Evaluation of Pre-driver Education Program

This report aimed to compare the effects of pre-driver education programs at rural secondary schools which have an in-car component (driving a car in an off-road environment) with the effects of pre-driver education programs which do not have this component. Thus, the study attempted to measure the net effects of the in-car component of these programs. Data was collected by mail-back questionnaire. Respondents who had completed a pre-driver education program with an in-car component obtained their learner permits and probationary licences at lower average ages than the respondents who had not. However, the two groups did not differ in the duration that the learner permit was held or the amount of experience obtained during this period. Completing a pre-driver education program with an in-car component led to a nonsignificant reduction in accidents and a nonsignificant increase in traffic offences. The respondents who had completed a pre-driver education program with an in-car component and those who had not did not differ significantly on most measures of driving-related attitudes and behaviours. These measures were, however, sensitive to accident and traffic offence history. Further research is needed to examine whether there are short-term positive effects of pre-driver education with an in-car component and whether these effects justify the resources required for delivery of the in-car component.