Driver Education Programs Research Articles

The effectiveness of driving simulator training on driving skills and safety in young novice drivers: A systematic review of interventions

Introduction: This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of driving simulator training on simulated/on-road driving skills and safety in young novice drivers. Method: Searches were performed in Embase, Global Health, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, and on Google advanced, Google Scholar, and the Transport Research International Documentation websites. A total of 1,630 unique sources (titles and abstracts) were screened by two reviewers independently with 99 full-text articles reviewed for inclusion. Studies were included if they were a primary driving simulator intervention study that consisted of a randomized controlled trial, quasi-experimental, prospective cohort, and case-control design, published in English between January 1, 2010 and January 26, 2024. Results: The review included 15 studies published in 2010–2022 (study sample size ranged from 30 to 183,197). Findings showed that driving simulator training (compared to control conditions) can immediately improve simulated driving skills (e.g., adjustment to stimuli, lane maintenance, and speed regulation), although it was unclear whether simulator training can improve on-road driving skills or safety, immediately or longitudinally. Studies showed low quality of evidence with increased risks of selection bias, confounding factors, and type I errors influencing findings. Practical Applications: Since it is not known whether driving simulator training has short-term or long-term benefits on drivers’ real-world driving skills or safety, it should not replace any training offered in driver education programs. However, driving simulator training can be included in driver education programs to supplement the in-class and on-road training. Conclusions: The quality of evidence in this review shows low confidence on whether findings accurately reflect true effects on driving skills or safety. Further research should enhance the quality of evidence and demonstrate the transfer effects of driving simulator training to valid measures of real-world driving before recommending any integration of simulator training into standard practice.

Enhancing mutual understanding of e-scooter user’s perspective in overtaking maneuver through replaying own driving trajectory

The global adoption of e-scooters as a convenient mode of micro-mobility transportation is on the rise, offering a flexible solution for covering first- and last-mile journeys. However, this surge in usage brings challenges, particularly concerning road safety, as e-scooter riders often share road space with other vehicles, heightening the risk of serious accidents. While numerous studies have explored safe overtaking behaviors and safety perceptions from drivers’ viewpoints, limited attention has been given to understanding the varying safety perceptions of both drivers and e-scooter riders, particularly after riding an e-scooter and being overtaken by their own vehicles. This research aims to bridge this gap by examining variations in safety perceptions and assessing behavioral changes before and after experiencing overtaking scenarios. Specifically, the study focuses on scenarios where an e-scooter rider experiences being overtaken by a vehicle they had previously driven. A Unity-based sequential simulation process is employed to replay scenarios obtained from a vehicle simulator during an e-scooter experiment involving the same participant without their awareness. This innovative approach allows e-scooter rider participants to relive their own prior vehicle overtaking maneuvers while riding an e-scooter. The findings reveal that most participants (64%) felt less safe as e-scooter riders, influenced by factors like relative speed and acceleration of overtaking vehicles. After experiencing being overtaken by their own pre-driven vehicles, a noteworthy positive correlation emerged between safety perception and lateral distance, indicating that greater distance is derived from a better understanding of e-scooter safety. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of the sequential simulation strategy in fostering safe driving behavior and raising road safety awareness. Experiencing overtaking behaviors firsthand as an e-scooter rider, previously behind the wheel of the overtaking vehicle, encourages a heightened awareness of road safety. These findings have significant implications for road safety authorities, suggesting the potential application of this approach in driver education programs. By incorporating such interventions tailored to improve the safety of vulnerable road users, authorities can take proactive steps towards mitigating risks associated with micro-mobility transportation.

Cultural implications on driver behaviour and road safety: insights from Kano State, Nigeria

This study investigates the cultural implications of driver behaviour and its impact on road safety through the lens of Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ). The survey includes 741 drivers aged 18 and above from Kano State, Nigeria. Our analysis identifies a three-factor model: Violations, Errors, and Aggressive Violations. The study compares these findings with two others from different regions and state in Nigeria, revealing significant differences in driver behaviour, thereby highlighting the influence of cultural factors. Our analysis finds significant correlations between driver demographics and risky behaviours, with older drivers showing a higher risk of crashes. This indicates the importance of tailored road safety measures for different demographics. Efforts to curb risky behaviours encompass a multi-faceted approach. Improvements in road infrastructure, including lane expansion and pedestrian-friendly designs, foster safety while discouraging violations. Addressing factors like hawking and trading on roads is paramount to maintain driver focus. Furthermore, investment in comprehensive driver education, awareness campaigns, and advanced training programs is vital to reduce errors and aggressive driving behaviours. Recognising the cultural differences that influence driver behaviour in Nigeria is vital for creating a safer and more respectful traffic environment. Interventions tailored to specific cultural contexts are likely to be more effective than one-size-fits-all approaches. In conclusion, this study advocates for a holistic approach, integrating law enforcement, infrastructure enhancements, and driver education campaigns, to mitigate risky behaviours among drivers and enhance road safety.

How are sociodemographic differences contributing to red light violation behavior? the underlying role of gender, age, driving experience, and income

ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of the first driver behavior questionnaire (DBQ) study on analyzing Indian drivers’ aberrant behavior for red light violations (RLVs) at signalized junctions. An ordered probit model is developed using the drivers’ socio-demographic variables. The model results indicate that age has the strongest influence on drivers’ RLV behavior, followed by driving experience and level of education. The level of perceived RLV appears to increase with higher driving frequency and two-wheeler ownership. This research is also the first to analyze the aberrant behavior differences among male and female drivers concerning their demographics and driving experiences. It is unique to note that at a certain combination of various demographics (e.g., driving experience, education level, and daily trip frequency), the men and women are becoming equal in their aberrant behavior while committing RLVs. This finding is an interesting input for developing driver training and education programs.

Evaluation of eye-catching effect in highway tunnel entrance area based on saccade behavior

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of visual attraction in the entrance areas of highway tunnels on drivers’ saccade behavior and driving safety, with the objective of providing insights for tunnel entrance design and driver education. Methods Fifty participants were recruited for the naturalistic driving experiment. Four different visually attractive driving scenarios (baseline, landscape-style architecture, tip slogan, and billboard) were selected. Eye-tracking technology was utilized to record and analyze the scanning behavior of participating drivers. Various metrics, including saccade duration, frequency, amplitude, velocity, and the peak-to-average ratio of saccade velocity (PARSV), were measured and compared across different scenarios. Results The results revealed different patterns of visual scanning dynamics among the four experimental scenarios, reflecting the different levels of visual-cognitive demands and situation awareness of drivers. The visual attraction in the tunnel entrance area resulted in prolonged saccade duration, increased saccade amplitude, reduced saccade frequency, and slower, less stable saccade velocity. Among these, drivers exhibited the most intricate and unstable scanning behavior, accompanied by the lowest level of situational awareness, particularly under the influence of visual attraction of tip slogan. Conclusions The findings highlight the importance of considering visual attraction in tunnel entrance design. Minimizing unnecessary visual attraction can help reduce distractions and maintain driver attention, ultimately enhancing driving safety. Driver education programs should emphasize the significance of adapting to visual attraction at tunnel entrances to promote safer driving practices. Overall, this study contributes valuable insights into the effects of visual attraction on driver scanning behavior, facilitating the development of strategies to improve tunnel design and driver education.

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COMMUTERS AND DRIVERS’ PERCEPTION OF MINIBUS (KOROPE) AS A MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN OSOGBO, OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

The Osogbo metropolitan has seen several transportation-related problems due to its dense population, limited road space, land-use characteristics, absence of mass transit, poorly executed development plans, and encroachments on private property. The specific objectives are to identify the socioeconomic characteristics of the participants in Osogbo, Osun state; investigate commuters' and drivers' perceptions of Korope transport services in Osogbo, Nigeria; and evaluate the function of Korope transport services in the study area concerning public transportation. Data was gathered using a structured survey design questionnaire. The purposive sampling method was employed. In Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria, commuters, passengers, and Korope transport operators and owners make up the study's population. However, 1,500 of those commuters, passengers, and Korope transport operators reside in Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria. The study's sample frame consists of passengers in Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria, as well as Korope transport providers and owners. A sample of 177 respondents was chosen at random. Both inferential and descriptive statistics were used in the data analysis. The findings show that the F test yields asymptotic significance values of 0.000 (less than p value of 0.05) and 54.534 (more than the tabulated f-value of 2.32). Consequently, the null hypothesis is disproved and the alternative is approved. There is evidence to support the effects of connectivity, affordability, dependability, accessibility, and ease of use on intraurban mobility in Osogbo. Korope, or minibuses, are a crucial component of Osogbo, Osun State's public transportation network. Despite their increased security and overall quality, minibuses as a mode of transportation nevertheless have several obvious drawbacks. However, the report recommended that stricter safety regulations be implemented and upheld for minibuses. Frequent car inspections, driver education programs, strict adherence to speed limits and other traffic rules should all be part of these laws.

