From hindrance to help – parental influence in novice-driver education

Funded by the Australian Government and sponsored by Australia’s motoring clubs, Keys2drive aims to reduce the high crash risk for newly-licensed drivers by providing free one-hour lessons to novice drivers and their parent/supervisor. Inclusion of parents in Keys2drive lessons is compulsory and underscored by research showing that the depth and breadth of parental involvement in novice-driver education is an important factor in its effectiveness (Masten & Chapman, 2003). In 2019, Keys2drive commissioned new research to measure, among other things, parents’ confidence, attitudes, skill and readiness to supervise a novice driver. The research highlighted a need for ongoing upskilling of parents to improve safety outcomes.