Teen Driving Risk and Prevention: Naturalistic Driving Research Contributions and Challenges

Bruce Simons-Morton,Thomas Dingus,Johnathon Ehsani,Pnina Gershon,Sheila Klauer

doi:10.3390/safety3040029

Abstract

Naturalistic driving (ND) methods may be particularly useful for research on young driver crash risk. Novices are not safe drivers initially, but tend to improve rapidly, although the pace of learning is highly variable. However, knowledge is lacking about how best to reduce the learning curve and the variability in the development of safe driving judgment. A great deal has been learned from recent naturalistic driving (ND) studies that have included young drivers, providing objective information on the nature of crash risk and the factors that contribute to safety critical events. This research indicates that most learners obtain at least the amount of practice driving recommended and develop important driving skills. Unfortunately, most learners are not exposed during training to more complex driving situations and the instruction provided by supervising parents is mostly reactive and may not fully prepare teens for independent driving. While supervised practice driving is quite safe, crash rates are high during the first six months or so of independent driving then decline rapidly, but remain high for years relative to experienced drivers. Contributing factors to crash risk include exposure, inexperience, elevated gravitational-force event rates, greater willingness to engage in secondary tasks while driving, and social influence from peer passengers. The findings indicate the need and possible objectives for improving practice driving instruction and developing innovative prevention approaches for the first year of independent driving.

Highlights

Young drivers are at high crash risk relative to older, more experienced drivers [1]
Secondary task engagement, Kinematic risky driving; Low stress responsivity; Risky social norms secondary tasks in 75% of kinematic risky driving (KRD) events; Tasks = phone, outside staring, attending passengers; Phone use increased response time; 50% of events w/phone use—no response to impending crash
A great deal has been learned in the past decade about young driver risk from studies employing a wide range of methods and designs

Summary

Introduction

Young drivers are at high crash risk relative to older, more experienced drivers [1]. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among U.S adolescents, accounting for approximately a third of all deaths among 16–19-year-old [2]. Novices have high crash rates in the months just after licensure that decline rapidly for about 6 months and/or 1000 miles and more slowly for years [3,4,5]. Relative to older drivers, novices are distracted from the driving task [9]. Many questions remain about the nature of young driver risk, the relative importance of contributing factors, and individual variability in risk [10]

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion