GADGET: Guarding automobile drivers through guidance education and technology

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 97.0481

Key words (English)

Traffic safety; driver training; driver testing; driver licensing

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: RO-97-SC.2235

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 6.1 Transport

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Schweiz. Beratungsstelle für Unfallverhütung

Partners and International Organizations (English)

University of Turku (FIN), INRETS (F), VTI (S), TOI (N), SWOV (NL), CDV (CZ), TRL (GB)

Abstract (English)

It was the objective of WP3 to assess different models of driver education, training and testing with respect to their safety benefit and ending up with recommendations for best practice. This was realised by
· presentation of the relevant aims of driver education, training and testing according to the hierarchical conceptual framework;
· pointing out the relevant theoretical background;
· assessment of the impact on driver behaviour by main programs and methods.
It was not possible to use scientific meta-analysis for two reasons. First, only very few controlled studies exist and second it was the intention also to assess new ideas which are not in practice yet. The assessment of existing or planned measures therefore was based on expert opinions. The report covers the following subjects.
· A public health perspective on the situation of novice drivers
· Theories and aims of educational and training measures
· Description and Assessment of measures
· Overall licensing systems
· School based measures
· Driver testing
· Driver improvement
· Voluntary advanced driver training
· Monitoring training, testing and licensing systems
Among the recommendations for best practise the following two suggestions are essential:
· Driver training is more effective if it is part of a well designed licensing system (graduated or two-phase systems) and if self-evaluation and social-psychological influences on driver behaviour would be emphasised more.
· The main aim of driver testing is its guiding role in establishing the method and contents of driver training, that's why it is inevitable to test also higher-order skills such as hazard-perception and self-assessment.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 97.0481