direction.
6. Clear the soft silt or sand under the driving wheel to gain traction.
7. Reduce the air pressure of the slipping wheel(s) & use less acceleration
8. Place wood, pebbles or a piece of old carpet in front of the slipping wheel(s) (if driving forward) or behind the slipping wheel(s) (if driving reverse)
9. Be prepared to steer and brake after you get your car out.
10. Switch off momentarily the ESP/ESC system (Always consult your vehicle handbook)

They describe critical manoeuvres with and without ESP.

Vehicle without ESP:
1. Vehicle approaches an obstacle.
2. Vehicle goes of course, enters oncoming traffic lane and driver loses control.
3. Counter steering causes the vehicle to go into a skid.

Vehicle with ESP:
1. Vehicle approaches an obstacle.
2. Vehicle threatens to break away. ESP intervenes and restores full steerability.
3. Counter steer results in threat of renewed breakaway. ESP intervenes again
4. Vehicle is stabilized.

Bosch says the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) supports the driver in nearly all critical driving situations. It detects skidding instantaneously and actively counteracts it. ESP goes beyond ABS and traction control systems (TCM). Sensors read desired steering direction, the vehicles rotary movement and lateral accelerations.

From this data the control unit calculates the actual movement of the vehicle, comparing it 25 times per second with the driver’s desired direction. If the values do not correspond, ESP reacts instantly without any action on the part of the driver. It reduces engine power and brakes individual wheels. Skidding is counteracted and the car remains safe on its desired course.

The system was developed in conjunction with Mercedes-Benz who was the first to launch it in 1995 in their S-class. Bosch has since refined the system.

Don’t be confused with manufacturers trying to differentiate themselves with different names for what is the same system. They may call it DSC, PSM, VSA or VSC but it’s ESP.

Components of ESP from Bosch are:
• ESP-Hydraulic unit with integrated ECU.
• Wheel speed sensor.
• Steering angle sensor.
• Yaw rate sensor with integrated acceleration sensor.
• Engine management ECU for communication.
Only 1% of those surveyed identified ESP and are aware of ESP as an active – corrective – safety system.

The life saving potential of ESP has been confirmed by several scientific studies:
• Toyota has concluded ESP could reduce driving accidents by 50%.
• Daimler-Chrysler reported a 42% reduction in accidents since introducing ESP as standard on Mercedes-Benz in 1999.
• VW think it could reduce fatal accidents by 35%.
• German studies show 25% of all injuries are due to skidding.
• 60% of fatal accidents are due to side impacts caused by skidding.
• American studies revealed a staggering 67% reduction in single SUV accidents when fitted with ESP.

With a skid control, skid prevention training course and practice in a safe environment, you can gain an instinctive understanding of how this technology works to keep you out of trouble, and this training and new knowledge could save your life.

Following this link to download the ESP guide document as a pdf.