ATA: Fresh approach needed for young driver education

Young car drivers don’t know enough about the performance limitations of heavy vehicles and many are growing numb to traditional fear driver education campaigns – these are two key findings in a recent paper from academics at the University of Newcastle, who are studying young road user behaviour around trucks. 

The paper, titled Identifying Interactive Factors That May Increase Crash Risk between Young Drivers and Trucks: A Narrative Review, was recently published by the University of Newcastle’s School of Psychological Sciences Australia, and represents the first findings of a research partnership formed recently between the tertiary body and the Australian Trucking Association. 

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Risky business 

The review suggests that an increased collision risk between trucks and young drivers is likely due to young drivers having underdeveloped awareness and hazard perception skills, as well as a substantial knowledge gap in the performance limitations of trucks. 

“This increased collision risk is also likely exacerbated by young drivers engaging in risky driving behaviours around trucks that increases driver distraction,” said Head of School Professor, Kristen Pammer (pictured below).   
 
“We intend to better understand and minimise these risks by researching how young drivers currently behave around trucks, how education initiatives can increase young driver awareness of truck performance limitations, and whether these initiatives can effectively change young driver behaviours to minimise collision risk around trucks.”   

Important step 

Acting ATA CEO Bill McKinley said the paper was an important step forward in developing effective road safety communication and behavioural change projects.   
 
“The paper confirms our understanding that young people are overrepresented in road crashes and identifies the risk factors that are likely to increase collision risks between young drivers and trucks,” Mr McKinley said. 

Government data shows that people aged 17 to 25 years represent 19 per cent of Australian road fatalities, depsite making up just 12 per cent of the population. 
 
“The paper reveals many drivers are growing numb to traditional fear appeals, with messages that elicit a positive effect like pride and humour proving more effective. It also tells us that research-based, targeted driver education, such as SafeT360, is key to reducing collision risk.  
 
“This work is the first milestone in our long term, a visionary campaign of funding research to understand how to educate light vehicle drivers and develop their understanding of how to be safe around trucks,” he said.  

The ATA has actively pushed the theme of road safety and how it relates to heavy vehicles via its SafeT360 Truck, which tows an interactive heavy vehicle road safety exhibit to schools, universities and other locations around the country.

New approach 

The review recommends that educational initiatives aimed at increasing young driver awareness of trucks and truck safety be evidence-based, undergo rigorous evaluation and be delivered in a way that increases young driver perception skills while reducing their risky behaviour around trucks.    
 
The paper was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Click here to view the paper.