Normative Dataset of Novice Drivers

Researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have leveraged their exclusive access to an innovative data source to investigate safety-critical driving skill deficits in novice drivers at the time of licensure. Led by Elizabeth Walshe, PhD and Flaura Winston, MD, PhD, they developed a normative dataset of novice drivers linking Ohio licensing and police-reported crash data to driver performance data on a new virtual driving assessment adopted by the state and delivered immediately before the on-road licensing examination.

The result is a normative dataset of more than 25,000 novice drivers at the point of licensure that may be used as a prototype for building out future datasets of clinical populations (i.e. HIV, epilepsy, neurosurgery) to improve safety guidelines and policy. 

With the recent rollout of the virtual driving assessment at CHOP primary care sites, so that all teen patients can test their skills and get valuable feedback on areas to improve, we will soon have another normative dataset of virtual driving assessment skills in young drivers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that can be linked with health record data to help us better understand various clinical populations and their driving skills and safety. 

Research Projects Using the Normative Dataset of Novice Drivers

Determining Driving Skill Deficits At the Time of Licensure that Predict Crashes in the First Year of Independent Driving

CIRP researchers conducted studies that describe virtual driving skills assessment skills recorded at the time of licensure associated with age and sex (known risk factors for crashes) and time spent in the learner period of licensure for new drivers/license applicants in Ohio. 

Principal Investigators: Elizabeth Walshe, PhD; Flaura Winston, MD, PhD

Funding: National Institutes of Health

Determining Driver Preparedness for the On-Road Examination in Ohio

CIRP researchers are working with the state of Ohio to help build an evidence base for making policy decisions around licensure and training in the state. For example, they are evaluating new driver preparedness across driver’s education and training in the state's licensing centers and driving schools.

Principal Investigators: Elizabeth Walshe, PhD; Flaura Winston, MD, PhD

Funding: Ohio Highway Safety Grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Investigating Driving Performance in Patients with Thyroid Issues

Researchers from the Pediatric Thyroid Center at CHOP are investigating whether teen drivers' thyroid levels impact driving performance. To find out, they are comparing clinical patients' driving performance and outcomes to a normative dataset. They hope to better understand how hyper- and hypo-thyroidism impact driving performance in order to inform interventions to ensure safety.

Principal Investigator: Andy J. Bauer, MD

Funding: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia