A study of fatal traffic crashes in Florida examined contributing factorsamong crashes in which younger (under age 25) drivers were found to be atfault. A case-based analysis was used to improve the accuracy and completeness of the data from the original crash reports. Results were presentedusing over-representation factors (ORB), a simplified but statistically significant approach to frequency distributions. Case studies found that non-human factors were primary contributing causes in only six percent of the crashes in which younger drivers were at fault, but secondary and tertiary contributing factors in up to 25 percent of those crashes. The most common non-human factor was tire blowouts/tread separation. Younger driverswere at fault in 62 percent of the crashes in which they were involved, and they were highly overrepresented in fault in forward impacts with control loss and in left roadside departure crashes. These two crash types generally involved high speeds and abrupt steering input. Common human factors included alcohol use, inattention, and high speed. Approximately one infour younger at-fault drivers was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fatal crash. No significant differences were noted between younger drivers (above or below the legal drinking age) and older drivers. Younger at-fault drivers were more likely to have had passengers in the vehicle at the time of the crash than older drivers. Most (91 percent) of theyoung at-fault drivers were in compliance with graduated driver licensingstatutes at the time of the fatal crash.
Samenvatting