MERCURIEN Limited is pleased to announce a major advancement in driver safety with the launch of BetterDriver™, a GPS-based in-car digital coaching system for new drivers and their parents.

The Mercurien BetterDriver™ service helps new drivers know when they are driving in a manner that puts them at risk, delivering immediate, non-disruptive audio-feedback on hard cornering, hard acceleration, hard braking or erratic lane-changing.

“We have designed BetterDriver™ specifically in response to the crash rates for P-plate drivers who are most at risk in the first years of driving,” said Mercurien CEO Michael Graham. “The number of accidents per month increases dramatically when drivers cross the threshold from L to P plates. The statistics are compelling and we felt we had the chance to make a positive difference.”

Mercurien’s BetterDriver™ system consists of a Skymeter unit powered by the car’s electrical system. The unit has two major functions – it is a highly accurate GPS transmitter. Second, it contains a sensitive ‘accelerometer’ function that monitors the vehicle’s movement in terms of normal or excessive driving behaviour. In the event of hard braking, cornering, acceleration or lane changing, the unit emits a clear but non-disruptive audio signal to the driver. The audio signals are graded to represent the severity of any at-risk actions, so people can adjust their driving actions.

Mr Graham explained that the service provides access to a password-protected, individual website that allows drivers and their families to revisit each trip to assess how safely the vehicle has been driven in past journeys, be it an hour, day or month ago.

Mr Graham added that BetterDriver™ was currently in detailed testing with some of Australia’s largest motoring organisations and had also attracted interest from one of the largest motoring insurers, AAMI, which will offer a 20% reduction in comprehensive insurance premiums to the first 1000 drivers who install the BetterDriver system. After the first 1000 a 10% discount will be offered. He also said that the BetterDriver™ system would go to market for about $2-a-day per vehicle, plus a $100 activation fee.

For more information visit: www.betterdriver.com.au