How can we produce safer new drivers? A review of the effects of experience, training and limiting exposure on the collision risk of new drivers

New drivers, especially young new drivers, are over-represented in road collisions worldwide. This Insight Report reviews evidence for the effectiveness of post-licence driving experience, driver education and training, and limiting the exposure of new drivers to risk through graduated driver licensing (GDL) in lowering new-driver collisions. Increased post-licence driving experience is associated with considerable drops in collision risk, with the greatest benefits accruing in the earliest stages of post-licence driving. Driver education and training has little or no direct effect on the collision risk of new drivers. The exception to this is training that focuses on the cognitive skills involved in hazard perception or “reading the road”. GDL has been shown to have considerable beneficial effects on the collision risk of new drivers, and the benefits are greatest for the youngest new drivers. It is recommended that all jurisdictions should consider some form of GDL, and a greater focus on the training of hazard-perception skills as part of driver licensing. Broader driver education and training should be relied upon to impart the basic vehicle-control skills required for access to the road system, and for encouraging safer attitudes to driving. However, it should not be expected to produce direct benefits in terms of lowering the collision risk of new drivers. Good-quality evaluation must form the basis of understanding what works, and what does not, in lowering the collision risk of new drivers. (A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9781846088278
• Authors:
  • HELMAN, S
  • GRAYSON, G B
  • PARKES, A M
• Publication Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 19p
• Serial:
  • TRL INSIGHT REPORT
  • Issue Number: S005
  • Publisher: TRL
  • ISSN: 2041-1510

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Attitudes; Driver training; Driving; Graduated licensing; High risk drivers; Motor skills; Perception; Recently qualified drivers; Risk assessment
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies; I81: Accident Statistics; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01155283
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 978-1-84608-827-8
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Apr 23 2010 11:00AM