In response to the lively debate into ways of addressing the high level of involvement of young drivers in road accident, the Stora Holm Driver Training Centre has invested resources in a training concept known as Insikten ("Insight"). This comprises six different stations, the purpose of which are to raise pupils' awareness of the benefit to be gained from using safety equipment in cars and to get them to appreciate the importance of speed and large safety distances in order to be able to drive safely in traffic. These stations include three different video films. The stations also contain the head from a crash test dummy, a crash sledge and a roll-over simulator. A discussion also takes place at each station between the pupils and the instructor. The idea is for Insight to be included as an integrated element for all driving test pupils who currently receive compulsory skid training at the Stora Holm Driver Training Centre. The aim of the study was to evaluate Insight by obtaining answers to the following questions: How was Insight experienced by those pupils who visited the facility? How did they perceive the message? What did they learn? Did it produce any effect on any aspect of their driving? Were the practical driving sessions on the skid-pan and the skid training as a whole perceived any differently as a result of the pupils having visited Insight and, if so, in what ways? Does a visit to the Insight facility influence pupils' attitude towards seat belts, the distance to the vehicle in front, speed and road conditions? The study was based on personal interviews with individual pupils. The format involved the use of three different training approaches. Group 1 completed the entire Insight concept, group 2 completed parts of it and group 3, the control group, received only the compulsory skid training. The results of the evaluation indicate among other things that a visit to Insight has positive effects on pupils' attitude towards and their use of seat belts. However, the visit did not cause these pupils to think any differently about the distance to the vehicle in front, speed or road conditions, compared with pupils who did not visit Insight. If the message is clear, and if the stations are used correctly, safety facilities such as Insight can be regarded as having a good potential for increasing pupils' awareness of the benefit gained from using the safety equipment fitted in cars. (A) A Swedish version is also available (VTI rapport 443)
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