Yale DrivSim Lab Uses Simulation to Study Young Drivers

The Yale DrivSim Lab (Developmental Neurocognitive Driving Simulation Research Center) is an innovative driver simulation research center that applies expertise in crash injury and prevention, adolescent psychology, and brain science to the study of crash risk among teens and young adult drivers. Simply, “the mission of the lab is to understand behavior, brain development, and how the brain functions for adolescents and young adults as they learn to drive,” said Dr. Federico Vaca, director of the lab. The end-goal: to curb the number of injury-causing crashes among the young and to make them safer drivers sooner.