The effectiveness of driver training as a road safety measure

There is continuing public debate in Australia and overseas about the value of training for car drivers as a means of improving driver behaviour and reducing road crash involvement. This document provides an up-to-date summary of scientifically-based Australian and international research about the effectiveness of driver training programs for: ■ learner drivers, ■ young/recently licensed drivers, and ■ experienced drivers. Effectiveness means the degree to which driver training programs reduce the participant’s risk of crashing compared with drivers who did not undertake such programs. While driver training and driver education are not the same, these terms are often used synonymously (1-2). This summary deals with driver training rather than education per se. However, as many driver training programs have been termed “education” published materials labelled as both “driver education” and “driver training” are considered. INTRODUCTION