WO2000039655A1

WO2000039655A1 - Motor vehicle for educational driving

Info

Publication number: WO2000039655A1
Application number: PCT/NL1999/000774
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Christiaan Jansen
Original assignee: Robert Christiaan Jansen
Priority date: 1998-12-24
Filing date: 1999-12-15
Publication date: 2000-07-06
Also published as: NL1010904C2; AU1897400A

Abstract

Motor vehicle for educational driving, which motor vehicle comprises a driver's seat and an associated driver's set of pedals (6, 7, 8), at least having a driver's brake pedal (8) and a driver's accelerator pedal. The motor vehicle also has an instructor's seat and an associated instructor's set of pedals (9, 10), at least having an instructor's brake pedal (9). The driver's accelerator pedal (10) is coupled to a power control device (4) for the driving engine (3) of the motor vehicle. The driver's brake pedal and the instructor's brake pedal are coupled to the service brake system of the motor vehicle in such a manner that the motor vehicle brakes as a result of actuation thereof by the driver or the instructor. Furthermore, there are additional actuating means (12, 13) which can be actuated by the instructor and are designed in such a manner that, if they are actuated by the instructor, braking of the motor vehicle which has been initiated through actuation of the driver's brake pedal can be reduced, and preferably eliminated altogether.

Description

Motor vehicle for educational driving

The invention relates to a motor vehicle for educat-fcSά l driving, which motor vehicle comprises a driver's seat and an associated driver's set of pedals, at least having a driver's brake pedal and a driver's accelerator pedal, which motor vehicle furthermore comprises an instructor's seat and associated instructor's set of pedals, at least having an instructor's brake pedal, the driver's accelerator pedal being coupled to a power control device of the driving engine of the motor vehicle, and the driver's brake pedal and the instructor's brake pedal being coupled to the service brake system of the motor vehicle, in such a manner that the motor vehicle brakes as a result of actuation thereof by the driver or the instructor. Motor vehicles for educational driving of this nature are generally known and examples are described in patent publications EP 0 583 759 and WO 85/03369. In such vehicles, the driver's set of pedals usually comprises a brake pedal, a clutch pedal and an accelerator pedal, although in a vehicle with an automatic gearbox only a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal are present in the area of the driver' s seat .

In the area of the instructor's seat, which is usually next to the driver's seat, there is an instructor's set of pedals with at least one brake pedal which the instructor can use to brake the vehicle, for example at moments when the inexperienced driver neglects to do so, or which allows the instructor to brake more strongly than the driver. The instructor's set of pedals often comprises, in addition to the brake pedal, a clutch pedal. It is generally known that educational driving vehicles of this nature are regularly involved in dangerous traffic situations and in collisions, despite the presence of an often very experienced driving instructor (or examiner) in the vehicle. Collisions, in particular, lead to personal injury to the people involved and to financial loss; in particular, the costs of (temporary) unfitness for work may be substantial .

The object of the present invention is to provide measures which are able to reduce the extent to which learner vehicles are involved in dangerous traffic situations, and, in particular, to reduce in the effects of an undesired braking action by the driver.

According to a first aspect, the invention provides a motor vehicle for educational driving according to the preamble of claim 1, which motor vehicle is characterized in that there are also additional actuating means which can be actuated by the instructor and are designed in such a manner that, if they are actuated by the instructor, braking of the motor vehicle which has been initiated through actuation of the driver's brake pedal can be reduced, and preferably eliminated altogether.

