User:Chrispepper/Keys2drive

Keys2drive is a learner driver training initiative developed by the Australian Automobile Association and its constituents (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RACWA, RACT, RAA and AANT), funded by the Australian Government and supported by the driver training industry.

It is arguably Australia's most extensive and far reaching novice driver training and road safety program.

Keys2drive consists of three major components:


 * A free lesson delivered by a keys2drive accredited professional driving instructor to learner drivers, accompanied by their supervising driver,
 * A website for learner and novice drivers, supervising drivers and professional driving instructors, offering supporting material, and
 * A voluntary accreditation scheme for professional driving instructors who wish to participate.

With its aim of 'six months on P-plates with zero harm' the program is designed to contribute to a reduction in the number and severity of crashes involving young drivers. Central to this aim is a change in how novice drivers are taught by both the professional driver training industry and by their supervising driver.

keys2drive has developed a coaching technique called "Find Your Own Way" to encourage the learning to drive process to be focussed on the student, and helps learners to take an active role in their learning by giving time for consideration and self-analysis about their actions.

Background
In 2009, 1507 people were killed on Australian roads - on average, over four deaths every day. Young people aged between 17 and 25 accounted for nearly a quarter of these deaths, despite representing less than 15% of the overall population. International studies show one of the best ways to help novice drivers is to provide them with more real-world, on-road supervising driving experiences before they 'go solo' - that is, beginning driving on their own.

Although learners are statistically the safest group of drivers on the road, as soon as the L-plater becomes a P-plater, the risk of crash involvement increases by 33 times (see image 1 below). Parents and supervisors have a key role in guiding and promoting safe driving habits.

In May 2008, the Federal government committed $17 million over five years for the AAA to deliver free lessons to learners accompanied by their supervising driver. The program was initially trialed in Tasmania in mid-2009, introduced to Victoria mid-2010 and has been progressively rolled out around the country ever since. Northern Territory's official launch has been delayed but has been rescheduled to take place later in 2011.

Find Your Own Way
The keys2drive approach relies on the skill of the driving instructor to move from a traditional teacher-focussed method of teaching to one that is student-focussed and directed.

The approach, called "Find Your Own Way" (FYOW) encourages the learner to ask questions, better recognise risky situations, and to detect and fix mistakes. FYOW encourages learners to practice for longer, have lots of variations when driving and to actively learn by self-assessing and self-reflecting.

The AAA has been praised for the effort put into developing a best practice learning design which is pedagogically sound and evidence-based, based on coaching (as distinct from training or instructing). It has been described as "arguably representing a significant advance in learner driver education".

The keys2drive website www.keys2drive.com.au reinforces the messages of the FYOW concept and explains the importance of long, wide and deep learning experiences. In a keys2drive context, long refers to having lots of practice, wide refers to having a variety of driving experiences and deep refers to the active learning or thinking and reflecting associated with each lesson.

keys2drive encourages learners to begin their P-plate driving experiences while they are on their L-plates to better prepare them for driving unassisted. The program also encourages novice drivers to realise that, even though they may have their P-plates, they are still learning and should continue to actively devleop the skills and attitudes needed to be a safe driver.

Instructor accreditation
To become keys2drive accredited, driving instructors must complete:


 * An eight hour classroom-based workshop, facilitated by a trained coach (who is also a licensed driving instructor), followed by
 * Five online, written self-reflection tasks that require the instructor to practice what they have been taught during the training day.

There are also the following requirements:


 * A minimum of four-star ANCAP safety rating for instructors' vehicles by December 2011
 * A minimum of Certificate IV in Driving Instructing (also by December 2011); and
 * Abide by the keys2drive Code of Practice, which was developed by the AAA in consultation with the driver training industry to ensure professional best practice.

As of 1 January 2011, more than 98 workshops have been held around Australia.

Interestingly, less than one third of driving instructors who expressed initial interest in the program progressed to becoming accredited. The AAA believes that this has ensured that only those driving instructors who are committed to the program have gone on to gain full accreditation.

The program has 16 'champion' driving instructors who have delivered more than 100 keys2drive lessons and are now reporting that the program has helped to significantly grow their business by repeats and referrals.

Raising public awareness
To generate more bookings and attendance and to increase public awareness of keys2drive, a national marketing and communications campaign established in December 2010 led to the creation of a Facebook page to enter the world of social networking, intensive media monitoring of learner-driver related stories and improvements to the keys2drive website.

The AAA has also leveraged its connections with the motoring clubs within each state and territory to assist with marketing and promotion. keys2drive has also received strong support from a number of state based licensing authorities, such as in Queensland and South Australia where learner drivers who receive their Learner's Permit are given a keys2drive 'postcard' with information on how to access a free lesson.

Evaluation
The AAA regularly surveys learner and supervisor participants to monitor the program's effectiveness.

The most significant question asked was "does the supervisor consider that what the beginning driver learned in the keys2drive lesson help make them a safer driver?". Consistently, more than 90% of respondents answer "yes" and a further 5-6% answer "possibly". Similarly, when asked "will the keys2drive lesson help the learner driver be a safer driver", more than 90% of respondents answer "yes" and approximately 6% answer "possibly". .

Overall satisfaction ratings with the program are also extremely encouraging with up to 39.5% of respondents rating their satisfaction levels at 10 out of 10.

The AAA believes that the positive feedback about keys2drive can be attributed to the fact that lessons are given in a style consistent with how young people are now taught in schools. In essence, this is a shift from one of control to one of empowerment.