A young driver who has already received whiplash injuries from her first car accident is one of the test subjects for a high-technology road safety experiment in Staffordshire. Her car is to be wired up to a 'black box' that is connected to the internet, allowing her driving to be monitored and assessed on a 'traffic light' scale.
Subjects whose driving receives red lights - for speeding, braking too sharply, or otherwise increasing the likelihood of a car crash - are considered to be greater risk, and can check online what it is that they are doing that is causing them to receive red lights. This, it is hoped, will change their driving habits to avoid car accidents.
The Staffordshire teenager has already registered that her speed is often too high, and says that this information, as much as her whiplash injury, is making a difference to her driving.
Her father said "This technology is wonderful because it can present her with the stark facts."
The county council is seeking more young drivers for the trial, who need not have been involved in a car accident or suffered whiplash previously. For details call 01785 276617.
*A replacement vehicle can usually be supplied within 4-6 working hours, where there is an admission of liability from the other person’s insurance company. If this person is not known, their insurance details are not known, they are uninsured or there is a potential dispute over who caused the accident, a replacement vehicle cannot be provided.
