Roadway safety is a major public health, education, and safety concern. According to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are the LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. Teen driver and peer passenger deaths account for almost 25% of total teen deaths from any cause - more than cancer, homicide and suicide (NSF, 2011). Over time, the use of vehicle and classroom training as the sole mechanisms for driver education has proven less than effective. As a result, supplementary approaches are being considered to better promote teen driver safety. To date, simulators have become widespread in military training, but have been vastly underutilized in civilian vehicle training. There seems to be great, underutilized potential in this regard, as the younger demographic is easily engaged by the video game and amusement ride-like experiences that a typical simulation environment has to offer.

In this research study, we incorporate simulation technology into an engaging educational program for high school-aged teenagers that will make them better prepared for the challenges of driving. Simulation-based training modules have been designed specifically to help students with some of the primary documented causes of error associated with novice drivers: speeding, distractions, and failure to heed right-of-way. The safe and repeatable immersive training environment, modeled after local roadways, contains relevant real-world hazards, and provides valuable and much needed additional "behind the wheel" experience. Two levels of motion fidelity are compared, using the same software environment and analysis structures, to ensure objective training: Low Fidelity: (0-DOF, single-screen), and High Fidelity (6-DOF, surround-screen). Data acquisition areas include: quantitative simulator driving performance, a written exam for each training module, pre- and post- questionnaires to assess transfer knowledge, and qualitative instructor evaluation. Ultimately, this research demonstrates the effectiveness of simulators in young driver training, and analyzes the level of motion fidelity required to offer an authentic training experience. This could lead to the widespread deployment of such simulators, for similar training programs, across the nation.