Add a Sixth Sense Gauge to your teaching service

ADI’s. Why we believe teaching and driving with a Sixth Sense Gauge ‘early warning system’ could help to save a life.

Of the studies by Insurance Companies seeking to explain why so many serious accidents involve young drivers, amongst the most telling was the survey - see web site ‘Press’ page – that reported of the 2000 drivers questioned almost 700 felt they had not been taught enough before driving on their own; 500 reckoned their unpreparedness led to an otherwise avoidable accident. ‘Trial and error’ alone is not a sensible way to gain experience on public roads.

The right attitude is the start point: for drivers the ‘attitude’ is: ‘Get There’. Above everything else.

The Sixth Sense Gauge is an early warning system – an adjustable motion sensor designed to help with ‘getting there’. There are times when reacting to what a car is ‘saying’ is vital. Not understanding how to avoid a vehicle generating excessive ‘roll’ is particularly dangerous, and the FIA’s recent President, Jean Todt, asked me to bring ‘our’ solution to those addressing or assessing young driver safety initiatives. The 6SG brings specific focus – inexpensively and in a simple way – to the ‘dynamics’ that accompany ‘speed’. Being adjustable it can be set so it sounds when a lateral force of 0.3 ‘g’, 0.4 ‘g’, 0.5 ‘g’ 0.6 ‘g’ is generated. It can be set to suit car and driving style. Lights glow increasingly as forces increase, the feedback being instant.

‘I really think this concept will revolutionise the way I instruct’. Richard Butterworth ADI

‘Mike, I encourage you to reach out to FIA members – I believe your motion sensor could be a useful addition to the driver learning process’. Jean Todt FIA President

Battery powered, screen mounted, very light and unobtrusive, the instrument has glowing lights - three red and one green. The green light glows brighter as force increases during braking. Why green? To encourage proper use of brake pedal. By taking full advantage of the weight transfer forward that braking generates as the vehicle slows, the car becomes more responsive, able to turn with minimum ‘roll’. This helps the driver to get used to the ‘feeling’ of what being in control of the car through the corner actually is. A ‘Sixth Sense’ develops that leads to improved levels of anticipation, attitude and clarity of thought.

The red light activated by acceleration simply encourages drivers to accelerate gently.

The red lights that indicate lateral weight shift – the car leaning more on one side than the other – are accompanied by sound when your set level of ‘g’ force is breached. Excessive lean/roll is of course wholly inappropriate on public roads and drivers should appreciate how to avoid it from the start.

A smooth driving style is appreciated by passengers. Being driven by a person who shows a clear understanding of how it is achieved is equally comforting. ‘Knowing’ you drive well is a good deal better than ‘thinking’ you drive well. The Sixth Sense Gauge – an electronic passenger - seen but not heard!.

ADI’s: Should your driver generate excessive roll/lean to the point you are uncomfortable…..

Likely cause is the inability to accelerate through the corner; the car is dictating terms. Entry speed excessive. Potentially a dangerous to very dangerous situation.

Work on driver’s judgement of braking distance and brake force. Even gentle braking will generate sufficient weight shift provided it’s maintained up to the point the car enters its turn. 6SG’s green light will show immediately brakes are released – it goes out. When to accelerate in a corner must always be the driver’s call.

Mike Knight – creator of the Sixth Sense Gauge.