Evaluation of Beginner Driver Education Programs Studies in Manitoba and Oregon

This report examines driver education programs in two jurisdictions in order to better understand whether and to what extent they have a positive effect on teen driver knowledge, skills, and safety.

September 2014

Suggested Citation

For media inquiries, contact:

Tamra Johnson
202-942-2079
TRJohnson@national.aaa.com

Authors

  • Dan Mayhew

  • Kyla Marcoux

  • Katherine Wood

  • Herb Simpson

  • Ward Vanlaar

  • Larry Lonero

  • Kathryn Clinton

Conventional wisdom often assumes that driver’s ed produces safer drivers; however, this notion has not generally been supported by existing research. It’s unclear, however, whether this is because driver education in its current form is ineffective, or because the evaluation methods used to date have been flawed. In this study, the most comprehensive look at driver’s ed in decades, programs in Oregon and Manitoba are examined in order to showcase more effective evaluation methods, and assess whether driver’s ed provides safety benefits to young drivers.

The Situation

  • Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers.
  • Beginner driver education (DE) has suffered a decline over the past few decades, with resources dwindling for programs, fewer states requiring it for soon-to-be-licensed novices, and many teens delaying licensure.
  • Conventional wisdom holds that DE produces safer drivers, but little research supports this.
    • Unclear whether this is because DE doesn’t “work,” or because the evaluations themselves are flawed.

Objectives:

  • Showcase more effective and constructive DE evaluation methods;
  • Generate new knowledge about the safety outcomes and effectiveness of traditional, in-class DE; and
  • Suggest ways to improve content and delivery of DE to maximize safety benefits.

Methods:

  • Two study sites: Manitoba and Oregon
  • Manitoba studies involved:
    • Surveys to provide baseline data comparing teens who planned to take DE (DE) and those who didn’t (non-DE);
    • Surveys of separate groups of DE and non-DE teen drivers to collect data on self-reported skills and knowledge;
    • Comparison of performance on a simulated drive test for DE and non-DE teens; and
    • Comparison of scores on driver license road test for DE and non-DE teens.
  • Oregon studies involved similar surveys to those in Manitoba, plus:
    • Longitudinal comparison of DE and non-DE teens’ safety performance over the first few months of independent driving; and
    • Cross-sectional comparison of driving records of a large population of DE and non-DE teens.

Key Findings – Safety Effectiveness (Results from Oregon Only)

Large cross-sectional comparison of driving records of 94,342 DE and non-DE teens found:

  • 4.3% statistically-significant lower incidence of collisions for DE teens; and
  • 39.3% statistically-significant lower incidence of traffic convictions for DE teens.

Key Findings – Student Outcomes & Performance

In Manitoba:

  • DE associated with slightly greater safe driving knowledge, greater self-reported skills, fewer self-reported risk-taking behaviors, better performance on a simulated drive test, and stronger hazard anticipation.
  • DE teens still failed to identify many hazards.

In Oregon:

  • DE associated with increases in knowledge about graduated driver licensing (GDL) and safe driving practices, greater self-reported skills, and more driving exposure.
  • Knowledge levels among DE teens still relatively low, however.

In both Manitoba and Oregon, no significant difference in road test pass rates between DE and non-DE teens was observed; however, in Manitoba, DE group had better scores among those passing and failing the test.

Key Findings – Baseline Differences

  • In Manitoba, DE group was younger, more supportive of GDL, more accepting of risk, and less tolerant of deviant behavior as compared with non-DE.
  • In Oregon, DE group was younger, more likely male, less likely Hispanic/Latino, more likely to reside in an urban setting, more supportive of GDL features, and reported less driving skills and driving at the outset.

Conclusions & Discussion

  • Overall, findings from Manitoba and Oregon suggest positive but modest effects of DE.
  • Although some evidence points to increased safe driving knowledge of DE teens, the fact that this knowledge is still relatively low after DE suggests room for course and instructional improvements.
  • Self-rated driving skills are significantly higher for DE teens, but more research is needed to determine whether this is a boon for safety, or a detriment (e.g., if it reflects confidence unmet by ability).
  • Findings should help promote states’ adoption of the NHTSA-funded Novice Teen Driver Education and Training Administrative Standards, developed and supported by a broad coalition of safety stakeholders. Designed to improve the scope, quality, consistency, and oversight of DE, the Standards promote, among other things, integration of DE into GDL, monitoring and evaluation of programs and providers, instructor certification, and a mandatory orientation session for parents covering key teen driving issues.

Suggested Citation

For media inquiries, contact:

Tamra Johnson
202-942-2079
TRJohnson@national.aaa.com

Authors

Dan Mayhew

Kyla Marcoux

Katherine Wood

Herb Simpson

Ward Vanlaar

Larry Lonero

Kathryn Clinton