Young, beginning drivers, particularly 16 year-olds, have a very high risk of crash involvement. This is due primarily to inexperience with the driving task combined with risky driving practices associated with immaturity. Analysis of U.S. data indicates that the crashes of 16 year-olds are more often single-vehicle events, involve speeding and higher passenger occupancy rates (often other teenagers), and are more likely to result from driver error. The present study looked in-depth at fatal night-time crashes of 16 year-olds, using police and newspaper reports from California for 1989-94. Narrative descriptions are provided that illustrate the contributing events leading up to the crash. These narratives dramatically illustrate how risk taking, sometimes encouraged by other teenage passengers, can heighten the potential for a crash. They also illustrate that many crashes result from aberrant actions not likely amenable to change through educational efforts. Graduated licensing, a system that allows for the initial accumulation of driving experience under less hazardous conditions, would prohibit recreational, night-time driving that is particularly dangerous for young, beginning drivers. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting