How effective is today’s driver skills exam in identifying high-risk drivers before they drive alone? TRB hosted a webinar on Friday, February 27, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM Eastern that examined the extent to which current driver skills exams identify high-risk drivers before they begin driving independently. This webinar explored findings from BTSCRP Research Report 16: Predicting High-Risk Driver: Skills Examination and Scoring Guidelines, which evaluated the driver skills test used in Washington State. The study investigates how current road test scoring captures, or fails to capture, key behavioral indicators linked to crash risk. Presenters discussed the implications of these findings for improving driver assessment practices and shared insights relevant to policymakers, state officials, and traffic safety researchers.
This webinar was sponsored by TRB’s Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program.
The slides are available. 
 
Webinar agenda and presenters

• Introduction – Dan Cooke, Washington Department of Licensing
• Study overview, findings, and implications – Johnathon Ehsani, Johns Hopkins University
• Study methods and findings – Michelle Duren, Johns Hopkins University
• Question and answer session moderated by Dan Cooke, Washington Department of Licensing

The first 60 minutes of the webinar were for presentations and the final 30 minutes were reserved for audience questions.
 
Learning Objectives
At the end of this webinar, participants can:

• Identify limitations in current driver skills examination and scoring practices
• Explain evidence-based methods to improve driver skills testing and scoring for identifying high-risk drivers prior to licensure

 
Professional Development Hours
This webinar was delivered as a scheduled – e-learning live event and is categorized within RCEP as Technical, Health and Safety.
Professional Development Hours (PDHs) earned on completion of this program were reported to the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Certificates of Completion are issued to all participants via the RCEP.net online system. Complaints about registered providers may be addressed to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Fl., Washington, DC, 20005.