Recognition and interpretation of aggressive driving behavior for heavy‐duty vehicles based on artificial neural network and SHAP

AbstractAggressive driving significantly impacts traffic safety, and heavy‐duty vehicle drivers are more liable for causing serious crashes. This paper analyzes drivers' aggressive driving behavior from the vehicle type perspective and identifies the influencing factors of aggressive driving behavior through artificial neural network (ANN) and Shapley additive explanations (SHAPs). Using Kaggle's open‐source aggressive driving data, we establish an ANN model to identify driving styles, where road conditions, environmental conditions, and vehicle parameters are independent variables and driving style is a dependent variable. The following measurements, including accuracy, recall, precision, and F1 score, are used to evaluate the model's performance, and the neural network got 85.33%, 82.32%, 84.16%, and 0.8308, respectively. To illustrate the influence of independent variables, the SHAP algorithm is used to analyze the model's feature importance. It was found that illumination and weather conditions influenced the model's performance along with the vehicle length. The number of lanes relates to driving style, and there were more aggressive driving behaviors on two‐lane roads than on single‐lane roads. Besides, heavy‐duty vehicle drivers were more likely to drive aggressively in wet road conditions and indulge in aggressive driving behaviors at night. Particularly, drivers of heavy‐duty vehicles were more likely to drive aggressively, provided that the vehicle in front was also a heavy‐duty vehicle. These findings inform heavy‐duty vehicle drivers to reduce aggressive driving behavior. The information is suitable for inclusion in driver education programs, thus improving traffic safety.

Motor Vehicle Drivers’ Knowledge of Safely Traversing Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

This study investigates motor vehicle drivers’ socioeconomic, personality, and attitudinal factors associated with their knowledge of safely traversing highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs). A three-step mail-based survey of randomly selected Nebraska households solicited responses from licensed drivers ( N = 980, response rate = 39%). Of the total 31 questions on the questionnaire, nine pertained to respondents’ knowledge of safely navigating HRGCs (e.g., what does a crossbuck sign require a driver to do when approaching a rail crossing?). Correct answers to the questions provided a measure of respondents’ knowledge of safely traversing HRGCs and led to their classification in five ordered categories. A random parameter probit model then assessed associations among respondents’ socioeconomic, personality, and attitudinal characteristics and the five ordered categories of their HRGCs negotiation knowledge. The estimated model revealed that drivers with negative or indifferent attitudes toward HRGCs, who were unemployed, or engaged in risky driving behavior around HRGCs were likely to be less informed about safe HRGCs navigation. Similarly, drivers that disliked waiting at HRGCs and those who did not receive information on HRGCs safety had lower levels of knowledge of safely negotiating HRGCs. Attentive drivers at HRGCs and those who routinely stopped in response to active train warning devices were associated with higher levels of knowledge. Drivers with negative or indifferent attitudes toward HRGCs were less knowledgeable about safe HRGCs navigation. The research findings are useful for targeted driver education and traffic safety programs, safety professionals, and policymakers engaged in HRGCs safety.

Driving behavior assessment: A practical study and technique for detecting a driver's condition and driving style

New research confirms that driving mistakes account for almost 75 % of all traffic accidents. Recently, many researchers have studied the recognition of driving behavior, including aggressive, fatigued or drowsy driving. The principal aim of this work is to present a combination approach for evaluating driver behavior, focuses on the analysis of numerous driving-related parameters and the detection of driver fatigue and drowsiness. Experimental research is carried out using a monitoring unit which can be mounted in any vehicle fitted with CAN (Control Area Network) technology, and which monitors current driving actions. This work combines the analysis of driving parameters such as engine speed, vehicle speed, accelerator pedal position, steering wheel angle, engine noise intensity, fuel consumption and, finally, the quantity of exhaust gases generated to define whether driving is normal or aggressive. Analysis of the driver's face enables us to detect fatigue and know whether the driver is asleep on the basis of facial features. This proposed detection method achieved an average accuracy of 99.10 %. The information gathered for each driving style is recorded, in order to build up our own data and analyze it carefully. In-depth study of these parameters reveals the boundaries that define driving status and style. Experimental and simulation results confirm that the proposed system can effectively detect driving states and driver reactions, with the aim of guaranteeing a sufficient and acceptable level of safety. This study can be used to improve policies and design more robust driver training and education programs.