The invention is based on the insight that in practice the inexperienced driver often brakes (strongly) at a moment at which the traffic situation does not in fact permit such a braking action. A known example of this situation is that in which an inexperienced driver brakes hard before traffic lights which have just changed to amber while another motor vehicle is driving (close) behind the educational driving vehicle. This often leads to the educational driving vehicle being hit from behind. In most known educational driving motor vehicles, the instructor' s brake pedal acts on the driver' s brake pedal via a linkage, and the driver's brake pedal is coupled to the service brake system. The only option available to the instructor in a known educational driving vehicle of this nature in such a situation to counteract braking which is deemed undesirable by the instructor consists in the instructor placing his foot beneath the instructor ' s brake pedal and thus blocking the driver's brake pedal from being pressed down (far). However, this emergency action on the part of the instructor is only rarely successful; if the instructor is taken by surprise and/or the driver brakes hard, it is not usually possible to place a foot beneath the instructor's brake pedal, and even if the instructor succeeds in doing so, it is usually too late and the braking of the vehicle can only be reduced slightly. Furthermore, educational driving motor vehicles are known in which the instructor ' s brake pedal is coupled to the driver ' s brake pedal in such a manner that the above-described action on the part of the instructor is not possible at all . The invention proposes for the motor vehicle to be provided with additional actuating means for the instructor, which enable the instructor to lessen a braking action on the part of the inexperienced driver which is deemed undesirable by the instructor, and preferably to eliminate this braking action altogether. It will be clear that this measure according to the invention can be achieved with a large number of different designs .

Most motor vehicles for educational driving have a manual gearbox with an associated actuable clutch for selectively coupling and uncoupling the driving engine and the driving wheels. In this case, the driver's set of pedals and the instructor's set of pedals each comprise a clutch pedal, which clutch pedals are connected to the clutch. In these motor vehicles, it is preferable for the additional actuating means which can be actuated by the instructor also to be designed in such a manner that, in the event of actuation thereof by the instructor, uncoupling of the engine and the wheels which is initiated through actuation of the driver's clutch pedal and/or the gearlever is eliminated. Of course, in vehicles with an automatic gearbox it may also be desirable for the declutching which has been initiated by the driver to be eliminated, for example by returning the gearbox to "drive" mode.

As a result of the declutching being eliminated, the driving engine is coupled to the driving wheels again and the vehicle is driven again, so that the vehicle can continue driving.

This possibility is relevant, inter alia, if the instructor is surprised by the braking action of the pupil. The vehicle will therefore already have braked to some extent before the instructor is able to eliminate the braking action. Since the pupil will probably also disengage the clutch at the same time as braking, the instructor would then be unable to do anything to accelerate the vehicle again. It is conceivable that the instructor could orally order the driver to accelerate if the instructor does not have an instructor's accelerator pedal and is unable to control the power control device of the driving engine in some other way. A second aspect of the present invention which relates to the above context relates to the elimination of the hazardous situation in which the pupil has disengaged the coupling between the driving engine and the wheels, for example when stopping at traffic lights, while the instructor regards it as safer to continue driving.

The second aspect of the invention, as described in claim 3, provides for it to be possible for the instructor to eliminate the disengagement which has been initiated by the pupil, and preferably also for the instructor then to be able to accelerate. As a result, it is possible, for example, for the instructor to drive a vehicle which has stopped at the traffic lights onwards again, for example if he sees in his mirrors that a following vehicle is not braking or is braking to an insufficient extent.

It will be clear that the variant embodiments described above are particularly advantageous if the instructor's set of pedals also comprises an instructor's accelerator pedal which is coupled to the power control device of the driving engine . As a result, the instructor is then able, through actuation of the additional actuating means, on the one hand to eliminate the braking and/or any declutching which have been initiated by the driver, and on the other hand to accelerate and thus relieve a dangerous traffic situation which has been caused by the inexperienced driver.

In a preferred embodiment, the additional actuating means which can be actuated by the instructor are also coupled to the power control device of the driving engine of the motor vehicle, in such a manner that the power control device is made independent from the driver's accelerator pedal through actuation of the additional actuating means . This provides the instructor with the possibility of actually driving onwards in the motor vehicle or even accelerating the motor vehicle in a situation in which the driver initiates a braking action which is deemed undesirable by the instructor. In a possible embodiment, in such a situation the power control device could adopt a predetermined setting or a setting which is determined by an automatic control system. However preference is given to an embodiment in which the instructor is able to determine himself which setting the power control device should adopt and therefore what speed/acceleration is to be given to the motor vehicle.

As has been stated, the measure according to the invention is intended, in particular, to allow the instructor to act quickly in the event of the (inexperienced) driver executing a braking and/or declutching action which is deemed undesirable by the instructor. For this reason, it is preferable for the additional actuating means to comprise a foot pedal and/or foot switch which can be actuated by the instructor and with which the instructor can activate the additional actuating means.

