Initiative details
With this project, we contribute to the development of courses by offering standardized, consistent quality for various risk groups.
To provide substantive expertise through a new technical solution. This solution simplifies the explanation of complex traffic risks.
To provide substantive expertise through a new technical solution. This solution simplifies the explanation of complex traffic risks.
Initiative date
Who was/is your target audience?
Young adults 17-25
Adults
Car drivers
Car drivers – professional
Educational staff
Others
Topic
Create awareness
Education in school or in community organizations
Knowledge building and sharing
Provide alternative solutions
Training
Organisation details
Trafity oü
Enterprise
Estonia
Tartu
Contact name
Gunnar Meinhard
Telephone number
+37256506266
gunnar.meinhard@gmail.com
Website link
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
We are currently in preliminary discussions with international entities to explore potential collaboration opportunities. These pre-negotiation contacts aim to facilitate knowledge exchange and innovation, though no formal agreements have been established at this stage. We are discussing with companies including Deutscher Verkehrssicherheitsrat (DVR) and Alliance Highway Safety, who are interested in adopting the system for DVR training programs, as well as Der Bundesverband Niedergelassener Verkehrspsychologen e.V. (BNV). We are also collaborating with University of Padova.
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
Since June 2024, we have implemented a virtual reality solution in rehabilitation courses, specifically in the form of the anatomy of a crash. The VR technical solution has been integrated into the rehabilitation course, allowing all participants to virtually experience a traffic crash scene, which is reconstructed based on court materials.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
All technical solutions for working with Virtual Reality glasses functioned perfectly, meaning the technical solution worked as intended.
The feedback from participants has been predominantly positive, which you can read in the uploaded document. The same document below, also includes some suggestions from participants for improving the VR solution when working with groups.
The feedback from participants has been predominantly positive, which you can read in the uploaded document. The same document below, also includes some suggestions from participants for improving the VR solution when working with groups.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
The original Estonian course program “Clear View ...!?” has been running since 2007 and has proven its effectiveness in an evaluation study (Meinhard, 2019). In a repeated measures control group design, the hard external criterion (offences before and after a reference date) showed that participants had significantly greater reductions in drink driving, traffic violations and even other non-traffic violations than non-participants. To evaluate the impact of integrating virtual reality modules into the "Clear View...?!" program, we employed a tailored questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions, targeting 38 drivers with traffic violations, including intoxication-related issues. The survey assessed five key factors: Presence, User Experience (UX), Motion Sickness, Immersion, and Simulator Realism. Quantitative results showed high user satisfaction, with UX scoring the highest (mean 14.37/15) and Presence at 13.50/15, indicating effective engagement. Immersion scored lower (mean 12.05/15), suggesting areas for enhancement. Qualitative feedback revealed significant impact: 84.5% of comments (131 responses) emphasized the realism and learning effectiveness, with participants noting increased risk perception (e.g., “It really felt that way”) and recommending the course to others. Many reported a memorable experience, fostering cautious driving behavior. However, 11% of comments highlighted physical discomfort (e.g., eye tiredness), and 4.5% noted sound issues. Correlation analysis confirmed strong links between Presence, UX, and Immersion (r = 0.56–0.58), supporting VR’s role in enhancing awareness. Overall, the VR modules effectively modified risky behavior, with participants showing improved attitudes toward traffic rule compliance.
What has been the effect of the activities?
Other than the aforementioned, the integration of virtual reality modules into the "Clear View...?!" program has positively influenced road safety by fostering behavioral changes among high-risk drivers with traffic violations in Estonia. Our work with elements of virtual reality shows that the combination of technology, proven course programs and targeted public relations work are a practical way to improve driving safety. The VR platform with the modules can be accessed by educational institutions, companies, and driving schools across worldwide.
The initiative has encouraged safer driving habits, as participants’ qualitative feedback highlighted heightened awareness of traffic risks and a shift toward cautious behavior. The effect was assessed through surveys, using a reliable questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha 0.76) and correlation analysis to evaluate factors like Presence, UX, and Immersion. The VR modules proved efficient by targeting at-risk groups effectively, making the learning process engaging and impactful. This locally driven initiative complements national road safety campaigns by addressing specific behavioral issues, with potential to scale regionally or nationally if adopted by other organizations with proper training and resources.
The initiative has encouraged safer driving habits, as participants’ qualitative feedback highlighted heightened awareness of traffic risks and a shift toward cautious behavior. The effect was assessed through surveys, using a reliable questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha 0.76) and correlation analysis to evaluate factors like Presence, UX, and Immersion. The VR modules proved efficient by targeting at-risk groups effectively, making the learning process engaging and impactful. This locally driven initiative complements national road safety campaigns by addressing specific behavioral issues, with potential to scale regionally or nationally if adopted by other organizations with proper training and resources.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
Program’s integration of virtual reality modules stands out as a good example of improving road safety by offering an immersive learning experience that no other medium can replicate. VR effectively explains complex topics through realistic simulations, enabling drivers to experience and internalize safety lessons in a way that traditional methods cannot. This targeted approach fosters safer driving habits by enhancing understanding and retention. Other organizations can learn from this by adopting VR to simulate real-world risks, enhancing driver awareness cost-effectively. VR enables all users, regardless of country or language, to utilize a standardized message of the same quality, regardless of the road safety topic. With proper training and resources, the initiative can be adapted easily, allowing organizations to replicate its success in diverse target groups and regions.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
We have actively shared information about our project and its results through various channels, including local, national, and international (USA News - WYFF 4 News in Greenville, 2025) media outlets and official reports. In Estonia, all high schools and vocational schools know about our program, almost all students go through it every year. Additionally, we presented our findings at regional, national (AGG in 2025), and international road safety conferences (Traffic Psychology International in Brussels, 2023, DGVP/DGVM Congress in Vienna, 2023, EFA European Driving Schools Association in Helsinki, 2024, Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety in Long Beach, CA, 2025), workshops, and seminars to reach a broader audience. We also collaborated with local authorities and organizations to disseminate best practices. As a result, the initiative has gained recognition at the regional and national levels in Estonia, with some interest from international partners. Our efforts have helped raise awareness of innovative approaches to improving road safety among high-risk driver groups. Our aim is to integrate the latest VR technology and innovative learning methods into safety education and also to make everyday
driving school life future-proof.
driving school life future-proof.