title: Learning to drive: learners' self-reported cognitive failure level predicts driving instructor's observation rating of driving performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence increases that cognitive failure may be used to screen for drivers at risk. Until now, most studies have relied on driving learners. This exploratory pilot study examines self-report of cognitive failure in driving beginners and error during real driving as observed by driving instructors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two driving learners of 14 driving instructors filled out a work-related cognitive failure questionnaire. Driving instructors observed driving errors during the next driving lesson. In multiple linear regression analysis, driving errors were regressed on cognitive failure with the number of driving lessons as an estimator of driving experience controlled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher cognitive failure predicted more driving errors (p < .01) when age, gender and driving experience were controlled in analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cognitive failure was significantly associated with observed driving errors. Systematic research on cognitive failure in driving beginners is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland. achim.elfering@psy.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elfering
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruppen
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grebner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012449:Safety; D057566:Self Report; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult