Evaluation of a Risk Awareness Perception Training Program on Novice Teen Driver Behavior at Left-Turn Intersections

Collisions at left-turn intersections are among the most prevalent types of serious crashes involving teen drivers, and inadequate surveillance is a key factor. The Risk Awareness and Perception Training (RAPT) program has been shown to be effective in improving anticipation of latent hazards. The goal of this study was to determine whether RAPT Version 3 (RAPT-3) improved the intersection turning behaviors of novice teen drivers when the hazards were not latent and frequent glancing to multiple locations at the intersection was needed. Teens drivers age 16 to 18 years with ≤ 180 days of licensure were randomly assigned to (a) an intervention group that received RAPT-3 training (trained group, n = 18) or (b) a control group that received no training (untrained group, n = 19). Both groups completed the RAPT-3 baseline assessment, and the trained group completed the RAPT-3 training and the RAPT-3 post-assessment. Training effects were evaluated in a driving simulator. Simulator (gap selection errors and collisions) and eye tracker (traffic check errors) metrics from six left-turn stop sign–controlled intersections in the Simulated Driving Assessment (SDA) were analyzed. The trained group scored significantly higher in the RAPT-3 postassessment than in the RAPT-3 baseline assessment (p < .0001). There were no significant differences between the trained and untrained teens in the SDA in either traffic check and gap selection errors or collisions. Although trained teens learned about hazard anticipation related to latent hazards, learning did not translate to performance differences in left-turn stop sign–controlled intersections at which the hazards were not latent. The findings point to a need for further research to better understand teens' challenges with left-turn intersections.