---

New Software Helps Drivers Spot Danger

19 September 2000

New Software Helps Drivers Spot Danger, Reports AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 Drivers can improve their ability to
identify dangerous situations by using a new computer program from the AAA
Foundation for Traffic Safety.   The software program, called "driver-ZED for
Adult Drivers" uses live-action video of traffic situations to teach users
about roadway risks.
   Driver-ZED for Adult Drivers requires the user to spot situations that
could
cause problems and asks them to make safe decisions about which actions to
take.  "People who have been driving for years can still learn from this
program," says David Willis, President of the AAA Foundation for Traffic
Safety.  "Even experienced drivers need to refresh their skills."
    Because drivers need different skills in different settings, driver-ZED
users are led through three 45-minute sessions, during which they experience
a mix of three different driving environments.  Scenarios include driving
in the city, in the country, and on multilane highways.  Drivers who perform
flawlessly earn a perfect score of zero, while drivers who err have points
added for each mistake.
    Tests of driver-ZED on teenaged novice drivers found that the program
improved their ability to spot potential sources of danger, a skill many
adults could also use practice on.  "While we originally created driver-ZED
to teach teens about scanning for hazards, we realize that many adults could
also benefit from the program," Willis says, "The scanning and
decisionmaking techniques that driver-ZED teaches are useful for all
drivers."