M3DA-2027-05 UK-KTC - Measuring Teens

Abstract OHS, Measuring Cognitive Immaturity and Parent Feedback to Improve driver Competency, Education, and Training for Teen Drivers PI: Caitlin Northcutt 10/01/2026-09/30/2027 In 2023, Kentucky led the nation in young driver (15- to 20-year-old) involvement in fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. While the majority of research on teen driving has focused on mitigating crash risk through supervised driving during the learner’s permit phase of graduated driver licensing, little research has been done on the contribution of assessments and education resources gauging cognitive immaturity. This project aims to conduct an assessment of driver competency training and education that includes testing measures of cognitive immaturity in comparison to competency testing using high-fidelity driving simulation in a sample of teen pre- drivers (teens ages 15 to 16 who have not yet obtained a learner’s permit). Additionally, parents will engage in skills-based coaching to their teen during the simulation and participate in qualitative interviews about facilitators and barriers to learning to drive in Kentucky.