Work Experience 2025 - Student’s Overview

In the last week of May 2025, Reed Mobility was fortunate to be joined by a 17-year old work experience student for four days. Studying for her A-level in psychology and looking to continue her studies in this field at university, I was keen for her to learn about the work of Reed Mobility and how we apply knowledge of psychology in the field of road safety. The student was set several tasks and I was absolutely delighted with her work. The piece below is the student’s summary of her experience working with Reed Mobility. It was great to have her help, even for just a few days. and I wish her every success with her A-levels next summer and her university education and career thereafter!

Across my work experience days I completed a variety of extremely engaging and enjoyable tasks, looking at the connections between psychology and driving, as well as researching the opportunities that Reed Mobility could take to further the company’s profits and to help those uncomfortable on the road. I hope to study Neuroscience or Psychology at university, and consequently my work experience at the company was immensely helpful, and most importantly fascinating. Each task, as well as the advice provided by Nick, will help me significantly in my own studies and research, and has provided me with skills I will carry forward through my education.

I started my experience with two tasks - one to research the role of psychology in road safety, and the other researching the role of psychology in automated driving. I was asked to produce articles on both topics, giving me the opportunity to link the research to my own studies and to explore the many ways to present the information. I was especially interested by the first task, looking at the ways psychology can be utilised to reduce collisions, as well as the different psychological factors that can create an unsafe road. Furthermore, these factors weren’t limited to just the drivers themselves, but also to those outside of the car, as it is suggested by Royal Holloway University that young children cannot accurately judge the distance of a car travelling above 20mph. This research emphasised to me the importance of the practical outcomes of this - the need to educate society thoroughly on road safety. However, the research also introduced me to the broad range of interesting ways in which psychology is applied to the world, as I never would have previously considered the connection between psychology and driving. The second task on automated driving and psychology led me to a topic I knew little about, and as such taught me how to approach something that is novel to me, as this is not a skill often required in school. My initial struggles with how to respond to the task were reflected in the final product, however, they provided the motivation and understanding I needed for the later tasks - I now knew how to overcome these challenges, what questions to ask, and how to plan and manage my time.

My second day was spent researching and discussing the question ‘What does it mean to prove an Automated Vehicle is safe?’. Nick suggested I look at this topic through a societal lens - what would be required in order for society to accept the use of automated vehicles, and to feel safe in and around them? The advice and comments left on my work from the previous day shaped my research for this task, as I now knew what to focus on and how to plan for the article. I was particularly interested by the research and studies conducted on what makes people feel ‘safe’, and the many different theories behind each factor, as I found many links between this information and my own interests and studies, such as the biological and psychological explanations as to why familiarisation leads to perceived safety. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed researching and considering how psychology could be utilised to make people feel safe in the context of automated vehicles specifically, as I had the opportunity to apply my own perspective and make suggestions about an active and relevant topic. I ended the day by reviewing the company website, providing a fresh perspective, and suggesting any potential areas for improvement.

I spent the third day investigating the possibility for Reed Mobility to offer a coaching service for those uncomfortable on the road, whether as a result of anxiety, road rage, or an extended period of time without driving. The task was to create a simple business plan, looking at competitors, potential clients, and the qualifications needed in order to offer the service. The aim of the service was something I had never considered before, and I found the many different ways in which similar services were offered very interesting. Researching and creating the business model was extremely enjoyable, and made me consider the multiple different aspects and factors behind starting a business or service. This provided me with a variety of new skills that will not only aid my education, but will be significantly helpful for any future careers I pursue.

Throughout the entirety of the experience, Nick was incredibly helpful; he consistently provided a multitude of resources and fascinating links to aid my research, ensured the aim and structure of each task was clear to me, and was always enthusiastic to help me. His reviewing of each task at the end of the day, as well as the comments and suggestions he provided, was of great help to not only my subsequent tasks, but will prove massively beneficial to my own research in academia. I intend to follow a psychological path, and the ability to correctly use citations following the APA referencing system, and to research and write about studies, providing my own perspective to issues when appropriate, will be of immense help. Furthermore, the experience provided the opportunity to establish planning and organisational skills, as this was key to ensuring my research remained on topic, and for me to correctly balance the time spent on each task. Not only did the experience further establish my passion for studying psychology and neuroscience, but it provided me with a strong idea of how a career in these fields could look. The skills and opportunities I gained as a result of the work experience will be of immense help in my future, and I am comfortable that the options following my education aren’t limited to well-known careers, but to anything and everything, as psychology connects to every aspect of our lives.