Feedback
Gib Mastri, the chief instructor at the Seattle Fire Dept in the US explains how he uses a ControlPAL gauge to show drivers how to maintain ‘vehicle stability’.
Hello Mike,
We use the ‘Pal’ for the reason you suspected: it's size is better suited to our apparatus. To provide some context and insight into the success I had with the unit recently, let me explain the situation.
We set up a square oval track with four 90 degree corners, each 18' wide with a 30 degree radius. In between the corners were two short straights at about 200 hundred feet and two long straights at about 300 feet, each. On one of the long straights we added a chicane. The speed limit on the course is 25 mph. The Pal was set at .5g, which is the Rollover Threshold for American fire apparatus as determined by the manufacturers JHA. The intent was for the student to drive the course while keeping the lights in the green, utilizing the skills we teach: Straight line Braking, Push/pull (Shuffle) steering and Wide/deep entry.
The instructor drives multiple laps, explaining the Pal first then demonstrating the correct techniques which are built on systematically. While the students aren't aware of it initially, the instructor is utilizing all three techniques each time he drives, but we start just focusing on the steering because it is the hardest technique for students to grasp. The instructor also drives several laps incorrectly, so the students see the Pal in action as it hits between the green and the Rollover Threshold. After each instructor drive, we place the student behind the wheel for multiple laps to practice what we have just preached; this progresses through each subsequent skill point until our students are able to put them all together in one lap. After that come multiple reinforcing, practice laps.
Perhaps my greatest thrill in using the Pal is how it so simply and yet emphatically demonstrates the differences between the correct techniques for driving and those that get us in trouble. The question nearly every student asks me is "are you driving the same speed on both the correct and incorrect demos"? They are convinced I'm using smoke and mirrors or some form of deception to trick them into belief. Yet once they see the speedometer stay the same for a lap or two of both correct and incorrect technique, the hammer hits and conversion begins. It's the Pal that helps pull that realization so keenly into focus. I would like to send you a video at some point, but I will need to get approval for that from my higher-ups.
Questions and Answers
I’m delighted to say a number of ADIs have raised questions or commented about using a Sixth Sense Gauge so we have added a ‘Q & A’ page. Mike Knight’s answers are highlighted in green.
Question
First up is one from Paul Ellison ADI who asks – do they record any data or is it just live feed with lights flashing?
Answer
No Paul, we did not build in data recording because most new driver’s cars fit a black box for insurance and we figured the 6SG that alerted the instructor/driver in ‘real time’ would mean the driver having been taught with one would naturally provide better data that the insurer’s algorithm predicted.
Best,
Mike
Question
Next is Chris Mitchell who comments - Interesting… so a gadget that ‘feels’ the car and sets off lights and makes some sound if the car is out of balance. Can’t help but feel this solves a problem that shouldn’t exist if instructors teach the feel of the car from the very start. Don’t instructors teach to feel the balance of the car anymore? Feel the steering, the pedals, the seat/seat belt, hearing? Do we not teach to use your eyes and predict grip depending on tyre quality, tread depth, how wet/dry/moist the road is? Is there debris, leaves, stones, could there be ice? Have we really dumbed down to this? Are we not in the car to say “that was a tad fast round the bend. Did you feel like they struggled for grip? That’s called scrubbing and is the tyres losing grip just before you leave the road into a ditch/tree. “You can’t run our of talent or tarmac, as it goes very dark, and quiet and that’s it. No reset. Life is over”
(6SG user) Simon Stevenson replied “ the unit doesn’t replace feel but it definitely helps highlight what is happening in the here and now to enforce what might or might not be understood from the ‘feel’. There are 3 settings to it which also allows the driver to build on those ‘feel’ skills and the lights and sound again assist in enforcing that what the driver is feeling is exactly what they are feeling. If you’ve not tried one I suppose it’s hard to understand fully how it can be beneficial. In no way am I linked to the company, but I do have one. It is value for money….in my honest opinion if it’s not reduced in its original price I’d say they are a tad pricey for what they are, but I do find it does make my learners who use it appreciate more of what they are feeling and why it is they are feeling it.”
Answer
Hi Chris, Some one commented there are 40,000 instructors and probably as many ways of instructing! So first off I’d mention my 18 year old grandson recently passed his test first time; it was apparent he had a quite limited appreciation of how ‘weight shift’ affects the way the car behaves during direction change, and for some trial and error is not an ideal way to learn where a personal driving ‘comfort zone’ lies on the public roads.
Remember the gauge reacts to forces generated by the driver and shows an out of balance car in a simple way, and does so some way before things become ‘critical’! That know-how leads to a natural thought process of responsibility - to oneself and others - and it adds to accomplishment at the wheel.
Suggesting the 6SG is a dumbing down approach is a bit harsh! It is based on a hugely productive method that allowed novices to drive our ‘uninsurable’ and expensive cars quickly without damaging themselves or the cars for many years. We all have ‘feel’. It is really helpful to know how much. It varies a lot!
Price. We have priced them so that if three of you club together they cost £79 rather than £99. This includes VAT. The cost is of course fully allowable against tax. Given its capacity to influence your client’s future insurance premiums and even their claims, I hope you’ll feel it does represent decent value all round. As you will know ‘we’ spend over £12 bn clearing up after road accidents and a single fatal reduction saves £2m +.
Question
Next is Brian Leslie – So I watched the video and the lights and sound came on after balance had been lost. That’s too late. As an instructor you’d be intervening before that happened with a prompt or instruction. A wee light and beep after you lose balance could prompt an inexperienced driver to brake thus exacerbating the problem. Definitely not for me. Proactive teaching and coaching and driving. Not reactive to some lights and a beep.
Answer
No Brian! As I mention above the sound intervenes (at a max of 0.61g) before we get into deep trouble. That’s the point! We are on a public road, not a race track! The gauge has settings that allow a decent margin of safety. Speed related accidents are what we are endeavouring to help new drivers avoid by simply becoming more accomplished sooner; an appreciation how vehicle balance is generated in a logical rather than a trial and error way takes the driver’s general approach to a different level. Believe me!
Best,
Mike
Question
David Brocklesby comments – How much???
Sorry I like the idea, can see some advantageous uses for it to visually put stability into perspective, and would definitely consider one (more for my fleet work) but not at a hundred quid. There are apps available that use the phones built in gyroscopes that do a similar job and allow you to review the information. Does this have a connected app or anything to review or monitor the information?
Answer
Hi David, thanks for this one. First I’d mention that I’ve argued earlier why I think it represents value and that we can manage rather less than a hundred quid if you gang up with a couple of friends! The existence of a workable phone application is one I’d love to hear about because for sure we haven’t found it! (There are days when I wish we had!)
Best,
Mike
Question
Andrew McKensie says – I feel the lights and sounds could be a distraction to drivers. It could be easy to get fixated on the dials and miss something on the road. Given that modern cars have very sophisticated stability management systems I think this tech is trying to solve a problem that was possibly an issue years ago.
Without trying to be crude your backside will tell you soon enough that the car is starting to roll. A good driver should be taught to avoid rolling before a sensor is telling you it is happening.
Answer
Distraction was a bit of a concern at the start of this project, but it became apparent right away it was not an issue. It is very much something you only really ‘notice’ when braking, because the green light extinguishes the moment brakes are released (timing there being important) and the reds are required to enable settings to be varied and are not intrusive either. The driver simply ‘reacts’ to bleep on roll, questions why it happened and usually a couple of those is sufficient to get the message across. I agree a good driver will avoid roll, and knowing how that’s achieved early is extremely valuable.
Best,
Mike
Question
Stuart Mclaughlin – I don’t need coloured lights or flashing lights I can tell if my car is being ragged around corners and being driven aggressively.
Answer
Hi Stuart, I’m glad to hear it! But it would probably help you to explain why your student is setting them off!
Best,
Mike
Question
Richard Henderson – Not sure I want my clients watching lights on the device when they should be watching the road.
Answer
Hi Richard, I must emphasise your guys will not be focussing on it; they will only react to it.
Best,
Mike
Question
Peter Hall – Seems to be directly in the field of vision. Not sure how you think it would improve safety.
Answer
Hi Peter, I can only refer you to some of my answers here and from users on the web site.
Best,
Mike
Question
Simon Stevenson ADI – Got one they are great!
Phil Harrison replied, do you need to charge them up or are they battery powered?
Simon replied – AAA batteries in them
Phil replied – thanks!