Vzdelávanie šoférov v Českej republike z pohľadu inštruktorov autoškôl, dopravných psychológov a mladých šoférov

• Published in: Československá psychologie Vol. 69; no. 2; pp. 118 - 141
• Main Authors: Suriaková, Beáta, Šucha, Matúš
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Slovak
• Published: Praha Institute of Psychology, Academy of Science 21.04.2025
• Subjects: Automobile drivers; Automobile driving; Traffic accidents & safety; Training; Young adults; Czech Republic
• ISSN: 0009-062X; 1804-6436
• DOI: 10.51561/cspsych.69.2.118

Objectives. This study aims to map the perspectives of young drivers, driving school instructors and traffic psychologists on traffic education and training in driving schools in the Czech Republic. The second objective is to identify differences between driving instructors and traffic psychologists in their perceptions of the importance of incorporating psychological aspects into driver training. The authors aim to provide a comprehensive perspective on the inclusion of psychological aspects in the education of young drivers and recommendations for improving the quality of driver education. Sample and settings. For this research, the authors have chosen a mixed research design. The qualitative part is conducted through semi-structured interviews with 6 traffic psychologists and 9 driving school instructors. The quantitative part consists of a questionnaire survey among 595 young drivers, 31 traffic psychologists and 64 driving school instructors. Results. The study delved into how driving education operates in the Czech Republic, focusing particularly on young drivers. It pinpointed common issues in four main areas: the risky behaviors exhibited by young drivers, the effectiveness of current driving school methods, suggestions for improvements, and the importance of considering psychology in young driver training. The findings revealed differing perspectives between driving school instructors and traffic psychologists on these issues, but they also identified some areas of agreement regarding potential changes. By drawing from both local practices and successful approaches from other countries, the study offers practical recommendations to enhance driver training programs in the Czech Republic. Limitations. Within the confines of the study, certain limitations warrant consideration. The restricted geographical scope may constrain the generalizability and applicability of the findings, particularly concerning the nuances inherent in driving school systems across diverse international contexts. Consequently, direct comparisons with previous foreign studies are precluded, given the absence of analogous datasets. Moreover, the limited involvement of traffic psychologists and the absence of interviews with young drivers represent noteworthy constraints, albeit somewhat mitigated by the larger sample size of respondents. It is pertinent to acknowledge that legislative amendments, implemented in 2024, coincided with the data processing phase, aligning with the recommendations articulated by our study participants.