Driving simulators as training and evaluation tools: novice drivers

The Problem. We know that newly-licensed 16 and 17 year old drivers during their first six months on the road with a restricted license are at a greatly inflated risk of crashing. This inflated crash rate has not changed over the last 50 years. The Question. The question we address is whether there are training techniques that show some promise of reducing these high crash rates. Role of Driving Simulators. Driving simulators represent an important tool for evaluating the efficacy of training programs in situations that would be too unsafe to study on the open road; they may also be of value in training, although their widespread use may be limited by their cost. Key Results of Driving Simulator Studies. Studies using driving simulators and the open road have revealed that newly-licensed drivers can be trained to anticipate specific hazards, to scan more broadly within the general driving environment, to prioritize their attention, and to maneuver their vehicle more safely, all without becoming overconfident. Scenarios and Dependent Variables. Examples of the sorts of simulator scenarios that are used to study scanning, attention maintenance, and vehicle management skills are discussed in detail. Difficulties that attend the development of such scenarios are described. Examples of the dependent variables used to differentiate between trained and untrained novice drivers are discussed, as are the procedures that are needed to reduce the data to meaningful summary measures. Limitations. Although the studies so far have shown that programs that are effective on a driving simulator are also effective on the open road, one can not assume that this is always true.