화물자동차 안전교육 프로그램 개발 및 추진전략에 관한 연구

With the development of the logistics industry, there has been a rapid surge in truck traffic volume, giving rise to pronounced traffic congestion and a surge in traffic accidents. The fatality rate, which gauges the number of deaths per 100 traffic accidents, rising from 2.7 in 2020 to 2.8 in 2021. and was about twice higher than passenger cars and buses. This rate stood at nearly double that of passenger cars and buses. Although extant studies have underscored the significance of driver education as a pivotal factor in enhancing truck traffic safety, the realm of research concerning the formulation of comprehensive truck driver education programs remains underdeveloped. This study surveyed safety managers and truck drivers of freight transportation companies to identify the requirements for the development and operation of education programs such as the main contents, training period, and training method. Based on this, truck driver education programs (draft) are proposed by considering the truck drivers’ characteristics. In addition, 8 representative domestic freight transportation companies were selected to do in-depth interviews. Through this, the need for a truck driver traffic safety education program was confirmed. It was implied that legal and institutional support for education program’s development and management needs to be prepared. In light of these findings, this study elucidates a comprehensive strategy to foster the successful creation and streamlined operation of educational programs. The outcomes of this research are poised to serve as fundamental reference material for the formulation of targeted truck driver education programs within pertinent organizations, including the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, in the times ahead.

Cognitive Biases, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Teenagers and Parents Toward Practice Driving, Vehicle Choice, and Safety Technology

Teenagers in the United States are at the highest risk of crash during the first year of independent driving. Graduated driver licensing (GDL) policies, vehicle choice, and safety technologies all have an impact on teenager safety, yet more needs to be understood about parent and teenager attitudes and beliefs that affect the choices and decisions surrounding these issues. We conducted six focus groups with teenagers enrolled in a driver education program and their parents. A qualitative thematic analysis was undertaken of the responses of these individuals directly experiencing GDL policies and selecting vehicles for the teenagers to drive. We found parents believed there was a high likelihood teenage drivers would crash and were concerned about the associated financial costs. Parents preferred visual cues for determining vehicle safety and had concerns for the impact of safety technologies on teenager driving skills. Teenagers and parents felt that logging 60 h was a measure of the character of a driver rather than an opportunity for mastering driving skills. There was a debate balancing the intrusiveness with the convenience of recording driving through smartphone applications. Teenagers wanted to learn to drive for independence, but parents did not observe actions related to these desires. Attitudes and beliefs about which vehicles were safest were heavily influenced by personal experiences and perceptions, rather than quantitative evidence, with examples of availability-, substitution-, and outcome cognitive biases. By understanding the influence of cognitive biases on driving safety decisions, community-based educational outreach programs could more effectively improve teenager driver safety.

Beyond adaptive cruise control and lane centering control: drivers' mental model of and trust in emerging ADAS technologies.

The potential safety benefits of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) highly rely on drivers' appropriate mental models of and trust in ADAS. Current research mainly focused on drivers' mental model of adaptive cruise control (ACC) and lane centering control (LCC), but rarely investigated drivers' understanding of emerging driving automation functions beyond ACC and LCC. To address this research gap, 287 valid responses from ADAS users in the Chinese market, were collected in a survey study targeted toward state-of-the-art ADAS (e.g., autopilot in Tesla). Through cluster analysis, drivers were clustered into four groups based on their knowledge of traditional ACC and LCC functions, knowledge of functions beyond ACC and LCC, and knowledge of ADAS limitations. Predictors of driver grouping were analyzed, and we further modeled drivers' trust in ADAS. Drivers in general had weak knowledge of LCC functions and functions beyond ACC and LCC, and only 27 (9%) of respondents had a relatively strong mental model of ACC and LCC. At the same time, years of licensure, weekly driving distance, ADAS familiarity, driving style (i.e., planning), and personability (i.e., agreeableness) were associated with drivers' mental model of ADAS. Further, it was found that the mental model of ADAS, vehicle brand, and drivers' age, ADAS experience, driving style (i.e., focus), and personality (i.e., emotional stability) were significant predictors of drivers' trust in ADAS. These findings provide valuable insights for the design of driver education and training programs to improve driving safety with ADAS.

