Combination of unsatisfactory psychophysiological parameters as a marker of driver accident risk

Abstract

Background. The high rate of road accidents necessitates the development of novel approaches to enhance road safety. A promising direction is the diagnostic assessment of the psychophysiological preparedness of pre-drivers for improving parameters critical for safe road traffic. Aims:  the study aimed to identify pre-drivers who are potentially dangerous from a psychophysiological perspective during their training stage and develop effective methods for training their psychophysiological parameters to improve the overall competency of driving school graduates. Materials and methods. From 2022 to 2024, psychophysiological testing was conducted on a cohort of three thousand pre-drivers, comprising students of the Mustang driving school and drivers undergoing rehabilitation and skill-refresher courses, irrespective of age and gender. Primary psychophysiological indicators were assessed using the UPDK-MK Avtomobilny system (ZAO “Neyrokom”). The resulting data were processed and analyzed according to the author's methodology. Results. The findings showed that a combination of unsatisfactory values across specific psychophysiological parameters had a significant negative correlation with an individual’s capacity for safe driving. Such drivers were either reluctant to drive after completing their training or were involved in traffic accidents with a higher frequency. Conclusion. Timely diagnosis and targeted training of psychophysiological preparedness are essential for enhancing the quality of driver education and improving road safety.