In a preferred embodiment, the instructor's pedal associated with the additional actuating means is an instructor ' s accelerator pedal which is coupled to the power control device. This embodiment is based on the insight that the mental reaction of the instructor at the moment at which the driver brakes undesirably will be to "drive on", i.e. not to brake, but in fact accelerate, in particular in order to negate the braking of the motor vehicle which has already been initiated by the driver. This mental reaction is the most unequivocal and the quickest to convert into the action which is known as depressing an accelerator pedal, which can therefore be achieved by providing the motor vehicle with an instructor's accelerator pedal, which forms part of the additional actuating means as described above.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the additional actuating means described can be selectively deactivated, thus in fact returning to the instructor's set of pedals which is known from the prior art and the associated options for the instructor to control the vehicle. This possibility is useful, in particular, if the test rules do not allow examiners to use the additional actuating means described above, and also when the vehicle is not being used for educational driving and the instructor's seat is being used, for example, as a passenger seat.

Further advantageous embodiments of the motor vehicle according to the invention are described in the claims and the following description given with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 diagrammatically depicts the structure of a first exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle for educational driving according to the invention,

Fig. 2 diagrammatically depicts the structure of a second exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle for educational driving according to the invention,

Fig. 3 diagrammatically depicts the structure of a third exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle for educational driving according to the invention, and Figs. 4a-c show three different positions of an accelerator pedal intended to be used in a motor vehicle according to the invention.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 diagrammatically depict those parts of a motor vehicle for educational driving which are relevant for explanation of the present invention. The motor vehicle has a set of wheels 1 which can be selectively coupled to a driving internal-combustion engine 3 via a drive train which includes an actuable clutch 2 and usually a manual gearbox. To control the power which is supplied by the driving engine 3, there is a power control device 4 which may, for example, comprise the throttle of the internal combustion engine 3.

The motor vehicle furthermore comprises a service brake system 5, by means of which the vehicle can be braked via the wheels 1. In addition to the service brake system 5, the motor vehicle will often have a handbrake, in particular for allowing the vehicle to be parked in a braked state.

The vehicle has a driver's seat (not shown) where the steering wheel of the vehicle is located, and in the vicinity of this driver's seat there is a driver's set of pedals with pedals which can be operated by foot. The driver's set of pedals in this case comprises a driver's clutch pedal 6, a driver's accelerator pedal 7 and a driver ' s brake pedal 8.

The vehicle also has an instructor's seat, usually next to the driver's seat, and an associated instructor's set of pedals, which in Figures 1-3 at least comprises an instructor's brake pedal 9 and an instructor's clutch pedal 10.

It can be seen in Figure 1 that the driver's accelerator pedal 7 is coupled to the power control device 4. It can also be seen that both the driver ' s clutch pedal 6 and the instructors ' clutch pedal 10 are coupled to the clutch 2, specifically in such a manner that the instructor can disengage the clutch via the pedal 10 if the driver neglects to (sufficiently) do so. If the driver does disengage the clutch, via pedal 6, the instructor cannot eliminate this declutching action, which is a situation which is known from the prior art.

It can also be seen in Figure 1 that both the driver's brake pedal 8 and the instructor's brake pedal 9 are coupled to the service brake system 5. Figure 1 also shows additional actuating means 11 which can be actuated by the instructor and are designed in such a manner that, in the event of actuation thereof by the instructor, braking of the motor vehicle which has been initiated through actuation of the driver's brake pedal 8 can be reduced, and preferably eliminated altogether. These additional actuating means 11 are arranged in such a manner that they can be reached by the instructor from the instructor's seat (not shown) .

These additional actuating means 11 in this case comprise an interface 12 for the instructor, at which the instructor can give an order to reduce or eliminate the braking action executed by the driver, and an uncoupling device 13 which is connected to this interface 12. This uncoupling device 13 is in this case arranged between the driver's brake pedal 8 and the service brake system 5 and is diagrammatically depicted in the form of an electrical breaker contact. As a result of a suitable order being given to the interface 12, the uncoupling device 13 is actuated and uncouples the driver's brake pedal 8 from the service brake system 5, with the result that the braking of the vehicle which has been initiated by the driver is eliminated. In this case, the instructor's brake pedal 9 remains actively connected to the service brake system 5, so that the instructor can brake at any time.