Perceptions of novice driver education needs; Development of a scale based on the Goals for driver education using young driver and parent samples

Professional driver education and training has traditionally been used to improve the driving skills of young people with the expectation that they will drive more safely and therefore be less likely to crash. Despite this, much research has failed to find such an effect. The Goals for Driver Education (GDE) is a theoretical framework developed to improve the effectiveness of driver education. The GDE seeks to draw attention to a broader array of factors that may influence the driving of young people and hence increase the scope of what is included in driver education and training. Within the GDE, factors affecting driving and driver education are grouped into combinations of four hierarchical levels that represent influences on driving at increasing levels of abstraction (GDE level 1: Vehicle manoeuvring; GDE level 2: Mastery of traffic situations; GDE level 3: Goals and contexts of driving; GDE level 4: Goals for life and skills for living) and three types of individual competencies (Knowledge and skills; Risk-increasing factors; Self-evaluation skills). However, to date there have been few, if any, attempts to operationalise the GDE in a quantitative way. In response, the Perceptions of Driver Education Scale (PDES) was developed to gain an understanding of what two important stakeholder groups in the driver education and training ecosystem perceived to be important to be taught to novice drivers. Understanding these perceptions may lead to greater acceptance of the driver education and training that is designed and make it more effective. Following rigorous scale development procedures, thirty-five items were developed a priori using expert opinion and deployed, via an online survey, to a sample of parents of novice drivers (N = 518) and a separate sample of novice drivers (N = 247), both from Queensland, Australia. Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed on the parent responses and Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed using the novice driver responses. A 29-item 9 factor solution was judged to be the best fit with the overall scale and each of the factors displaying strong levels of internal consistency. The 9 factors cover most hierarchical level and competency combinations, although removal of items meant that there is no representation concerning perceptions of Self-evaluation skills related to Level 3: Goals and contexts of driving within the PDES. Overall, the PDES is a valid and reliable instrument for investigating the aspects of driver education and training that are perceived as important by novice drivers and parents. The scale may also be applicable for use with other stakeholder groups and could also be used to evaluate pre-existing driver education and training programs.

Advanced Driver Training’s Impact on Teen Driver Skills

Standard driver education in the United States focuses on basic skills and the knowledge needed to pass licensure examinations. Newly licensed teen drivers are at high risk of crashes and death. To date, few interventions have addressed advanced driving skills that are not taught in typical driver education programs. We investigated the effect of a single day advanced driver training course on crash-avoidance skills. We enrolled 785 teens in a controlled quasi-experimental trial of advanced driver training (ADT: “intervention group”) versus a waitlist comparison group. The ADT consisted of 2 h of classroom education and repeated execution, with instruction and feedback, of four driving skill drills on a controlled, closed course. The comparison group performed each drill once per assessment, with only basic instruction. We measured their ability to successfully execute the driving skill drills (i.e., slalom, wet braking and steering, emergency lane change, and spin avoidance) on the day of the ADT and 3 to 6 months after the baseline skills assessment. The intervention group improved more than the comparison group, particularly in the spin avoidance skills, including spin avoidance, keeping the car on the course, and maintaining an appropriate speed during the drill. Further exploration of the ADT concept as an improvement to driver education and safety is warranted.

