Transfer of Skills Learned on a Driving Simulator to On-Road Driving Behavior

Hirsch, Pierro; Bellavance, François · 2017 · Crossref

DOI: 10.3141/2660-01

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

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Summary

This study addresses the efficacy of driving simulator-based training (DBST) for novice drivers, aiming to validate whether skills learned in a high-fidelity simulator transfer to real-world driving performance. Motivated by the controversial nature of traditional driver education and the proven success of flight simulators in aviation, the research sought to determine if DBST could improve training outcomes. The study had three primary objectives: measuring learner perceptions of DBST efficiency and acceptability, assessing the impact of DBST on performance in the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) probationary permit road exam, and evaluating the influence of DBST on long-term driving behavior, specifically infractions and crashes during unsupervised driving. The researchers conducted a long-term, prospective cohort, naturalistic study involving 2,187 learner drivers from four driving schools in Québec. Participants, with an average age of 17.6 years, underwent a curriculum where up to six of the mandatory 15 on-road training hours could be replaced by simulator sessions. Learner perceptions were gathered via questionnaires administered at the start and end of the nearly one-year course. To assess transfer of training, the study compared the DBST group against an age- and sex-matched comparison group of all new Quebec drivers. Objective measures included SAAQ road exam results and police-reported data on driving infractions and crashes during the first two years of holding a probationary permit. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression controlling for vehicle ownership, were used to evaluate behavioral outcomes. The results indicated strong positive learner perceptions, with participants reporting that 14 of 15 listed driving skills, particularly safety-critical ones, were taught more or equally efficiently on the simulator compared to on-road training. In terms of objective performance, the DBST group achieved statistically significantly higher pass rates on the road exam than the comparison group. Furthermore, during the first two years of unsupervised driving, the DBST group exhibited statistically significantly lower infraction rates. Regarding crash risk, the study found that crash rates were equivalent between the two groups after controlling for vehicle ownership, indicating a null effect on crash probability but no negative impact. The study concludes that DBST is well-received by learners and facilitates a positive transfer of skills to road exam performance. The findings provide encouraging evidence that simulator training contributes to safer driving behaviors, as evidenced by reduced infractions, without increasing crash risk. These results support the integration of high-fidelity driving simulators into novice driver education programs as a viable and effective tool for improving training efficiency and road safety outcomes.

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• simulator training transfer
• simulator validity fidelity
• learner drivers
• driver education effectiveness
• novice drivers
• simulator sickness

Information type

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• Methodological Resource: validation psychometrics, tool software
• Theoretical Contribution: computational model