This study was undertaken at the University of Southampton by the Department of Psychology and the Transportation Research Group, and was a development from an earlier study (see IRRD 840999). The earlier study showed that about 35% of young male drivers can be categorised as "unsafe". This study sought to investigate in more detail a number of factors which might explain the differences evident in driver behaviour and performance within the younger male groups (17-25 year olds). This study involved in-depth interviews with 56 young drivers (29 classified as "unsafe" in the earlier study, 27 as "safe"). Interviews lasted between one and two hours and included descriptions and explanations of driving behaviour, assessment of risk, lifestyle, leisure activities, parental and peer group influences and possible social influences on driving. The use of in-depth qualitative methods in driver research is shown to be of value in this work. Main findings on: lifestyle; perceived ability and risk; car culture; social influences are given, and the implications for safety campaigns and driver training.
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