In partnership with NJM Insurance Group, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Primary Care Network is proud to offer simulated driving assessments for current CHOP Primary Care teen patients at select CHOP Primary Care Network locations.
The Virtual Driving Assessment utilizes the Ready-Assess™ platform, an AI-driven virtual driving assessment that provides the driver with the insights and tools to improve. Watch a video to learn more about this work to advance teen driver safety.
How it works
The Wall Street Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Forbes and and other news outlets highlighted this only-at-CHOP novel service as a validated way to accurately predict crash risk in newly licensed drivers. Teens who do well on the VDA are 10% less likely to crash. Those who do poorly are 10% more likely to crash. It is fun, useful and validated by science.
The assessment takes just 15 minutes. Here's how it works:
- Teens will use a monitor, a steering wheel and pedals to drive in a virtual neighborhood that takes them through common driving scenarios.
- Teens will be asked to drive as they normally do while they encounter typical driving situations, some of which are associated with young driver crashes. These include following other vehicles, navigating curves, driving within posted speed limits and managing intersections.
- At the end of the assessment, teens (and their parent/caregiver) will receive an email with a personalized feedback report on their crash-avoidance skills — as well as tips to improve, including videos created by CHOP experts — to develop specific driving skills.
- Teens who take the VDA and follow the advice in the personalized feedback will be better prepared to drive safely and avoid crashes.
Identifying areas of concern and providing tools to develop safer driving skills before teens drive independently is essential to reducing their crash risk. Through the Virtual Driving Assessment Program, CHOP and NJM Insurance Group are committed to preparing teens for safe driving.
Teens do NOT need to have their permit or license already to take the assessment.
Virtual driving testing is now available at CHOP’s Primary Care locations in Broomall, Cape May, Chadds Ford, Chestnut Hill, CHOP Campus, Cobbs Creek, Doylestown, Flourtown, Gibbsboro, Haverford, Highpoint, Kennett Square, Media, Moorestown, Newtown, Norristown, Paoli, Roxborough, Salem Road, Smithville, Somer's Point, Souderton, South Philly, Springfield, West Chester, West Grove and West Philadelphia (Karabots). Over the next three years, CHOP plans to expand this program to all CHOP Primary Care locations.
Ask your pediatrician how to schedule your teen for a simulated driving assessment at your next visit.
What teens are saying about the VDA
More than 8 out of 10 teens would recommend it to their friends and want to take it again. Here’s what some of them have to say about the VDA:
“The VDA provided an accurate representation of what driving on the road is like. It adds in other drivers stopping at random moments, pedestrians, emergency vehicles and objects in the road.”
“The simulation allows students to assess how driving as they normally would could affect anything without any fear of actually being in an accident. It provides experience without the danger factor.”
“I think that this was a great way to get immersed in a driving environment. It recreated the road situations well and was very helpful!”
Additional safe driving resources
Visit teendriversource.research.chop.edu for more helpful resources designed specifically for young drivers and their parents and caregivers.
Information about state specific graduated licensing can be found here: