01ATT-396 TRAINER Project: Development of an Improved Learning Method for Training Novice Drivers with Simulators Dols, J., Pardo, J. Automobile Laboratory. Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department. Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain Verwey, W. IFADO. Institute for Occupational Physiology. University of Dortmund, Germany De Waard, D. RUG. Department of Psychology. University of Groningen, The Netherlands Copyright © 2001 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. ABSTRACT Novice drivers frequently tend to overestimate their driving skill as compared with experienced drivers. Furthermore, they are not so familiar with the actual dynamics of their vehicle, which effects, for example, the point at which they think they can still stop for an object. Traditionally, driver training has focused on vehicle control skills and traffic rule knowledge without efforts to improve higher order skills. These higher order skills are included in driver training in many countries but rather in a theoretical way, included in textbooks, and is not covered in practical training. The reason is that this problem cannot be systematically handled in practical training, as on roads risky situations are scarce and usually avoided. Hence, realistic, interactive, off-road tools are required. This paper focuses on the development of TRAINER tools (multimedia interactive software and simulators) that will be integrated into a common European driver education and assessment methodology. Goal is to contribute to solving the serious problem of novice drivers and their safe integration into the traffic environment, thus promoting the “Road Safety in the EU” policy of EU, as well as the policy towards “Common driver training and licensing procedures in the EU”. Finally, driver training and assessment have not followed the rapid evolution of in-vehicle passive and active safety systems and telematic aids. Hence, drivers today are using or are about to use equipment for which they have not been trained. From the above it is clear that there is a pressing need for a new pan-European driver training methodology, which will focus more on the enhancement of higher order skills of novice drivers, including the use of new telematic aids. This will be achieved through the development of interactive multimedia software and low and mean-cost simulators within the TRAINER project. INTRODUCTION NOVICE DRIVERS AND ROAD SAFETY - Throughout Europe 15.000 young people die each year due to road accidents (Gadget Final Report, 2000). In many European countries traffic accidents are even the leading cause of death of young people. Regarding their fatality rate young drivers are over-represented in comparison to other age groups of drivers. The graphical representation of the fatality rate plotted against driver age shows a distinct U-shaped curve; fatality rates are highest for young drivers as well as for old drivers (70+ years old). The size of the problem makes clear that action is needed. It is important yet difficult to identify the causes of the high accident risk of young novice drivers, since many factors can be imagined to contribute to the high accident risk. Moreover almost none of these factors seems to operate alone. YOUNG NOVICE DRIVER INJURIES AND FATALITIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION - Figure 1 shows the number of fatalities and injuries per 100.000 persons between 18 and 24 years of age. This figure indicates that there are differences between European Union countries in fatality and injury rate. In Austria, Belgium and Germany more young people are injured in traffic than in Finland and The Netherlands. Acuteness of the problem becomes evident from the absolute figures: between 1993 and 1995 the average annual number of fatalities in European Union countries was just above 4.000 per year, while more than 160.000 novice drivers per year were injured in traffic. CHARACTERISTICS OF ACCIDENTS OF YOUNG NOVICE DRIVERS - Two factors, age and experience, are difficult to separate, but both seem to contribute to the high probability of being involved in an accident. The task of driving is extremely complex, even though drivers frequently have the impression it is not. Acquisition of