Successful projects on right-turning accidents and overtaking accidents, based on police accident case-files, have already been carried out by this research group and the authors are now approximately half way through a three-year project on the accident mechanisms of novice drivers. A total sample of at least 2200 accident cases are to be analysed, including 1200 in detail, all involving drivers aged 17-25. There are four specific areas of concern: right-turns; rear-end shunts; loss of control on bends; and accidents in darkness. Preliminary analyses are presented of over 2000 cases that have been gathered so far, together with prototype accidents of different types. Issues that have emerged from the study include age and gender differences in contributory factors, techniques for inducing exposure measures by examining 'passive' driver age data, and an examination of driver attitudes as revealed in police interviews.
Abstract