Competition format

The National Safe and Skilled Driving Competition ran the stands, including practical tests, a computer-based assessment and some non-scoring stands. Teams visited each stand in turn with points deducted for each mistake made during the test.

The team with the highest number of points after completing all the stands were declared the winners. There was a prize for the best team and for the best individual driver.

Transport knowledge quiz

Drivers had to take an online test, consisting of 20 questions based on the Highway Code. They were allowed 45 seconds to answer each question. This tested the knowledge of the teams.

Online driver profiling assessment

Drivers took a 30-minute online driver profiling assessment. They were assessed in four areas: observation, hazard perception, knowledge and concentration. They were given a risk rating in each area as well as
an overall risk rating.

HGV hill start

Drivers had to perform a hill start in an HGV with a bag of light bulbs under one of the rear tyres. If they rolled back and broke the light bulbs they lost points. They were given one attempt.

Vehicle fault clinic

Drivers had 15 minutes to identify a number of faults on a standard G4S vehicle without conferring with their teammates.

To make the test realistic, G4S’s maintenance provider BT Fleet used a number of common faults from the G4S fleet as well as some ‘red herrings’.  There were 10 faults in total, but drivers were not told how many they had to find. The faults included:

nearside wiper arm loose, washer tube removed, dipstick removed, front side light bulb removed, wheel nut pointers removed, tax disc swapped and defect book removed.

Mercedes-Benz Unimog off-road driving circuit (non-scoring)

Drivers took a passenger ride in a Unimog, which was driven by on-site instructor Rob Jones, of Mercedes-Benz. Jones explained the protocols and rules for driving off-road.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter off-road driving circuit (non-scoring)

Having experienced the cross-country circuit in the Unimog, drivers had the chance to drive the 4x4 Sprinter around it.

Blindfolded manoeuvring

One driver from each team got behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz Sprinter blindfolded while another member of the team gave them manoeuvring instructions. Teams lost points if they hit any of the traffic cones around the circuit. They were given three attempts, with the option of substituting a team member. 

Driving simulator

After becoming familiar with the TIR mobile simulator, each driver went through two scenarios lasting two to three minutes each. One scenario tested their awareness of cyclists while the other assessed their slow speed manoeuvring ability in a confined space. Each scenario was allocated points, with drivers also given an overall score.