Coping with distraction: the task for driver training and education

There are many challenges for the professional driver trainer who is changing the emphasis from the relatively simple requirements of the driving test and devoting more time to the safety and hazards perception side of driving. It has become increasingly important for the professional driver trainer to work with parents and home supervisors to try and get the best possible result for their students. The development of comprehensive training courses for professional driver trainer/educators has enabled professional driver trainers to present more organised and comprehensive courses to both new and experienced drivers. Built in to the Certificate IV in Driving Instruction course there are set methods and procedures which will equip new drivers with the ability to cope with many of the distractions they will have to face. This paper explains how the driving task is learned and how, when many of the driving distractions occur, they can be absorbed into the normal hazard perception and safety part of low risk driving behaviour. (a) For the covering record of the conference, please refer to ITRD abstract no E216954.