Most drivers are guilty of it. But when it comes to passing verdict on other people's skill behind the wheels, student Simon Watson has hard scientific facts at his fingertips.

He's using one of the latest hot hatches on the road to assess the driving styles of 17 members of staff at Bradford University as part of his final year research project.

And he'll be able to tell every single one of them whether they fall into one of six categories - aggressive, confident, controlled, conservative, cautious or nervous - at the end of his study.

Simon, a mechanical and automotive engineering student, has been given the use of a Ford Focus ST170 for his project, thanks to the contacts he made during a placement with Ford in Germany last year.

During that time he worked with the launch team for the ST170 and RS Focus and hopes to join the company when he graduates later this year.

"It's quite rare to get a car like this for a project but I was lucky because of the people I was working with and the fact that Ford are keen to do more work with Bradford," said Simon, who lives in Liversedge. He's helped to fit special computer equipment in the car which will record a variety of information, including how hard people accelerate and brake, how many gear changes they make and how long they spend in each gear.

"I'm personally interested in how people drive and how driving styles differ but Ford are also interested in feedback on the car from drivers.

"I won't automatically be telling people what sort of a driver they are, but if they do want feedback, I'll be able to give it to them."

All those taking part in the test have to drive a 40-mile route from the university, along the M606, to the M62 towards Manchester, leaving the motorway at Rishworth and travelling back through Ripponden, Halifax and Queensbury.

Professor Andrew Day, Dean of the School of Engineering, Design and Technology, said: "This is a great opportunity for Simon to carry out an exciting final-year project working with state-of-the-art equipment."

Although Simon isn't insured to take the test car out for a spin when he feels like it, he doesn't miss out. He took advantage of a 25 per cent discount for Ford employees during his placement year and now owns a Focus himself.