Young novice drivers’ hazard and speed management skills training: A systematic review

Hazard Management (HM) and Speed Management (SM) skills are critical for safe driving. These skills are often lacking or underdeveloped in young novice drivers, resulting in their disproportionate involvement in road crashes. Various training interventions have been developed to address this issue; however, their effectiveness varies due to differences in training methods, duration, and environments. This review aims to evaluate the current training approaches and their efficacy in enhancing young novice drivers' HM and SM skills. Following the PRISMA framework, this systematic review focused on peer-reviewed studies related to HM and SM skills training. Thirty-three articles met the predetermined inclusion criteria, supplemented by four additional studies identified through the snowballing approach. From the thirty-seven articles, twenty-four focused on HM, and thirteen on SM skills. Notably, seven studies on HM skills demonstrated effects on SM behaviour, though these effects were limited to the location of the hazard. No SM skills study demonstrated effects on HM skills. Multifaceted training interventions, such as error-based training, the combination of active and passive training, improved HM skills. Multiple training doses helped retain this training effect. In terms of SM, training with the provision of feedback proved to be effective in reducing young drivers' speeding behaviour, and a single dose was sufficient to see this effect extend for a prolonged period. Although various training methods have shown promise in improving HM and SM skills, transfer between the two skills remains limited. These findings provide guidance for future research to improve these two essential skills for young driver safety.