The European Project ADVANCED has the overall aim of conducting a “pilot test”. It consists of defining, design, implement and validate the effectiveness of a course for inexperienced drivers, whose aim is, at the same time, to have an influence on risk perception.

European Project ADVANCED. The research groups’ work has been to develop, teach and evaluate the effectiveness of the advanced driving course, which includes driving tests, circulation exercises, workshops with police officers and psychological workshops.

It is not that much about the content of the course but about how the effect of some preventive actions (in this case an advanced driving course for inexperienced drivers) on the profile of skills, behaviours and attitudes in driving, as well as on the trust and self-assessment of the own driving skills.

The courses, developed in a single day, were held in the communities of Madrid, Catalonia and Valencia, with a total of five hundred voluntary new drivers participating (the criteria to choose the components of the sample were determined from sociological and psychological patterns, so it would be representative and the results of this experimental course would be valid).

The experience was simultaneously performed in Finland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Austria.

All participants underwent assessment tests through which the monitoring of their evolution in relation to risk perception, the social behaviour towards other road users, preventive actions in dangerous situations while driving and evasive driving, was made.

After the data collection, we proceeded to make an analysis that allowed us to determining how this experience has influenced the individuals of the sample. Specifically, the way in which the course influence the driver’s profile, their behaviour and their attitude while driving, as well as their self-confidence and the self-evaluation of their skills as drivers, are assessed.

With the results the usefulness of the experience for reducing the accident rate was determined and compared with the ones obtained in the rest of European countries, in order to implement it compulsorily in Europe for everybody who obtains the driving licence, if the qualification of the post- driving-licence course is positive.

Developed by the Research Group METRAS, in collaboration with the Research Group DATS and the Escuela de Conducción Avanzada del RACC Automóvil Club.

Development and innovation

Real Automóvil Club de Cataluña (RACC)