P Drivers Project: the effects of a Driver Safety Behaviour Change Program on novice drivers

INTERVENTION: Driver Safety Behaviour Change Program – a driver safety behaviour change program consisting of an online self‐assessment of driving risk questionnaire, a group session regarding driving patterns and behaviour (known as group session 1), an on‐road coaching session, and a final group session regarding driving patterns and behaviour (known as group session 2). The self‐assessment questionnaire takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, both group session 1 and group session 2 take 3 hours, and the on‐road coaching session takes 2 hours. The timings between each course session are as follows: the self‐assessment questionnaire is completed within 0‐14 days of the participant attending group session 1, the on‐road coaching session is completed 7 days after group session 1, and group session 2 is completed within 14 days of attending the on‐road coaching session. All group sessions and on‐road coaching sessions are facilitated by trained instructors who are employed by the Centre for Adult Education (CAE). The CAE are contracted to VicRoads to deliver the training program in Victoria and NSW. The intervention is being undertaken with new drivers in Victoria (randomised control trial (RCT)/Quantitative Trial) and new drivers in New South Wales (NSW) (Process Trial). There are no differences in the intervention between Victoria and New South Wales participants – there are no control participants recruited in New South Wales. CONDITION: Crashes, infringements and self‐reported driving behaviours among young novice drivers PRIMARY OUTCOME: Police‐reported and self‐reported crashes as assessed by data linkage to VicRoads crash database and participant's self‐report crashes (which are measured in the three online surveys) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Participant's awareness of factors that influence their risk of crash involvement, which are measured in the three online surveys Police‐reported traffic offences assessed by data linkage to the VicRoads Driver Licensing System (DLS) database Practical issues that may need to be resolved in order to implement a nationwide Program for young novice drivers. This outcome relates to the Process Evaluation and is measured by providing participants in NSW feedback surveys at the end of each course session and by inviting sub‐sample of Treatment participants in NSW and in Victoria to attend focus groups 1‐month post‐intervention Self‐reported safe and unsafe driving behaviour, which are measured in the three online surveys Self‐reported traffic offences and compliance with licence conditions and restrictions, which are measured in the three online surveys. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Victorian P‐plate drivers aged between 18 and 22 years/NSW P‐plate drivers aged between 17 and 21 years at the time of recruitment and in the first four months of licensing. The exclusion criteria are inability to read or write in English, and non‐resident of Victoria/NSW for the RCT and process trials respectively. This will be assessed by asking questions at commencement and through the Sign‐Up Survey.