LAY INSTRUCTION DURING DRIVER TRAINING. A STUDY ON HOW IT IS CARRIED OUT AND ITS IMPACT ON ROAD SAFETY

Lay instructed driver training is an important ingredient in the Swedish driver licensing system, since it contributes to increased safety among novice drivers after they have obtained a licence. This study shows that apart from these benefits in terms of safety effects, there are problems regarding the way in which the lay instructed training is carried out and the accidents that occur during practice. However, a cost-benefit estimation shows that the advantages are much greater than the disadvantages. An important conclusion from the study is that measures need to be introduced in order to reduce the number of accidents during practice and that there is still a large potential for increasing the effects of lay instructed training on the accident situation after obtaining a licence. The study was carried out with five aims; to present a knowledge review concerning lay instruction and accidents during practice, to describe how lay instructed training is carried out today concerning quantity and quality, to analyse police reported injury accidents during practice through register studies and in depth analysis of fatal accidents in order to increase knowledge about safety during practice driving, to develop suggestions for changes in lay instructed training and to develop suggestions for new trial activities with improved driver training. The study consists of three parts; a knowledge review, a study of how, when and where lay instructed training is carried out, and an analysis of accidents during practice driving. In order to improve safety during training and to increase safety effects after licensing, measures are suggested for improving the structure and planning of where, when and how the training is carried out. Mandatory education of lay supervisors and improved co-operation between supervisors and driving schools are also suggested. (A) This report is also available via Internet at http://www.vti.se/pdf/reports/R481.pdf