A redesigned version of the DriveFit young driver intervention, designed to be delivered in schools and colleges without the need for an external facilitator, has been launched alongside a new evaluation report.
Developed by the RAC Foundation with funding from The Road Safety Trust and support from Road Safety GB, the original DriveFit consisted of:
- A 40-minute film, delivered in the classroom, which introduced students to the risks and protective strategies relevant to young drivers
- A 45-minute online facilitated workshop, delivered within two weeks of the film, led by professional facilitators using a structured framework to help students reflect on the film and apply the learning to their own lives
DriveFit 2.0 builds on the initial intervention by combining selected film content with three structured, teacher-led lessons.
The lessons focus on:
- Driving practice and hazard prediction
- Vehicle safety and managing distractions
- Managing fatigue and speed
The programme is strengths-based, aiming to build skills, judgement, and practical strategies rather than relying on shock tactics. It is also designed to fit naturally within PSHE or enrichment provision, supporting scalable delivery without the need for external facilitators.
With funding from The Road Safety Trust, the RAC Foundation has evaluated the new iteration of the intervention. The evaluation found that DriveFit 2.0 is feasible to deliver as a teacher-led, curriculum-embedded programme and acceptable to students, with lessons rated as credible, useful, and moderately engaging.
The quasi-experimental evaluation was conducted in partnership with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service across four post-16 settings in Surrey.
The study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and short-term psychological impacts of a teacher-led model of pre-driver education, informed by behavioural science and designed for delivery within PSHE and enrichment provision.
It found that emotional responses were neutral to moderate rather than fear-inducing, aligning with best practice in PSHE and behaviour change.
It was found that there was:
- No significant short-term effect on attitudes, intentions, or self-efficacy related to mobile phone use, fatigue, or speeding once baseline levels and trends in the comparison group were taken into account
- A small but statistically significant increase in perceived risk was observed among intervention students, suggesting a modest improvement in risk appraisal
The findings indicate that DriveFit 2.0 can be delivered safely and acceptably at scale, with some modest but encouraging benefits, particularly for groups that are often harder to reach through education-based road safety programmes.
At the same time, the evaluation does not yet determine which delivery model is most effective – pointing towards cautious, informed rollout alongside continued evaluation, rather than assuming that a single delivery approach will achieve the same impacts in all settings.
Overall, the study makes an important contribution to the evidence base for pre-driver road safety education, offering practical insights for practitioners, commissioners, and policymakers seeking to balance impact, feasibility, and scalability in real-world settings.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “This evaluation shows why careful assessment matters in road safety education. Too often, education programmes are judged on good intentions or early trends rather than robust evidence.
“This study shows that DriveFit 2.0 is feasible and acceptable in real school and college settings, and that it can produce positive signals, particularly among groups that are typically less responsive to road safety education.
“Importantly, it reflects a broader reality in this field: progress in road safety education is typically built over time through careful learning about what works in practice. The message for policymakers from this study is that scale and impact must be considered together, and intervention decisions should be guided by evidence, not assumptions.”
Ruth Purdie OBE, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust, added: “I’m encouraged by the findings of the DriveFit 2.0 evaluation report which indicate that pre-driver education delivered within an educational setting is considered to be both feasible and acceptable.
“With an increased focus on new drivers within the Government’s National Road Safety Strategy, it’s important that we look at whether interventions such as DriveFit can have a positive impact on driver attitude and risk awareness among young people. I look forward to seeing where the project goes next.”
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