Study design to evaluate a web-intervention to prevent alcohol and cannabis-impaired driving and use among adolescents in driver education

BackgroundAlcohol and cannabis are the most commonly used substances among adolescents in the U.S. The consequences related to using both substances together are significantly higher relative to use of either substance alone. Teens’ propensity to engage in risky driving behaviors (e.g., speeding, rapid lane changes, and texting) and their relative inexperience with the timing and duration of cannabis’ effects puts them at heightened risk for experiencing harms related to driving under the influence. Use of alcohol and cannabis peak at age 16, the legal age teens may apply for a provisional driver’s license in some states. Targeting novice teen drivers prior to licensure is thus an ideal time for prevention efforts focused on reducing alcohol and/or cannabis initiation, use, and impaired driving.MethodsThe current study proposes to evaluate the efficacy of webCHAT among 15.5 to 17-year-old adolescents (n = 150) recruited at driver education programs. WebCHAT is a single session online intervention that aims to prevent alcohol and cannabis use and risky driving behaviors. We will recruit adolescents enrolled in driver education programs, and stratify based on whether they used cannabis and/or alcohol in the past 3 months (60% screening negative and 40% screening positive). All participants will receive usual driver education and half will also receive webCHAT. We will test whether webCHAT in addition to usual driver education reduces alcohol and/or cannabis initiation or use and reduces risky driving attitudes and behaviors (intent to drive after drinking/using, riding as a passenger with someone who drank/used) compared to teens in usual driver education over a 6-month period. We will also explore whether variables such as beliefs and perceived norms serve as explanatory mechanisms for our outcomes.DiscussionThe study has the potential to promote public welfare by decreasing adolescent initiation and use of cannabis and alcohol and reducing risky driving behaviors that can have substantial monetary, personal, and social costs. The study recruits adolescents who are at risk for substance use as well as those who are not and it is delivered remotely during a teachable moment when adolescents receive driver education.Trial registration This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on July 13, 2021 (NCT04959461). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04959461

How psychological factors affect speeding behavior: Analysis based on an extended theory of planned behavior in a Chinese sample

Speeding, the most frequent traffic offense, is a key contributor to road crashes. This study explores the psychological factors affecting drivers’ speeding behavior (exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 10%) based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB). The scale incorporating TPB constructs and additional variables (Type A personality, risk perception, and driving habit) was developed to collect empirical data, and 945 valid samples were obtained. The reliability and validity of the developed scales were verified, and a structural equation model of drivers’ speeding behavior was established to explore the causal relationship between speeding behavior and psychological characteristics and the interrelationships between TPB variables (speeding intention, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control), explicit cognition predictors (risk perception and Type A personality) and implicit habitual factors (driving habit). The results showed that speeding intention and driving habit positively correlated with self-reported speeding behavior. In addition, attitude and risk perception positively correlated with speeding intention. Although Type A personality trait had no significant effects on speeding behaviors, it had significant effects on attitude and risk perception. In addition, the results of the mediation analysis demonstrated that speeding intention, driving habit, and attitude toward speeding are the most influential factors. Attitude and risk perception have a significant indirect effect on speeding behavior mediated by speeding intention. Drivers’ attitudes, driving habits, and risk perception played a mediating role in the relationships between Type A personality traits and speeding behavior. The findings yield insights into useful information and directions for designing road safety interventions, developing driver education and training programs, and strengthening social messaging aimed at the general public.

Are adult driver education programs effective? A Systematic Review of evaluations of accident prevention training courses

Road safety training programs are commonly used to raise awareness of risky attitudes and behaviors. The evaluation of road safety education courses aimed at children is carried out with some assiduity. However, this does not usually occur in courses aimed at young people and adults. The present systematic review aims to identify studies that evaluate the effectiveness of road safety training programs in this population group. This systematic review followed the PRISMA methodology, by which the relevant articles based on the research term were identified. A total number of 1,336 indexed articles were filtered, and a final selection of 22 articles directly addressing the issue was obtained. Search strategies were developed and conducted in WOS, Scopus, NCBI, Google Scholar and APA databases. The selected articles indicate that the effects of road safety training programs in adults are mild to moderate. Their effectiveness is substantially increased when they are aimed at improving risk perception and decision making rather than training in driving skills. In any case, more evaluations of these courses are needed to identify which tools are effective and which should be replaced by new behavior modification methods in the design of future driver education programs.

