Imagine if parents could be warned in advance that their newly licensed teenager could be at an increased risk of being in a motor vehicle crash in the near future. Even better, what if measures to prevent a crash were in place for those most at risk? These questions and a novel virtual driving technology are what guided the study “Driving Skills at Licensure and Time to First Crash.” Authors of the study, published in the November 2023 issue of Pediatrics (published online Oct. 16), used a virtual driving assessment in the licensing process for the state of Ohio to examine crash risks. They found that driving skills measured at the time of licensure are a predictor of crash risk among young drivers in the first year of licensure, when young driver crash risk is highest. The population-level study assessed almost 17,000 drivers under the age of 25. Drivers classified as having “major issues with dangerous behavior” on the virtual driving assessment had a crash risk 11% higher than average. Individuals licensed at age 18 (who are exempt from driver education and training requirements and Graduated Driver Licensing laws) had a crash risk 16% higher than average. The virtual driving assessment did not just flag those more at risk, it also revealed that drivers who had “no issues” on the virtual driving assessment had a 10% lower than average crash risk. Researchers say this information may allow them to develop programs that offer personalized and targeted interventions for youth with poor driving skills. It should be noted that two authors of the study have intellectual property rights and a financial stake in the technology (Ready Assess™, Diagnostic Driving, Inc.) used to determine the skill level of drivers, and this potential conflict is managed under a conflict management plan whereby they had no interaction with participants and all analyses and interpretations were reviewed and approved by outside reviewers.
###
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.