This paper presents the results of a study aiming to understand the driving patterns and habits of young adults, so as to develop an appropriate action programme to reduce alcohol/drug-related traffic accidents among young people in Tennessee State, USA. Records of Tennessee drivers, aged 17 to 21, were analysed to determine the pattern of their driving movement violations from October 1984 to December 1988. Data were classified into those about: (1) minor traffic offences; (2) drink driving and related offences; (3) accidents involving property damage; (4) accidents involving bodily injuries; (5) fatal accidents. The paper's tables present: (1) types of traffic violations by age; (2) types of traffic violations by race and sex; (3) types of traffic violations by age, sex and race; (4) numbers of DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol) offences by other traffic violations; (5) the total number of young convicted DUI offenders' DUI offences by their total number of traffic violations. Convicted DUI first offenders were on average involved three times in traffic violations, but young DUI multiple offenders were on average involved 4.3 times. These results agree with earlier findings, but further research is needed on the causes of their drink-driving.
Abstract