Safe driving education programs at school: lessons from New Zealand

The self-reported driving and passenger behaviours of senior high school students in Auckland, New Zealand, were assessed prior to and about four months after a school-based program for driver education. The intervention group (n = 176) received a program of 10, one-hour sessions dealing with knowledge, attitudes and judgements relating to safe driving. A control group (n = 146) did not receive any formal driving safety education. Analyses of pre-treatment and follow-up questionnaire responses revealed that both the intervention and control groups showed significant improvements in knowledge about safe driving over time. Males reported more risky attitudes and behaviours than females throughout the study. There were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups on any measures. In discussing these findings, particular attention is paid to the program content and the social context in which such interventions are carried out.