I’ve sometimes recommended that, between lessons, a student drives at low speed (under 10mph) on vacant privately-owned land, as long as they have a qualified driver with them.

The law allows them to do this without insurance cover, though I make them aware that any damage they cause to fences, signs, kerbs (or anyone else that gets close) will be their responsibility, and the landowner (such as a supermarket) may tell them to leave.

The course is led by Dr Tom Lockhart (who impressed at both webinars I viewed).  He specialises in anxiety, teaches biological and cognitive psychology, is involved in research on fire response with the Fire Service, and is also interested in animal psych.

The course comprises 5 modules.  The first 4 are topic areas, working with a module leader and alongside a tutor (with optional live sessions) coaching a small group.  The 5th is twice the size, being a project chosen by you, working 1:1 (or optionally in a small group) with a supervisor who will help conduct the research and write it up appropriately.  Time commitment is typically 20-25 hr/wk over 10-week trimesters, which is "intense and challenging" but necessary to meet the British Psychological Society's criteria for breadth and depth.  Bonding with the course tutor will be key.  Recommendations for each week are given.

The core curriculum is defined by the BPS but "its excitement comes from the passion of staff specialisms".  Some existing students are currently scrutinising police interview techniques, clinical and environmental, historical profiling, and the ethics of what to study in human psychology.

Peer-working is certainly possible, each week in the learning content via online but asynchronous forums.  Weekly challenge activities include peer-review of mini projects.  Optional live sessions allow a 1-hour/week online meeting with the module tutor.  Email interaction is encouraged, ad hoc.  All reading material is available online; UoP licence agreements allow c.60pp/source to be downloaded and printed.  (I took screenshots of a typical week's schedule which were shared).

The course uses an online experiment builder ("Gorilla"), a freely downloadable statistics analysis package ("JASP"), and connects to professional standards for proficient working as a psychologist.  It includes writing for funding applications, portfolio assessment of individuals, and communication to government and educators.  The degree is fully course-assessed (no exams).

Main differences making this course unique are emphasis on pedagogy for retention and asychnronous working, interactivity with and among students, weekly workshops, and "a wide range of support networks at Portsmouth" if you've been out of academia for a while or need help with wellbeing, employability (for up to 5yr), a student adviser team for pastoral care (assignment extensions, etc.), and a personal tutor for the duration.  Access to the physical Portsmouth campus is equivalent to any physically-attending student.

Entry does not require experience of psychology, but requires "level 6" educational status (e.g. a 2ii bachelor's degree).  ​Accreditation by BPS from a course such as this is essential for a career in forensic, clinical, or education psychology.  Derived research skills are extremely transferable, particularly critical evaluation via statistical methods, and the active progression of a project (not just compliance with third-party instructions).

Although half a century old now, the only element of this privately-funded (American) film which we'd now change is "don't honk or flash before overtaking".

This change is because of increase in traffic : there'd be too much use of horn or lights, causing dangerous distraction! (But it may still be taught in rural France ... I'll be visiting soon to find out).

I attended, for a third meeting, last Sunday (and got interviewed ... successfully!)  We heard from:

1.
[email protected]
Miscrosleep apnoea from UoL/Aus.:
Circadian rhythm of adolescents
Driver assistance hoodwinking
Inflexible decision-making
IR-driven schooling for capitalism
Male drivers 16-29 trust ADIs most, parents if pushed (tho related to car access)
Crash stats are poor for sleepiness due to under self-reporting
Sleepiness differs from tiredness
Delivery methods and content
Removal of luck, self-perpetuating
Underload and overload factors
Aus data translates to UK
So much is vying for air-time

2.
[email protected]
Roadmarking manufacturing in 18 countries, over 100 years
“White lines save lives”
Type 2 markings (sonore) drain better
Safety is being and making visible
(but what of over-familiarisation?)
Eire requires >150mCd white retroreflection (UK >100 white; >80 yellow) but street lighting may differ
RetroTek did 2.1kmi real-time marking assessment but no quantified caveats
England standard set in 1962 (EN1346 or 1436)
CS126 is a Nat Highways’ newer standard of enduring conspicuity
Over 1/3 lefthand mkgs substandard
Over 1/4 righthand mkgs substandard
Scotland budget £196m (but was £190m in 2002)
Less cadmium yellow, less TiO2 and post-laid thermoplastic beads no longer breakdown to carcinogenic hydrocarbons
Innovations must ensure 2M tyre passes
Wet frictional coefficient >65%
TP007 by Geveko outperformed on M5 motorway
Autonomous cars need contrast ratio >3:1
GDP and CO2 is factored into “cost 331” these days
LAs should annually survey all roads
Thus how much more expensive (or confusing) is bilingual?
No evidential link between failing markings and KSIs

3.
Victoria Davies, Wales traffic commissioner (8 across UK)
Office-holders appointed by DfT minister
Inquisitorial role (based on reports from DVSA) but also adversarial and educational, into conduct (based on fitness to drive safety)
15000 cases to OTC in 2022-23, and 2702 hearings (some public)
Common concerns include bridge-strikes (Network Rail water curtains?)
Drug-driving is more prevalent in 50s-60s than she expected (in post 2020)
Some judgments are reserved due to risk of kick-back

4.
Graham Feest just passed 50yr in this industry
No doubt 1990s and 2010s were the most progressive interventionally
Leftist governments are traditionally more receptive to joined-up development, so the next few years are perhaps brighter for road safety