This paper discusses the background to hazard perception testing and in particular the relationship with accident liability. It then summarises the research tasks undertaken in a recent project to evaluate hazard perception testing of learner drivers, with the objective of it being introduced to the driver licensing system. A small trial of items selected from hazard perception tests produced by NFER (National Foundation for Educational Research), during the work on the L-driver Theory Test was used to evaluate the performance of novice and experienced drivers. Subjects' accident liabilities were modelled for age, mileage and experience as well as the hazard perception score. The results were encouraging in that a relationship with accident liability was indicated, albeit not statistically significant. New items were filmed using staged situations as well as opportunistic filming. Filming produced sufficient items to be evaluated in a trial on groups of people with different levels of driving experience. The results of this trial found that 38 items trialled had the required psychometric characteristics to create two new hazard perception tests. While this test development was being undertaken, a specification for suitable hazard perception training material was developed. The resultant specification was given to DSA who then created a training package with three video-based interactive training modules. A central part of this work by TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) was a trial of the trainability of hazard perception skills in learner drivers. Candidates were tested on two occasions and training was given before the second test. The gain in hazard perception scores relative to an untrained group was analysed to determine the benefits of training.
Abstract