Matt Staton, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Road Safety Partnership

Analysis into collisions involving 16-24 year-old drivers by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership revealed a need to address hazard perception, management of risk and responsibility as a driver and passenger, without risking overconfidence.

To combat this, the Partnership set out to implement a programme that would reach 10,000 students and help them improve their anticipation of danger and risk management, and to consider the issues of emotional response and being a responsible passenger.

Having explored what was already in use across the country, the partnership identified Drive iQ as an appropriate programme which could also be tailored to Cambridgeshire’s needs.

Drive iQ was personalised to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area - for example, by using local roads in the hazard perception clips - thanks to funding from the region’s police and crime commissioner.

The scheme is currently in delivery (complete summer 2018) and is being evaluated by Cranfield University.

Cambs Drive IQ won the Best education & Training Initiative category at the 2018 FirstCar Young Driver Road Safety Awards in April 2018.

Matt Staton, Road Safety Education Team Leader, Cambridgeshire County Council
Matt is the road safety education team leader at Cambridgeshire County Council and chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership’s Data and Intelligence Group. He joined the road safety team in Cambridgeshire 10 years ago and now leads the team of seven staff in researching, developing, implementing and delivering road safety education activities across Cambridgeshire for all ages.

He has an MSc in Road and Vehicle Safety from Loughborough University and has experience of research into driver distraction, attitudes and behaviour and the evaluation of education programmes. He has played a key role in the development of the road safety partnership’s strategy and the integration of the East of England Major Trauma Centre and wider Trauma Network into the Partnership.