Driver training to reduce crash risk in teenage drivers
A Contemporary Look at Driver Training and Its Role In Reducing Crash Risk in Novice Adolescent Drivers.
Testing two types of driver training for 16- to 18-year-olds to help new teen drivers avoid crashes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158699 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a randomized trial enrolling about 1,000 new drivers aged 16–18. Participants are randomly assigned to usual care under Pennsylvania's Graduated Driver Licensing rules or to one of two training programs (professional behind-the-wheel lessons or an online training designed to fix common teen driving mistakes). The study team will follow crash records, licensing test pass rates, and performance on a validated virtual driving assessment to compare outcomes. The aim is to find which training approach helps teens drive more safely.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are novice drivers aged 16–18 who are planning to get or recently received a driver's license and can participate in study activities in the Philadelphia/Pennsylvania area.
Not a fit: Experienced drivers, people who were licensed after age 18, or those unable to attend local study visits are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower crash rates and improve driving skills for teenagers, leading to fewer injuries and deaths.
How similar studies have performed: Observational data and an R21 pilot in Ohio suggested benefits from professional training, but the last randomized trial in 1983 found no benefit, so this larger RCT tests a promising but not yet proven approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Winston, Flaura K — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Winston, Flaura K
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.