Several epidemiological studies have shown that the crash risk of drivers is affected, positively or negatively, by the presence of passengers. Little is currently known, however, about the behavioural interactions between drivers and passengers that moderate these effects. The present study proposed to investigate the potentially constructive roles that passengers can play to positively influence the behaviour of drivers, to enhance driver and passenger safety in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This involved a literature review, an analysis of ACT crash data pertaining to passengers, administration via telephone of a survey to 872 ACT residents exploring the roles that passengers currently play in the driving situation, and the conduct of three focus groups involving 28 ACT residents. The findings shed light on the role types that passengers currently play in influencing, positively and negatively, their safety and that of their driver - from the perspective of both passengers and drivers. The outcomes of this study formed the basis for a set of recommended countermeasures designed to enhance the safety of both passengers and drivers in the ACT. (A)
Abstract