On 1 July 1999 the mandatory skid training for learner drivers was replaced by a new expanded risk education program. The aim was to put emphasis on teaching pupils’ risk awareness instead of how to handle critical situations. The purpose of this report is to present the results from an evaluation conducted before and after the implementation of the new training program. The study used a postal survey and the target group was learner drivers aged 18 to 24 years. Results are based on 1,403 people. The results show that participants in the after study believed that they learnt more about drink/drug driving and fatigue than the participants in the before study. They also believed that they learnt less about driving on slippery road surfaces, ABS brakes and traction control. The results showed that those who had taken part in the new programme had a better knowledge about BAC limit for drink driving, the effect of a crash and ABS brakes. Their attitude towards driving when tired changed in so far as a greater number would stop and take a nap. They had also become more aware of what to do to prevent tiredness although some would also wrongly suggest that winding down the window or turning up the music could be effective strategies to combat tiredness. After having taken part in the new program participants’ intentions to act in a specific manner changed, but unfortunately not always in the right direction. Two of the behaviours which could be regarded as safe actions (one for alcohol and one for seat belt) were more likely to be performed in the after study. However, they were also more inclined to perform acts which were unsafe (two about the fatigue and three about speeding). For example, the intention to speed on urban and rural roads (50 km/h and 70 km/h) became more likely. The Theory of planned behaviour was used and the results showed that the intention to drink and drive and the failure to use a seat belt were explained by attitude, followed by perceived behavioural control and subjective norm. The explained variance was slightly larger in the after study (alcohol 28 and 36%; seat belts 66 and 68%). In conclusion, the results show that the participants who completed the newly expanded risk education program had greater knowledge and a safer attitude, even if this was not always reflected in their intentions. (Author/publisher) This report may be accessed by Internet users at http://www.vti.se/EPiBrowser/Publikationer%20-%20English/R695Eng.pdf
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