Join the INSPIRE Clinical Trial and access free, online or in-person treatment for driving anxiety from a clinical psychologist.
Up to 1 in 5 people experience driving anxiety after a motor vehicle crash. This can cause strong anxiety and fear of driving. The INSPIRE Trial is testing a new treatment for driving anxiety using immersive virtual reality (IVR).
What is immersive virtual reality?
During IVR, you wear a VR headset while sitting down. The headset displays a three-dimensional digital car. It recreates a realistic driving experience in a safe way.
Participate in the INSPIRE Clinical Trial
What’s involved?
You will be randomly assigned to receive:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR); or
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy without Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR).
If you are assigned to IVR therapy, we will loan you a VR headset. We will also provide training on how to use it at home.
As a participant in the trial, you will be asked to:
- Attend eight sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with a clinical psychologist.
- You can attend online or in-person.
- Sessions are one-on-one
- All therapy sessions are provided free of charge
- Complete
- online surveys,
- two clinical interviews with a clinical psychologist; and
- one interview about your experience of participating in the therapy program.
Will I need to travel?
Therapy sessions and interviews can be done online or in-person.
In-person sessions are held at Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), Herston, Brisbane.
See Map
Will I be reimbursed for my time?
- The 8 therapy sessions are free.
- You will get up to $200 in gift vouchers when you complete all the study activities.
- You will get a free parking voucher if you need to park at STARS.
Who can join?
To take part:
- you must be over 18,
- hold a valid driver’s license; and
- have had driving anxiety or have avoided driving a car for at least 4 weeks.
You cannot participate if you have:
- Diagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Severe motion sickness
- Epilepsy or any seizure disorders
- Significant uncorrected vision problems
- Recently changed psychoactive medication therapy
Register your interest
Fill in this short screening survey to register your interest in participating.
This project has been approved by The University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee [Approval No. 2025/HE000849].
INSPIRE: Innovative Solutions for Treating Driving Anxiety Using Virtual Reality
The INSPIRE Trial is a research study focused on improving treatment for driving anxiety after a motor vehicle crash.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) uses immersive virtual reality (IVR) to recreate situations that may trigger anxiety or fear. By putting participants in realistic, computer-generated environments, VRET helps them face and manage these feelings in a safe and controlled setting.
In this study, we will examine how effective Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is when combined with IVR to treat driving anxiety after a motor vehicle crash. We will also assess whether this combined approach is practical, safe, and more effective than CBT alone.
This pilot Randomised Controlled Trial will include 30 adults with driving anxiety following a motor vehicle crash. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: CBT alone (control group) or CBT combined with VRET (intervention group).
The VRET program was co-designed with people who have experienced driving anxiety, along with experienced clinicians. This approach helps ensure the program is relevant, practical, and acceptable for participants.
Funding
The Motor Accident Insurance Commission provided funding to the RECOVER Injury Research Centre to support the Innovative Solutions for Treating Driving Phobia Using Virtual Reality: The INSPIRE Feasibility and Pilot Trial to conduct research activities that aim to improve the treatment and rehabilitation of people injured in motor vehicle crashes.
The INSPIRE project is funded through a MAIC Innovative Research Action Award (MIRAA) grant.
Project Lead
Professor Trevor Russell
Director
RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland
Project Manager
Dr Clare Burns
Honorary Research Fellow
RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland
Clinical Psychologist
Mr David Johnston
Clinical Psychologist
RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland
Research Team
Dr Rachel Elphinston
Senior Research Fellow
RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland
Dr Robert Cuthbert
Research Fellow
RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland
Dr Joshua Simmich
Research Fellow
RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland
Dr Riley Brown
Lecturer
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland
Prof. Michele Sterling
Program Leader: Improving health outcomes after musculoskeletal injury
RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland
The INSPIRE project's Consumer Advisory Group (CAG) is made up of five people who have experienced driving anxiety after a motor vehicle crash. Their lived experience plays an important role in shaping the materials developed for this trial.
Through a series of structured workshops, CAG members worked closely with clinicians and technology experts to co-design the virtual reality therapy scenarios. They shared personal insights into which situations felt most stressful and what could make the scenarios more realistic. They also helped review the therapy materials, providing valuable feedback on ways to make sessions more accessible.
As a result of this collaborative approach, the VR-based therapy in INSPIRE:
- addresses common fears and real-life driving situations,
- is accessible and easy to use at home or in clinic settings; and
- supports participants in a way that feels safe, practical, and user-friendly.
Consumer involvement also strengthens the quality and impact of the research. By including lived experience at every stage, the INSPIRE trial is more likely to produce outcomes that are meaningful and useful for patients, clinicians, and the wider community.
To learn more about how RECOVER integrates consumer perspectives into research, visit:
recover.centre.uq.edu.au/get-involved
Contact us
For more information, email inspiretrial@uq.edu.au
Get involved
Do you feel anxious about driving after a crash? Join the INSPIRE Clinical Trial and get free, online or in-person therapy from a clinical psychologist.