A theoretical model of the determinants of young driver crash risk is outlined and some methodological issues concerning types of available data, measures of crash risk and measures of exposure to risk are discussed. Within this framework, published literature on young driver crashes in Australia and other countries is reviewed. The general nature and magnitude of the problem is described in terms of data on fatal and serious injury crashes derived from mass databases; information from more detailed studies of sub-sets of crashes is used to provide a more comprehensive description of the patterns of occurrence and characteristics of young driver crashes. Information is discussed in relation to driver age, experience and gender, time of crash occurrence, passenger characteristics, crash type, pre-crash vehicle manoeuvres, driver errors, and alcohol and seatbelt offences. (A).
Abstract