This report describes supplemental driver training programs and online basic driver education. It coves supplemental driver training that focused on knowledge and skills beyond those normally found in traditional driver education delivered in the United States and in other countries. It also reviewed online basic driver education programs that were approved in at least one U.S. State to replace the standard driver education classroom requirement in the driver licensing process. Fifty-six supplemental programs provided information for the United States study, and 59 provided information for the international study. There were many similarities among the supplemental programs with most programs covering the same topics using similar training techniques. Venues of the programs and intended target audience tended to be different. Case studies of representative programs provided in-depth information for all three studies. Program providers universally felt that their efforts were increasing driver safety, although no formal evaluations were identified to support their claims. There was virtually no oversight of the supplemental programs for a variety of reasons. Forty unique online basic driver education providers furnished information about their programs. State personnel in 14 of the 15 States that accepted online driver education provided information from their point of view. Most online programs covered the same topics, but the level of student engagement varied, ranging from none to active interaction with an instructor. Many of the 14 States were unable to provide significant oversight of the programs for various reasons, which may have contributed to the variations in program engagement levels. There is an absence of significant oversight and regulation of the training programs and a need for formal scientific evaluations of the effects of both supplemental and online driver education on young driver safety. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting