Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has announced that more than 10,000 teenagers have completed virtual driving assessments (VDAs) at 28 CHOP Primary Care sites since the program began in 2020. The assessment is a 15-minute simulation designed to expose young drivers to common crash scenarios in a controlled environment. After completing the VDA, teens receive a personalized feedback report with guidance and resources aimed at improving their driving skills.
“Having a new teen driver can be daunting for parents,” said Alexander Fiks, MD, a primary care pediatrician, director of Clinical Futures, and director of the Possibilities Project at CHOP. “The virtual driving assessment is such an important addition to primary care because it guides families and teens on how best to prepare to safely achieve this milestone. Families embrace the opportunity.”
Flaura Winston, MD, PhD, founder of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) at CHOP, stated: “As doctors, we don’t wait for harm to occur—we assess, identify risks, and intervene early to prevent it. The same principle applies to teen driving. Identifying and correcting performance errors before they’re on the road isn’t just training—it’s lifesaving prevention.”
The VDA program began as a collaboration between CHOP and NJM Insurance Group at five initial locations in 2020. It has since expanded across Philadelphia, eastern Pennsylvania, and southern New Jersey.
Teens participating in the VDA not only benefit from targeted feedback but also contribute data that researchers use to study driver behavior and refine safety recommendations. In 2023, CHOP researchers published findings in Pediatrics showing that VDA results collected at licensure can help predict crash risk among new drivers.
Families interested in scheduling an assessment are encouraged to contact their local CHOP Primary Care office.
