2nd phase motorcycling training in Austria

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2nd phase motorcycling training in Austria

• Dr. Michael Gatscha

Progressive access to Category A licences Impact
of the 2nd and 3rd European Driving Licences on
category A training and testing CIECA Workshop,
Nimes, France 9-10 April 2008
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Overview

• Background information
• Contents of 2nd phase rider training
• Qualification for instructors
• Description of the target group
• Outlook

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Background
2nd phase education is implemented since 1.1.2003
Who?
All novice drivers holding a driving license for
category A or B
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Background
Why a 2nd phase ?
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Background
Additional reasons

• Studies of Austrian Road Safety Board show that
• novice drivers are not able to brake
  sufficently
• (Winkelbauer, 2002, Vavryn Winkelbauer, 2000)
• Good experiences with warm up refresher
  trainings

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Background
What?
Test
Test
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Contents Track training
Overview

• Theoretical part
• (one lesson)

• Practical part
• (five lessons)

• Basic physics of motorcycle riding
• Viewing technique
• Braking techniques
• Riding styles
• Safety tips

• Riding on slalom course
• (Emergency) braking exercises
• Braking swerving exercise
• Cornering
• Vehicle handling

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Qualification for instructors

• Minimum age 24 years
• At least 5 years of driving experience
• No offences for the past 5 years (especially
  traffic-related to alcohol, drugs, excessive
  speeding and cases of hit run)
• No non-traffic related sentences of more than 6
  months
• Theoretical and practical training (16 hours)
• Course specific training (class A, 8 hours)
• At least 3 safety training sessions
• Specific training in psychological basics (8
  hours)
• Specific training in peadagogical basics (15
  hours)

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Qualification for psychologists

• Being a psychologist
• To be a traffic psychologist (according to
  Austrian law)
• To be a driver improvement trainer
• To be in training for one of both
• Theoretical and practical training (16 hours)
• At least 3 full safety training sessions per
  category
• The two latter requirements are not applicable
  fortraffic psychologists and driver improvement
  trainers

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Track training
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Contents Track training
Module 1 Slalom course

• Goals

• Exercise for warming up
• Correct steering
• Correct viewing

Exercise

• Demonstration of instructor (2x)
• more turnaround second time
• Procedure
• parallel, one after another
• Instructor checks for distances,
• level of trainees (speed/viewing)
• seating position, lever adjustments

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Contents Track training
Module 2 Cornering (circular path)

• Goals

• Riding a smooth line

Exercise

• Explanation, Demonstration,
• Training, Discussion
• Procedure
• pairwise ride in the circle
• instructor checks speed,
• viewing technique, correct gear
• individual discussion,
• group feedback and discussion gt Which riding
  style is appropriate?

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Contents Track training
Module 3 Vehicle handling

• Goals

• Finding a safe and smooth line
• through narrow bends
• Match steering, angular exit
• points with proper viewing

Exercise

• Riding without instruction
• Explanation, Demonstration,
• Training Discussion
• Procedure
• Option 1 all participants practice parallel,
  one after another
• Option 2 2 groups, 1 practices, the other
  observes
• Instructor checks for safety distances,
  viewing technique, used gears
• individual feedback after rounds,
• group feedback and discussion gt Which riding
  style is appropriate?

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Contents Track training
Module 4 Braking exercise

• Goals

• Improve braking skills
• Reduction of braking distance
• without locked wheels

Exercise

• Explanation,Demonstration
• Training
• Procedure
• 5-7 braking turns within a realistic speed
  range
• Comfortable speed participants normally
  around 50 km/h (max. 70!)
• smooth braking of rear wheel  (stretching
  of MC gt stability)
• progressive front wheel brake, 2 finger
  method
• avoidance of blocking wheels

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Contents Track training
Optional module Comparison of braking
distances (car, MC)

• Goals

• Self assessment of braking skills
• Perception of emergency braking

Exercise

• Explanation, Demonstration
• Discussion
• Procedure
• 3 turns (30 60 70 km/h)
• Individual feedback after every turn
• Group discussion, 4 main topics
• 1. What does it feel like to perform an
  emergency braking
• 2. Relationship between speed and braking
  distance
• 3. Mistakes made (e.g. forgotten clutch,
  improper viewing, fluttery braking,..)
• 4. Satisfaction with own braking distances

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Contents Track training
Optional module Blind spot

• Goals

• Demonstration of how easy is to be
• overlooked
• Most common dangerous situations

Exercise

• Demonstration Discussion
• Procedure
• every participant gets in the driver
• seat of the car and looks for positioned MC
• How many MC do you see?
• Group discussion key messages
• 1. Make yourself noticeable
• 2. Act predictable for others
• 3. Role of speed

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Contents Track training
Module 5 Braking swerving

• Goals

• Knowing the complexity and the
• Impact of speed of such manoeuvres

Exercise

• Explanation, Demonstration
• Training
• Procedure
• Several turns always swerving to the left,
  starting with 40 km/h,
• speed increasing moderately 5 km/h, max. 70
  km/h)
• Instructor gives individual feedback after
  every single turn,
• speed is only to be increased if previous
  manoeuvre was successful
• and participant wants to (forcing in any form
  has to be avoided)

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Psychological group discussion
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Contents Group discussion

• Main topics 1st part

• Typical accident risks
• Difference between MC riding and
• car driving
• The sixth sense of motorcycling and
• how to get it
• Meaning of hazard perception
• Riding in groups

• Main topics 2nd part

What is my typical accident? What are my
weaknesses/strengths? How do i cope with
stressful situations?
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Example
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What is going to happen now ???
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What are they concentrating on?
What are they unlikely to see?
Are there other possibilities?
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Description of target group
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Description of target group
Number of issued driving licenses (cat. A)
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Description of target group
Distribution of age groups obtaining driving
licenses (cat. A) in 2006
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Description of target group
Distribution of age groups obtaining driving
licenses (cat. A) in 2006
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Description of target group
Completion of track training psychological
group discussion
Only 48,3 completed the modules on
time! However, withdrawals du to exceeding time
frames are less than 1!
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Outlook

• Evaluation of effects is urgently needed
• However, isolation of possible effects might be
  tricky due low numbers of riders, real
  exposure and further influencing factos
  (weather, )
• Development of a comprehensive quality
  assurance system
• Standardized postgraduate education for all
  involved professionals (instructors,
  psychologists)
• In case of positive effects, widening the
  approach for other target groups (moped
  refresher courses) by law

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THANK YOU !
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