From 1996-2000, 5853 passengers were injured in a passenger vehicle crash. Male and female passengers were equally as likely to have been injured. Passengers tended to be with a driver of a similar age, and passengers aged 17-20 years were the largest age group injured. A passenger was 13 times more likely to be injured with a driver licensed for 12 months or less than with a driver licensed for more than 12 months. Male drivers were twice as likely as female drivers to be involved in a crash with a fatal passenger injury. Compared to male drivers with more than 12 months driving experience, those with 12 months driving experience or less were almost nine times as likely to be involved in a fatal passenger injury. Drivers with 12 months driving experience or less were eight times more likely than drivers with a longer licensing period to be involved in a fatal passenger injury crash; six times more likely to be involved in a passenger hospitalisation and eight times more likely to be involved in 'medical attention required' passenger injuries than drivers licensed for more than 12 months. (Author/publisher)
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