Novice Drivers' Risky Driving Behavior, Risk Perception, and Crash Risk: Findings From the DRIVE Study

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 99; no. 9; pp. 1638 - 1644
• Main Authors: Ivers, Rebecca, Senserrick, Teresa, Boufous, Soufiane, Stevenson, Mark, Chen, Huei-Yang, Woodward, Mark, Norton, Robyn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Am Public Health Assoc 01.09.2009; American Public Health Association
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - psychology; Adolescent; Alcohol; Automobile driving; Automobile Driving - psychology; Automobile Driving - statistics & numerical data; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Cellular telephones; Drunk driving; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Internet; Licenses; Licensing; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; New South Wales; Passengers; Perceptions; Prospective Studies; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Questionnaires; Research and Practice; Risk Assessment; Risk-Taking; Safety - statistics & numerical data; Social Perception; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers; Traffic accidents & safety; Vehicles; Young Adult; New South Wales; Human; Social perception; Vehicle driving; Risk factor; Risk; Behavior; Public health
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.150367

We explored the risky driving behaviors and risk perceptions of a cohort of young novice drivers and sought to determine their associations with crash risk. Provisional drivers aged 17 to 24 (n = 20 822) completed a detailed questionnaire that included measures of risk perception and behaviors; 2 years following recruitment, survey data were linked to licensing and police-reported crash data. Poisson regression models that adjusted for multiple confounders were created to explore crash risk. High scores on questionnaire items for risky driving were associated with a 50% increased crash risk (adjusted relative risk = 1.51; 95% confidence interval = 1.25, 1.81). High scores for risk perception (poorer perceptions of safety) were also associated with increased crash risk in univariate and multivariate models; however, significance was not sustained after adjustment for risky driving. The overrepresentation of youths in crashes involving casualties is a significant public health issue. Risky driving behavior is strongly linked to crash risk among young drivers and overrides the importance of risk perceptions. Systemwide intervention, including licensing reform, is warranted.