Accompanying novice drivers from a distance – The views of parents and novice drivers following an initial experience

Novice drivers (NDs) face elevated crash risk, particularly during their first months of solo driving. Parental accompanying is a widely endorsed method for mitigating this risk. Yet, many parents struggle to allocate sufficient time for accompaniment, and NDs frequently report elevated tension when driving with their parents. To address these challenges, we introduce remote accompaniment − a “Zoom-like” technology that enables accompaniment from a distance in real time. This study examined parent and ND perspectives on: (1) remote accompaniment usefulness, safety, and tension; (2) comparisons with conventional (in-person) accompaniment; and (3) the potential increase of accompanied driving utilizing the remote accompaniment. We invited 41 parent–ND pairs to experience both conventional and remote accompaniment drives. Following these experiences, participants completed self-report measures assessing perceived usefulness, safety, and attitudes toward each accompaniment method. Parents and NDs rated conventional and remote accompaniment as useful, with mean scores approximating 4 on a 5-point scale. Parents rated remote accompaniment as less safe than conventional accompaniment, though the mean safety rating remained above the scale’s neutral midpoint. In contrast, NDs perceived both methods as equally safe. Concerning tension, parents and NDs indicated minimal tension during both accompaniment methods. Importantly, both parents and NDs indicated their intent to increase accompanied driving using the remote system. In conclusion, remote accompaniment may present a promising approach for accompanied driving, and both parents and NDs find it useful and ready to adopt it in practice. However, successful implementation will need to address parents’ safety concerns.