Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia sees driving as one of the most important healthcare issues for teenagers.

As a result, researchers recently built a virtual driving assessment that can accurately predict crash risk in newly licensed drivers, writes Julie Jargon for The Wall Street Journal. 

To take the test, a teen sits at a desk with a driving wheel, brake pedal, and gas pedal all attached to a laptop running assessment software.

The 15-minute test allows the teen to partake in a simulated drive with pedestrian-filled crosswalks, railroad crossings, and other potentially dangerous scenarios. 

Researchers say exposing them to possible crashes is a good way to see how they respond to real-life road crises.

Frank Quinn, a 16-year-old Philadelphian with a learner’s permit, learned from the test that he needs to do a better job of looking behind objects.

The researchers plan to study which interventions are most effective in helping teens improve their driving skills and hope to offer the virtual assessments in doctor’s offices around the country, where teens can take them as part of their annual checkups.

“We want it to be part of routine preventative adolescent healthcare,” said Flaura Winston, a co-author of the study and a developer of the software. 

Read more about the new software to improve safety in young drivers at The Wall Street Journal. 

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