Recommendation 9

HM Government Acknowledged

The Driving Instructors Association are being grant funded to deliver the Modular Learning project (with the support of an independent advisory group) for the Department. The project will explore if a consistently delivered, nationally adopted modular ‘learning to drive’ syllabus (delivered face to face in car by Approved Driving Instructors (ADI’s), and with accompanying online learning and assessments) can improve the road safety of those in the 17–25 age range (as measured by a lower collision rate), compared to how a typical learning to drive journey is currently conducted. The project will examine whether the existing learning to drive syllabus is fit for purpose i.e., does it focus on the most appropriate risks. Furthermore, it will look at how the learning is best delivered to equip pupils with the ability to manage risks once driving independently. The specific project objectives are as follows: • To develop an e-learning suite which improves drivers risk perceptions and challenges motivations. • To show that e-learning can complement the current UK driver training programme of face-to-face delivery. • Provide novice drivers with an ability to better manage risks post-test. • Confirm if collision rates, relative to mileage exposure, reduced due to modular learning experience. The project uses a comparative trial methodology. Three cohorts of learners will be monitored and evaluated: the first will learn to drive with no changes (i.e. the control group), the second will undertake the modular programme with in-car learning and assessments only while the third will undertake the modular programme via both in- car and online learning and assessments. The monitoring and evaluation design will use surveys and psychometric profiling at the start of the programme, immediately post-test, three months post-test and at six months post-test. The evaluation criteria and methodology have been agreed by the advisory group and will be deployed in the summer as the participant cohorts progress through the modules. The criteria to be used to assess the modular learning approach is as follows: • Test pass scores • Ability to manage driving risks post-test • Crash rates relative to mileage driven post-test Data for assessment will be collected through • Online surveys (which will gather data on self-reported collisions) • Test pass sheets • Completion of an academically validated psychometric risk profile (designed specifically for novice drivers, which provides a means to gauge ability to manage driving risks post-test) As the Committee acknowledged, this project has been affected by COVID-19: fieldwork was due to commence in late 2020 but could not begin as driving lessons could not take place in the United Kingdom due to the lockdown restrictions. Therefore, the trial will not start until late Spring 2021 and thus the Department will not have an update of the assessment of the modular approach against the assessment criteria by October 2021. It is anticipated that all participants would have completed their learning by Spring 2022. Six-months of post-test experience data is required to assess the impact of the modular approach. To allow for sufficient time for analysis (plus quality assurance) and reporting we expect to provide information of the effectiveness of modular learning by Spring 2023. We are happy to share an update with the Committee on this pilot as soon as it is available.