A Survey of Light-Vehicle Driver Education Curriculum on Sharing the Road with Heavy Vehicles

INTRODUCTION: Light-vehicle driver education programs that contain content about sharing the road with heavy vehicles may be helpful in reducing future light-vehicle/heavy-vehicle interactions. However, the extent of curricula in the United States including such content is unclear. METHOD: Researchers developed an online survey targeted at instructors/administrators of state driver education programs to identify curricula addressing heavy vehicles and to determine perceived effectiveness. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of respondents indicated that the light-vehicle driver education curriculum they teach/administer included a component covering how to safely share the road with heavy vehicles (82% perceived this component to be effective). DISCUSSION: Although a large proportion of these programs included a component on how to safely share the road with heavy vehicles, participants indicated there may be room for improvement. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Participants recommended that future improvements to driver education programs include updated materials and student hands-on experience with heavy vehicles. Language: en