Therefore, by means of the additional actuating means 11, the instructor is able to interrupt a braking action on the part of the usually inexperienced driver which the instructor deems undesirable, and it is possible to resolve a large number of dangerous traffic situations and avoid collisions from behind. The interface 12 may be of numerous forms, for example a manually actuable (electric) switch, or, for example, a switching device which reacts to an oral command from the instructor, but preference is given to a foot pedal which is arranged in the area of the instructor's seat, possibly an instructor's accelerator pedal, as will be explained below.

The connection between the driver's brake pedal 8 and the service brake system 5 is usually of mechanical design, generally comprising a linkage and a brake cable, and in that case a suitable uncoupling device 13 can be used. For example, this uncoupling device 13 may comprise an electrical actuator, such as for example an electromagnet . One example of an uncoupling device of this nature will be explained with reference to Figures 4a-c. However, it is also conceivable for the connection between the driver's brake pedal 8 and the service brake system 5 to be provided with electronic connection means, in which case the uncoupling device 13 will advantageously be integrated into the said electronic connection means . In another variant, the service brake system 5 does not have a common connection to the driver ' s brake pedal 6 and the instructor's brake pedal 8, as shown in Figure 1, but rather a dedicated connection for each pedal 6, 8, in which case the uncoupling device 13 is integrated into the service brake system 5 to which the driver's brake pedal 6 is connected.

It is also conceivable, for example in the case of a vehicle with an anti-lock brake system (known as ABS) , which is intended in principle to prevent locking of the wheels when braking, for the additional actuating means 11 to be actively connected to the said ABS system and for the ABS system to be modified in such a manner that, if a suitable order is given by the instructor, the braking of the vehicle which has been initiated through actuation of the driver's brake pedal 8 is reduced or eliminated. In this case, there is no need for any uncoupling of the driver's brake pedal from the service brake system.

Preferably, the additional actuating means 11 are active for as long as the instructor is actuating the interface 12, although it is also conceivable for these additional actuating means 11 to be active for a predetermined time or for a time which is to be established by a control means, for example as a function of the speed of the vehicle, after an order has been given to the interface 12. The figure does not show means which can be used to disable the additional actuating means 11, which is desirable, for example, when the vehicle is being used for purposes other than educational driving. It may also be desirable for the additional actuating means 11 to be disabled if the test rules do not permit them to be used and a driving test is being taken in the vehicle.

Figure 2 shows additional instructor's actuating means 11', having the interface 12, the uncoupling device 13 for the driver's brake pedal 8, and having an uncoupling device 14 for the driver's clutch pedal 10. This figure also shows an instructor's accelerator pedal 15 which is actively connected to the power control device 4.

The additional actuating means 11 ' therefore comprise the same components 12 and 13 as the actuating means 11 described above, which components 12 and 13 therefore function in the same way but also include the uncoupling device 14. This uncoupling device 14 is designed in such a manner that, in the event of the instructor giving a suitable order to the interface 12, the driver's clutch pedal 6 is uncoupled from the clutch 2, as diagrammatically indicated here in the form of an electrical breaker contact. The result of this uncoupling is that if the driver not only brakes undesirably, but also, in the process, actuates the clutch 2 by means of the clutch pedal 6, which is a usual action when braking, the instructor can in fact eliminate this declutching by the driver. As a result, the engine 3 is reconnected to the wheels 1 and the vehicle can be driven again. In this case, the instructor can accelerate using the instructor's accelerator pedal 15, in order in this way to continue driving and to negate any braking which has been brought about by the driver or, if necessary, to accelerate further.

If there were no such accelerator pedal 15 for the instructor, the instructor 15 can orally order the driver to accelerate using accelerator pedal 7. It should be noted that the instructor's clutch pedal 10 remains connected to the clutch 2 even when the uncoupling device 14 uncouples the driver's clutch pedal 6, so that the instructor can still actuate the clutch 2 at any time. In the event of any fault in the additional actuating means 11', the instructor still has an active instructor's set of pedals .

