Driver Knowledge over time - research

How does driver knowledge evolve over a lifetime, and what can we do to keep New Zealanders safer on the roads?

Last week at the AA Research Foundation seminar in Wellington, Glen Koorey shared new research exploring how well drivers retain essential road-rule knowledge over time, how they learn (or don’t learn) new rules and traffic control devices, and what interventions might help close these gaps.

Working with Mackie Research, our team at ViaStrada investigated how driver understanding shifts beyond the initial licensing stage, and what practical steps could reinforce knowledge as road environments, signs, markings, and rules continue to change.

Glen presented key findings to an audience of government agencies, researchers, and driver training professionals, sparking some great discussion about how we can better support drivers at every life stage.

The insights are well worth a look for anyone working in road safety, transport planning, or driver training.

An outline of the project can be found here and the presentation can be found here.