For most teens, getting a license is a big milestone. But it also marks the start of one of the riskiest times in their lives. Newly licensed drivers face a steep learning curve, and the crash statistics prove it.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), teens aged 16 to 19 are almost three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than adults over 20. The danger is highest during the first year of driving.
One study found that teens are five times more likely to crash in their first month than in their twelfth (Williams, 2003).
So, what can we do to protect teen drivers during that dangerous window?
A study in Greenfield, Massachusetts, tested a simple solution. The risk awareness training program, called RAPT (Risk Awareness and Perception Training), takes just one hour on a computer. Yet, the results show it helped teens improve hazard detection driving for months.
Let’s walk through what the researchers did, what they found, and how this type of cognitive hazard anticipation can support safer driving habits for teens across the country.
Why Teen Drivers Crash More Frequently
Teen drivers are eager and excited to be behind the wheel. However, the biggest thing they lack is experience.
Research shows they struggle with:
- Scanning: Not looking far enough ahead or to the right spots
- Multitasking: Trying to manage the car, passengers, and outside distractions all at once
- Reacting to Threats: Not always recognizing danger or responding the right way
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- 42.7% of teen crashes happen because the driver didn’t look properly
- 23% are caused by inattention
- 20.8% involve poor speed control
Most teen crashes aren’t the result of reckless behavior. They happen because new drivers don’t notice danger early enough to respond.
What is RAPT?
RAPT stands for Risk Awareness and Perception Training. It’s a computer-based program that teaches drivers how to spot threats before they turn into problems.
Instead of teaching the rules of the road or how to handle a vehicle, RAPT focuses on cognitive hazard anticipation. It helps drivers train their eyes and minds to look ahead—literally—and anticipate risky situations.
During a typical RAPT training session:
- Drivers are shown a series of real-world road scenes from the driver’s perspective
- In each scene, they must click where a hazard might appear (e.g., a pedestrian behind a van or a car pulling out from a driveway)
- If they miss one, the program shows them what they overlooked, sometimes using a top-down view for clarity
What’s unique is how RAPT includes both familiar and unfamiliar scenarios. Users learn to apply what they’ve learned, not just repeat what they saw before.
It takes about an hour to complete, can be run on a regular computer, and doesn’t require a simulator or instructor.
How the Study Was Conducted
The research team recruited 28 novice drivers, ages 16–18, who had held their licenses for about a month. They were randomly divided into two groups:
- RAPT-Trained Group: Completed the risk awareness training
- Placebo Group: Reviewed basic road signs and standard driver’s ed material
A third group of 15 experienced drivers (ages 26–55) was added to compare performance levels.
All participants drove a 13-mile route in Greenfield, MA. The car was fitted with an eye-tracking device to monitor where they looked.
Along the route were 11 situations that called for cognitive hazard anticipation, some similar to the ones in training, and others completely new. The goal was to see how well teens could apply what they’d learned to real roads.
Teens were tested once right after training and again 6 to 12 months later to see both immediate impact and long-term retention.
What Did the Results Reveal?
Right after the training, the RAPT group correctly anticipated hazards about 66% of the time, compared to just 47% for the placebo group.
Also, when researchers tested the teens again eight months later, the RAPT-trained drivers were still spotting hazards over 24 percentage points better than their untrained peers. In fact, their performance barely dropped at all, holding steady around 62%.
Meanwhile, the placebo group got worse over time, dropping to just under 38%.
To put that in perspective, experienced adult drivers scored over 81% on the same tasks. RAPT didn’t make teen drivers perfect, but it moved them much closer to adult-level performance, and it did so with just a single hour of training.
Did the Training Work in New Scenarios?
Yes, and that’s one of the most important findings.
The researchers tested teens in two types of situations:
- Near transfer scenarios, similar to the ones used in the RAPT training
- Far transfer scenarios, which were completely new but required the same kind of driver expectancy and hazard awareness
In the near transfer situations, RAPT-trained teens improved by 24 percentage points over their untrained peers. In the far transfer scenarios, they still outperformed their peers by 16 percentage points.
Essentially, the teens weren’t just remembering specific pictures from the training. They were learning how to think like safer drivers by looking for hidden risks in unfamiliar situations.
Why This is Important for Safety
Traditional driver’s ed spends a lot of time on vehicle control and traffic rules. These are necessary. But they miss how to anticipate danger before it happens.
By improving their visual search habits, risk awareness training helps new drivers:
- Spot potential threats earlier
- Stay focused in busy or unpredictable environments
- Make quicker, safer decisions under pressure
These are exactly the skills missing from most teen crashes.
What Makes RAPT Training Different?
RAPT is simple, affordable, and easy to use. There’s no need for high-end simulators or lengthy training programs. It runs on any standard computer, takes just about an hour to complete, and has been proven effective in both lab studies and real-world road tests.
Because it’s so flexible, RAPT could easily be added to driver’s ed classes, included in graduated licensing programs, or offered as extra support for higher-risk teen drivers.
Limitations and Next Steps
RAPT is a starting point—a strong one—but there’s room for expansion. In the future, it could be:
- Combined with longer coaching or practice programs
- Delivered through video or VR for a more realistic experience
- Paired with on-road mentoring to build real-world habits
But even as a single session, the research shows it helps improve hazard detection driving in the most dangerous phase of a teen driver’s journey.
Final Thoughts
Teen drivers face some of the steepest crash risks on the road. However, this research proves that simple, smart training can help them fare better.
With just one hour of Risk Awareness and Perception Training, teens scan the road more effectively, respond to hidden hazards, and drive more like experienced adults, months after the session ends.
The Driver Research Institute believes safer driving starts with improved training. Our research shows that even a short, focused session—like RAPT training—can make a lasting difference for new drivers.
If you’re working on driver education, licensing programs, or crash analysis involving young drivers, we can help. Contact us or explore how our tools and insights can strengthen your programs and support real-world safety outcomes.