Moral disengagement mechanisms in interactions of human drivers with autonomous vehicles: Validation of a new scale and relevance with personality, driving style and attitudes

The introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the road transportation systems raises questions with respect to their interactions with human drivers’, especially during the early stages. Issues such as unfamiliarity or false assumptions regarding the timid and safe behaviour of AVs could potentially result in undesirable human driver behaviours, for instance “testing” AVs or being aggressive towards them. Among other factors, morality has been determined as a source of aggressive driving behaviour. Following previous approaches on moral disengagement, the current paper argues that moral standards during interactions of human drivers with AVs could potentially blur, leading to the disengagement of self-regulation mechanisms of moral behaviour. The study investigates the impact of moral disengagement on the intention of human drivers to be aggressive towards AVs. To that end, an online survey was conducted including a newly developed survey of moral disengagement, adapted to the context of AVs. Moreover, measures of personality, driving style, attitudes towards sharing the road with AVs and perceived threats were collected. A confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the concept of moral disengagement in the context of AVs. Moreover, relationships between personality, driving style and attitudes towards sharing the road with AVs were found, via a structural equation modelling approach (SEM). The results could have implications in the future driver training and education programmes, as it might be necessary to not only focus on driving skills but also on the development of procedural skills that will improve the understanding of AVs’ capabilities and ensure safer interactions. Efforts on improving attitudes towards AVs may also be necessary for improving human driver behaviour.

A data-driven Bayesian network for probabilistic crash risk assessment of individual driver with traffic violation and crash records

In recent years, individual drivers‘ crash risk assessments have received much attention for identifying high-risk drivers. To this end, we propose a probabilistic assessment method of crash risks with a reproducible long-term dataset (i.e., traffic violations, license, and crash records). In developing this method, we used 7.75 million violations and crashes of 5.5 million individual drivers in Seoul, South Korea, from June 2013 to June 2017 (four years). The stochastic process of the Bayesian network (BN), whose structure is optimized by tabu-search, successfully evaluates individual drivers' crash and violation probability. In addition, the cluster analysis classifies drivers into five distinctive groups according to their estimated violation and crash probabilities. As a result, this study found that the estimated average crash rate within a cluster converges with the actual crash rate by the proposed framework without privacy issues. We also confirm that violation records and expected crash probability are strongly correlated, and there is a direct relationship between a driver’s previous violations and crash record and the future at-fault crash. The proposed assessment method is valuable in developing proactive driver education programs and safety countermeasures, including adjusting the penalty system and developing user-based insurance by recognizing dangerous drivers and identifying their properties.

Cellphone-distracted crashes of novice teen drivers: Understanding associations of contributing factors for crash severity levels and cellphone usage types

Objective As novice teen drivers are uniquely susceptible to the harmful effects of secondary activities on cellphones, 38 states and Washington D.C. have banned all types of cellphone usage for drivers younger than 18 years or in the learner/intermediate phase of driving. Despite the prevalence of such cellphone prohibitions, several surveillance studies have highlighted the persistent engagement of teenagers in cellphone-distracted driving, which increases the related crash risk. Most of the prior studies broadly consider cellphone usage as a general distraction instead of investigating different distraction-related tasks associated with cellphone use. This study analyzed the cellphone crashes of novice teenagers (aged 15–17 years) to discover the grouping of contributing factors by crash severity levels and cellphone usage types. Methods The current study collected five years (2015–2019) of related crash data from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. A manual effort was carried out to recognize the type of cellphone tasks before collision by reading the narratives of police-investigated crash reports. Association rule mining was applied to explore the associations between numerous crash attributes in multiple circumstances without relying on any predetermined hypotheses. Results The cumulative effect of cellphone distraction and no seatbelt usage is frequently visible in confirmed injury crash scenarios. Cellphone crashes of novice teenagers at intersections are strongly associated with talking/listening rather than texting/browsing/dialing and reaching for/answering/locating. The associations among environmental factors and modes of cellphone usage significantly influence the manner of collisions. Single-vehicle crashes are associated with cellphone manipulation while driving on weekends in cloudy weather, whereas sideswipe collisions are frequent in evening hours during reaching for/answering/locating the cellphones. In relation to texting/browsing/dialing, novice teenagers operating vans/SUVs are strongly associated with traffic control violations. Conclusions The findings are expected to be beneficial for policymakers and other safety officials to develop strategic planning and implementable countermeasures when dealing with cellphone-distracted novice teenagers. The association of factors identified from the analysis exhibits real-world crash scenarios critical to strengthening driver education programs to mitigate teen driver crashes. Moreover, cellphone crashes and related casualties can be reduced by eliminating or improving one of the attributes involved in the crash patterns.