In Figure 3, the additional instructor's actuating means 11'' comprise, in addition to the uncoupling devices 13 and 14 for the driver's brake pedal 8 and the driver's clutch pedal 6, respectively, an uncoupling device 16 for uncoupling the driver ' s accelerator pedal 7 from the power control device 4. Furthermore, the interface which is denoted by reference numeral 12 in Figures 1 and 2 has been integrated with the instructor's accelerator pedal 15. By means of the additional actuating means ll¹' shown here, the instructor, by pressing down the instructor's accelerator pedal 15, can in any situation eliminate a braking action which has been initiated through actuation of the driver's brake pedal 8 and can also eliminate any actuation of the clutch 2 by means of the driver's clutch pedal 6. Furthermore, the instructor now has control over the setting of the power control device 4, since the driver's accelerator pedal 7 is also uncoupled. In this way, the instructor, through actuation of the instructor's accelerator pedal 15, can cause the vehicle to drive onwards at a speed which is deemed desirable by the instructor instead of braking as a result of an undesirable, often dangerous braking action initiated by the driver.

The measure of integrating the interface 12 with the instructor's accelerator pedal 15 can also be provided in the arrangement shown in Figure 2, in which case the driver's accelerator pedal 7 does not have to be uncoupled from the power control device 4. In practice, this solution will also be found to be suitable, since in most cases the driver will depress the clutch pedal 6 at the same time as his undesirable braking action, so that the driver's accelerator pedal 7 is then unactuated in any case. Figures 4a-c show three different positions of a driver's pedal 40 with associated uncoupling device 41 of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

The driver's pedal 40 with uncoupling device 41 can be used as an uncoupleable driver's brake, clutch and accelerator pedal as denoted in Figures 1-3 by reference numerals 6-8. This example will work on the basis of a driver's brake pedal.

The driver's brake pedal 40 comprises a two-part pedal arm, with a top pedal-arm part 42 and a bottom pedal-arm part 43. The bottom pedal-arm part 43 is provided, in the vicinity of its bottom end, with a foot plate 44 on which the driver can act using his foot. The top pedal-arm part 42 may be pivotably attached to the motor vehicle, in this example around a horizontal pivot pin which can fit through pivot opening 45. At a distance above the pivot opening 45, the top pedal-arm part 42 is provided with an attachment point 46 for a connecting means for example a cable, which connecting means connects the brake pedal 40 to that part of the vehicle which is to be actuated by the pedal 40, in this case the service brake system. The bottom pedal-arm part 43 is pivotably connected to the top pedal-arm part 42 via a horizontal pivot pin 47. Furthermore, the end of a first lever 48 is pivotably connected to the bottom pedal-arm part 43, via pivot pin 49. At its other end, this lever 48 is pivotably connected, via a pivot pin 50, to a second lever 51, which in turn is pivotably connected at its other end, via a pivot pin 52, to the top pedal-arm part 43.

These levers 48 and 51 are arranged in such a way that, in the normal position of use of the brake pedal 40, which is shown in Figure 4a, the levers 48, 51 are subjected to compressive load when the pedal 40 is pressed down. In this case, the pivot pin 50 preferably lies slightly outside the line between the outermost pivot pins 49 and 52 and also bears against a stop, which will be explained below.

Figures 4a-c also show a first electrically actuable holding magnet 56 which is arranged fixedly on the top pedal-arm part 43, and a second electrically actuable holding magnet 57. The second holding magnet 57 is attached to a pivotable support 58 which can pivot about the pivot pin 52. These holding magnets 55, 56 may be of the low-voltage DC type.

The lever is provided with an adjustable stop 59 which is able to bear against the support 58 of the second holding magnet 57.

Furthermore, between the lever 47 and the bottom pedal- arm part 42 there is a restoring spring 60 which seeks to return the lever 47 to the position shown in Figure 4a.

The stop 59 of the lever 51 comprises a setscrew 61, which in the position shown in Figure 4a bears against the support 58.

The pedal 40 acts as follows.

