Cambs drive iQ has arrived

Award winning technology that will the change the way young people think about driving safely

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership has teamed up with the award-winning social enterprise Drive iQ – to create a version of their online driving awareness software thanks to funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Cambs Drive iQ will target young people from the ages of 11-25 working with schools and colleges across the county by providing them with this potentially life-saving FREE educational toolkit.

Cambs Drive iQ will change the way young people start their learning to drive process by providing this online learning package directly into schools and colleges. Young drivers will acquire knowledge that will inform their decision-making processes to reduce risk taking and misconceptions. Module themes include distractions, alcohol and drugs, seatbelts, thrill seeking, eye scanning and perception. Please see 2 minute clip of the software in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3njFEg3mFwA

Based on proven science, Cambs Drive iQ puts young road users through potentially hazardous road scenarios in a virtual environment, which improves the skills often neglected by young drivers, such as anticipating danger, risk management, considering emotional response and being a responsible passenger.

Lisa Dorn, Reader on Driver Behaviour, Cranfield University said “There is little evidence that passing the driving test means novice drivers are safe. Indeed, they are more at risk of crash involvement post-test than at any other time in their driving careers. Cambs Drive iQ’s enhanced focus on hazard awareness improves the ability to judge traffic situations and considers the attitudinal and behavioural factors associated with risk.”

Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite said:
“I am delighted to be able to fund this initiative. My aim to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads. Unfortunately young people are most at risk of having a collision, studies show that with 25% 16-25 year olds will be involved in a collision within two years of passing their test. Drive iQ will allow us to engage with young people from the start, preparing them for the potential challenges they may face whilst driving. It’s a good way to influence attitudes towards driving in a classroom environment and should equip young drivers with the attitude they need to stay safe on the roads.”

Matt Staton, Road Safety Education Team Leader from Cambridgeshire County Council said: “This web-based learning programme will help us educate young people into how to keep both themselves and others safe while driving. We will be launching the programme in June and inviting all schools and colleges to sign up for the autumn term.”

In the past 5 years there have been 3,700 casualties in Road Traffic Collisions within the 16 -25 year old group in Cambridgeshire.
Road crashes are the biggest accidental killer of 15-24 year olds in the UK*. In fact, young drivers make up a quarter of all road fatalities despite only representing 1 in 8 of all UK license holders. However, inexperience isn't the only thing working against them; their brain development and attitude & behaviour have a crucial role to play. Conventional driving tuition tends to focus on the technical elements required to pass the driving test, despite research telling us that 19 out of 20 crashes are contributed to by attitude & behaviour and not vehicle handling skill.

Nick Rowley, CEO of Drivermetrics, the software company behind the programme said,
“We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership in bringing Drive iQ to all the students in the county. Understanding the hidden dangers facing young people when they drive is critical to their safety and it is our mission to work with key local agencies to bring a fresh perspective on this area of driver education. Our collective aim is to help every young person be the safest they can be in a car and stop tragic and unnecessary injury or worse."