This study examined the association between traffic offences and road crashes in Western Australia over the three year period between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 1998. Records of all traffic infringements and convictions, drivers' licence details and crash records were extracted and matched for individual drivers. The driving records of 533,489 males and 491,960 females with 'ordinary' WA drivers' licenses issued prior to 1 January 1995 were used in the analyses. Male drivers, particularly those under the age of 25 years, were at higher risk of traffic violations and crashes. In addition, those with traffic violations were more likely to crash than those without. However, among drivers with at least one drink driving offence, female drivers were more likely to be involved in a casualty crash than male drivers, while younger drivers were more likely to crash sooner. Among drivers with speeding offences, there was no difference between male and female drivers in the time from the first offence to a casualty crash; however the age at which the speeding offence was committed was a significant predictor of future crash involvement. (Author/publisher)
Abstract