In the normal position of use, which is shown in Figure 4a, the pedal 40 acts as a rigid unit and, when the pedal 40 is pressed down by the driver, pivots about the pivot pin which projects through opening 45. In this way, the service brake system of the vehicle is used in the standard way. The pedal 40 behaves as a rigid unit since the setscrew 61 ensures that if the said setscrew 61 is bearing against the support 58 of the second holding magnet 56 and this holding magnet 56 is bearing against the first holding magnet 55, the pivot pin 50 is located slightly towards the inside with respect to the line through the pivot pins 49 and 52. As a result, in the event of an actuating force being exerted on the foot plate 44, the setscrew 61 will be pressed firmly against the support 58, so that the system of levers 48 and 51 continues to form a rigid, pressure-loaded connection between the two pedal-arm parts 42 and 43. Obviously, the levers 48, 51 have to be sufficiently robust to withstand the maximum pedal force. If the driver then initiates a braking action which is deemed undesirable by the instructor, by pressing down the driver's brake pedal 40, the instructor can electrically energize the holding magnets 55 and 56 in such a manner that they strongly repel one another, via his interface 12, in particular an electric switch which is arranged at the instructor's accelerator pedal 15 and reacts to the instructor's accelerator pedal being pressed down. As a result, the support 58 of the second holding magnet 58 pivots around the pivot pin 52 and, in the process, also presses away the setscrew 61 and the lever 51 connected thereto, so that the system comprising the levers 48 and 51 moves through the dead centre position, as shown in Figure 4b. This eliminates the rigid coupling between the two pedal-arm parts 42 and 43. Since this elimination of the rigid coupling of the pedal-arm parts 42 and 43 takes place exactly when the driver is pressing on the pedal 40, the pivoting of the bottom pedal-arm part 43 with respect to the top pedal-arm part 42 is continued until the limit position shown in Figure 4c is reached. If the driver had already pressed the pedal 40 all the way down, it will be observed that the top pedal-arm part 42- in fact pivots back to the position shown in Fig. 4c, for example under the influence of a restoring spring (not shown) .

Therefore, if the instructor brings about a repelling action between the two holding magnets 55 and 56 while the driver is pressing down the driver's brake pedal, the driver will feel as if he or she is "pressing through the pedal", i.e. the resistance will be lower than the driver normally experiences when pressing down the driver's brake pedal. As soon as the driver stops pressing the pedal 40 and the instructor switches off the holding magnets 55 and 56, for example by releasing the instructor's accelerator pedal, the restoring spring 60 ensures that the bottom pedal-arm part 43 pivots back to the position shown in Figure 4a. The driver's brake pedal 40 is then once again entirely suitable for normal use by the driver.

The pedal 40 which is shown with reference to Figures 4a-c is easy to incorporate in a vehicle for educational driving. If the vehicle is not being used for educational driving, it is also possible , for example, for the instructor's interface for the additional actuating means, for example the instructor's accelerator pedal, to be removed entirely from the instructor's seat area.

To check that the uncoupling device 41 is functioning correctly, it is possible to provide a control device which, for example when the vehicle is started, initially automatically activates the uncoupling device 41. Furthermore, it is possible to provide additional sensors for monitoring the action of the pedal 40. It will be clear that the pedal design shown in Figures 4a-c represents only one option for practical implementation of the inventive idea, and numerous other embodiments, for example using electrical, hydraulic and/or pneumatic means, also lie within the scope of the person skilled in the art. However, the embodiment shown clearly demonstrates that the problems referred to in the introduction and the consequent considerable damage, both in the form of injuries to the people involved, such as whiplash, and financial loss can be eliminated using relatively simple means and at low cost. The additional investment cost associated with the invention could be recovered, for example, simply through a reduction in insurance premiums.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle for educational driving, which motor vehicle comprises a driver's seat and an associated driver's set of pedals, at least having a driver's brake pedal (8) and a driver's accelerator pedal (7), which motor vehicle furthermore comprises an instructor's seat and associated instructor's set of pedals, at least having an instructor's brake pedal (9), the driver ' s accelerator pedal being coupled to a power control device (4) of the driving engine (3) of the motor vehicle, and the driver ' s brake pedal and the instructor ' s brake pedal being coupled to the service brake system (5) of the motor vehicle, in such a manner that the motor vehicle brakes as a result of actuation thereof by the driver or the instructor, characterized in that there are also additional actuating means (11; 11'; 11 ' ' ) which can be actuated by the instructor and are designed in such a manner that, if they are actuated by the instructor, braking of the motor vehicle which has been initiated through actuation of the driver's brake pedal can be reduced, and preferably eliminated altogether.

