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Can novice drivers be trained to scan for information that will reduce their likelihood of a crash?

¹ Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
² Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

Correspondence to:
Dr D L Fisher
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 210D Marston Hall, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01002, USA; fisher{at}ecs.umass.edu

ABSTRACT
Sixteen year old drivers are involved in 10.3 fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles, a rate almost double that of 18 year olds and almost eight times that of 45–64 year olds, who are the safest group of drivers. Crash rates are particularly higher during the first month of licensure and decline rapidly for about six months and 1000 miles and then much more slowly for at least two years, consistent with a typical learning curve. Research indicates that drivers who have their learner’s permit or are just newly licensed have particular difficulties identifying areas of a scenario from which hidden risks could emerge. Standard driver education programs do not appear to address these difficulties adequately. This suggests that some alternative form of driver training could reduce the crashes, either in the classroom or on the road. A PC based program designed to teach drivers to recognize risks early on is shown to improve their awareness of hazards, both on an advanced driving simulator and on the road.

Abbreviations: GDL, graduated driver licensing; RAPT, risk awareness and perception training

Keywords: novice drivers; risk recognition; driver training; eye movements; driving simulators