Manuscript received January 19, 2026; accepted February 06, 2026; published June 18, 2026.

Abstract—The widespread and increasingly diverse application of virtual reality technology offers significant opportunities for innovative training on both road and workplace safety and health. Key advantages include the ability to recreate realistic contexts, provide immersive learning experiences, and monitor participant performance through tracking and scoring systems. Such features enable more effective training, fostering the development of appropriate safety behaviours and activating systems of vigilance and accountability, also improving adherence to technical procedures across various activities. This paper presents a case study conducted through a multidisciplinary, multi-sectoral approach, focusing on the design and evaluation of an interactive virtual reality laboratory aimed at enhancing knowledge of work-related road risks. A specific emphasis was placed on drivers’ psychophysical and health status, with the goal of promoting a culture of road safety in both personal and professional settings. The methodology involved the assessment of health, cognitive and behavioural aspects of driving through company case studies and the integration of best practices for road safety and health. Additionally, an interactive virtual reality application was developed, simulating a commute under varying conditions affecting psychophysical performance, including medication use, drowsiness, alcohol consumption, and distractions from mobile devices. The ultimate objective was to create a virtual-based training module capable of supporting participatory and immersive multimedia programs for worker information, education and training. By combining realistic simulation with interactive engagement, this approach aims to improve risk awareness, encourage preventive behaviours, and provide a replicable model for the integration of virtual reality into occupational health and safety training initiatives.
 
Keywords—virtual reality, training and education, occupational safety and health, road safety

Cite: Donatella L.M. Vasselli, Rosina Bentivenga, Agnese Martini, and Emma Pietrafesa, "Enhancing Occupational Road Safety through Virtual Reality—An Innovative OSH Training Approach from Italy: Preliminary Results," International Journal of Learning and Teaching, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 191-199, 2026.

Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).