How effective is the ACT Road Ready Pre-Licencing Driver Education Program at changing novice driver risk related attitudes and reducing the offence and crash involvement of novice drivers in the ACT?

摘要

Th is report documents research funded by the NRMA ACT Road Safety Trust Fund in 2015 to evaluate the effectiveness of the ACT Road Ready pre-licensing driver education program at changing novice driver risk related attitudes and reducing the offence and crash involvement of novice drivers in the ACT . udud ududEvidence from most motorised countries consistently demonstrates the increased crash risk of novice drivers in comparison to more experienced drivers. Driver education and graduated driver licensing are both intended as measures to increase the safety of young drivers by addressing one or more of the factors identified above. Research has demonstrated that systems (GDL) reduce the crash risk for novices. The evidence is less clear and consistent in relation to driver education programs, and while many are offered, evaluation, particularly outcome evaluation is less common. ududThe Road Ready program was a national first and is a pre-licensing driver education program in the ACT. Completion of Road Ready is a requirement for obtaining a Learner’s Licence in the ACT (regardless of age) in an attempt to address attitudinal and belief related factors known to increase risk during the provisional licence period. To date, there have been n o outcome evaluations undertaken of the Road Ready program , primarily due to the implementation of other important countermeasures at the same time as the original program (e.g. speed cameras) (OECD & ECMT, 2006) . ududThe current project was planned as an outcome evaluation of the Road Ready program . Participants were young pre-licence drivers in the ACT (n = 1 27 at time of writing , aged under 21 years ) who were about to complete the Road Ready program through a Road Ready Centre. Outcome measures were attitudinal and behavioural change measured by self -report survey, and official offence and crash records. Measures were collected at baseline (prior to completion of the Road Ready program) and followed up on three subsequent occasions (1 month post Road Ready program; 3-6 months after obtaining provisional licence; 9 -12 months after obtaining P licence). After the final follow -up, participant crash and offence records were accessed and matched with survey responses.