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, in which the motor vehicle is provided with an actuable clutch (2) for selectively coupling and uncoupling the driving engine (3) and the driving wheels (1) , characterized in that the additional actuating means (11'; 11'') which can be actuated by the instructor are also designed in such a manner that, in the event of these means being actuated by the instructor, a declutching action which has been initiated by the driver is eliminated.

3. Motor vehicle for educational driving, which motor vehicle comprises a driver's seat and an associated driver's set of pedals, at least having a driver's brake pedal (8) and a driver's accelerator pedal (7), which motor vehicle furthermore comprises an instructor's seat and associated instructor's set of pedals, at least having an instructor's brake pedal (9), the driver's accelerator pedal being coupled to a power control device (4) of the driving engine (3) of the motor vehicle, and the driver's brake pedal and the instructor's brake pedal being coupled to the service brake system (5) of the motor vehicle, in such a manner that the motor vehicle brakes as a result of actuation thereof by the driver or the instructor, the motor vehicle furthermore being provided with an actuable clutch (2) for selectively coupling and uncoupling the driving engine (3) and the driving wheels (1) , characterized in that there are also additional actuating means (11'; 11'') which can be actuated by the instructor and are designed in such a manner that, in the event of actuation of these means by the instructor, a declutching action which has been initiated by the driver is eliminated.

4. Motor vehicle according to one or more of claims 1-3, in which the additional actuating means (11'') which can be actuated by the instructor are also coupled to the power control device (4) of the driving engine (3) of the motor vehicle, in such a manner that the power control device can be set independently of the driver's accelerator pedal (7) through actuation of the additional actuating means.

5. Motor vehicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the additional actuating means comprise an instructor' s interface in the form of an instructor' s pedal (15) .

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, in which the instructor's pedal associated with the additional actuating means is an instructor's accelerator pedal (15) which is coupled to the power control device (4) .

7. Motor vehicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the additional actuating means which can be actuated by the instructor are designed in such a manner that they are only active for as long as the instructor is actuating the instructor's interface (12) of these additional actuating means .

8. Motor vehicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the additional actuating means can be selectively enabled and disabled.

9. Motor vehicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the driver's brake pedal (40) comprises a bottom pedal-arm part (43) , which is provided with a foot plate (44) and is connected via an actuable pivot joint (47) , optionally in a pivotable manner, to a top pedal-arm part (42) , the top pedal-arm part (42) being actively connected to the service brake system (5) of the vehicle, and an uncoupling device (41) , associated with the pivot joint (47) , also being provided, which uncoupling device forms part of the additional instructor's actuating means and, in the event of a suitable command from the instructor to the interface (12) thereof, moves the pivot joint from a rigid, non-pivoting position into a pivoting position.

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 9, in which the uncoupling device (41) comprises one or more electromagnets (55, 56) .

11. Instructor's actuating assembly intended to be fitted in a motor vehicle for educational driving, which instructor's actuating assembly comprises an instructor's set of pedals, at least having an instructor's brake pedal (9), characterized in that the instructor's actuating assembly furthermore comprises additional actuating means (11; 11'; 11'') which can be actuated by the instructor and are designed in such a manner that, in the event of actuation thereof by the instructor, braking of the motor vehicle which has been initiated through actuation of the driver's brake pedal of the motor vehicle can be reduced, preferably eliminated altogether.

12. Instructor's actuating assembly intended to be fitted in a motor vehicle for educational driving, which instructor's actuating assembly comprises an instructor's set of pedals, at least having an instructor's brake pedal (9), characterized in that the instructor's actuating assembly furthermore comprises additional actuating means (11'; 11'') which can be actuated by the instructor and are designed in such a manner that, in the event of actuation thereof by the instructor, a disengagement of an actuable clutch (2) for selectively coupling and uncoupling the driving engine (3) and the driving wheels (1) , which disengagement has been initiated by the driver, can be eliminated.