Enhancing Novice Drivers' Safety: Innovative Training to Improve Hazard Anticipation Skills

This project aims to reduce the crash risk of young, novice drivers, by developing a training program to improve their ability to anticipate potential hazards on the road.  

Poor hazard anticipation, or ineffective visual scanning for potential hazards, is a key contributory factor in the increased crash risk of this group. The project will adapt a training approach that has been successful at improving the scanning behaviour of young US drivers for UK driving habits, driver qualifications and roadway environment. 

The Risk Awareness and Perception Training (RAPT) is based on a 3M error-training strategy, where after trainees make a mistake while searching for potential hazards on the road, an appropriate mediation strategy is provided using the learning materials. Trainees then master the mediation strategy through searching for the potential hazards once again. This UK-specific hazard anticipation training programme will use a Head-Mounted Display (HMD). 

The training program will be evaluated using a multi-method approach, including simulator and on-road driving, and a longitudinal self-report study. The findings will be shared with stakeholders, and the validated training programme will be freely available.