NTL Record

Title Evaluation of an Updated Version of the Risk Awareness and Perception Training Program for Young Drivers
Record ID 62087
Personal Name
Creator
Thomas, F. Dennis; Korbelak, Kristopher T.; Divekar, Gautam; Blomberg, Richard D.; Romoser, Matthew R. E.; Fisher, Donald L.
Corporate Creator Dunlap and Associates, Inc.
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Behavioral Safety Research
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publication Date 20170301
Language English
Abstract Previous research suggests newly licensed teen drivers often fail to anticipate where unexpected hazards might materialize. One training program designed to address these apparent deficiencies in knowledge and skills that has shown promise in previous tests is the Risk Awareness and Perception Training (RAPT) program. This project updated RAPT using high definition video and computer simulations to create a more interactive and realistic program. Researchers evaluated the modified program’s impact on the behaviors of novice and experienced drivers through the use of a computer-based test and during on-road drives in live traffic on a pre-defined route. Both the novice and experienced driver RAPT-trained groups showed substantial improvement in performance from pre- to post-test with the RAPT trainees hitting almost all of the targets during the computer post-test. The performance differences extended to the eye-tracker data arising from the on-road drives. The RAPT-trained groups hit significantly higher numbers of total primary targets and percentages of targets compared to the control groups. The study also employed a “Think Aloud,” or commentary driving, data collection effort. This data collection approach did not reveal any performance differences among the training groups. This study also included a persistence measure using the computer assessment one month after training. Results showed the RAPT-trained groups’ target hit rates decreased from the initial post-test to the persistence measure but remained above their baseline hit rates and above the control groups’ persistence measure hit rates. Taken together, the results suggest the RAPT revision represented a significant improvement over the previous versions in terms of realism with a similar impact on driver behaviors as measured by a computer assessment and through the use of eye-tracking in a live traffic environment.
Rosap ID dot:2086
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/2086
ResearchHub ID 678
TRT Terms Alertness; Before and after studies; Driver education; Eye movements; Teenage drivers
General Subjects Computer based training; Eyetracker; hazard anticipation; novice drivers; on-road data; hazard anticipation training; teen driver; RAPT eye-tracker; risk awareness on-road study; Research Hub
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
1636592
Contract Number DTNH22-09-D-00138 (Task Order 0005)
Report Number DOT HS 812 379; Report No. 258-1
Availability NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/62000/62000/62087/12913_-_evaluation_of_an_updated_version-031317_v3b_-_tagged.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository