Risky attitudes towards road use in pre-drivers

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the principal causes of adolescent disability or mortality and male drivers are more likely to be involved in road accidents than female drivers. In part such associations between driver age and sex have been linked to differences in risky behaviour (e.g. speed, vi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Accident analysis and prevention 2008-05, Vol.40 (3), p.905-911
Main Authors: Waylen, Andrea E., McKenna, Frank P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Age Factors
Automobile Driving - psychology
Automobile Driving - statistics & numerical data
Automobiles - statistics & numerical data
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Driver violations
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Surveys
Humans
Male
Pre-drivers
Psychological Tests
Psychometrics
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Risk-Taking
Risky behaviour
Schools
Sensation seeking
Sex Characteristics
Sex differences
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:Motor vehicle accidents are one of the principal causes of adolescent disability or mortality and male drivers are more likely to be involved in road accidents than female drivers. In part such associations between driver age and sex have been linked to differences in risky behaviour (e.g. speed, violations) and individual characteristics (e.g. sensation seeking, deviant behaviour). The aim of this research is to determine whether associations between risky road user behaviour and individual characteristics are a function of driver behaviour or whether they are intrinsic and measurable in individuals too young to drive. Five hundred and sixty-seven pre-driver students aged 11–16 from three secondary schools completed questionnaires measuring enthusiasm for speed, sensation seeking, deviant behaviour and attitudes towards driver violations. Boys reported more risky attitudes than girls for all measures. Associations between sensation seeking, deviant behaviour and attitudes towards risky road use were present from early adolescence and were strongest around age 14, before individuals learn to drive. Risky attitudes towards road use are associated with individual characteristics and are observed in adolescents long before they learn to drive. Safe attitudes towards road use and driver behaviour should be promoted from childhood in order to be effective.
ISSN:0001-4575
1879-2057
DOI:10.1016/j.aap.2007.10.005