What are young female drivers made of ? : differences in attitudes, exposure, offences and accidents between young female and male drivers. Thesis University of Turku.

The study described young female drivers by comparing their driving behaviour and attitudes to those of young male drivers. Driving behaviour was described in terms of quantity and quality of driving, number and type of accidents, and number of violations. The study also found out whether the traffic behaviour and attitudes of female drivers have begun to resemble those of male drivers during the last 20 years. Focus was put on drivers between 18 to 25 years of age. Results conceming middle­ aged drivers (35 to 55 years old) were referred to via comparison. The study collected large data on drivers' attitudes and behaviour and accidents with a questionnaire. Data on traffic offences was obtained from an official register. Accident databases covering three levels of severity were also used: self-reported (mostly minor) accidents, accidents where insurance had been claimed, and fatal accidents investigated by the Road Accident Investigation Teams in Finland. The results showed that females drove less than males. They drove proportionally more on errands and less just for fun. Females also expressed more positive attitudes towards traffic regulations and safety than male drivers did, and they committed less traffic offences and were more seldom involved in accidents (amount of exposure controlled). Typical accidents of female drivers were reversing accidents and minor single-vehicle accidents. When fatal accidents were studied, it was found that losing control of the car was equally typical for both females and males. However, when male drivers lost control of the car; it typically resulted in a single-vehicle accident. For females, the result was most often a collision with another car. Female drivers lost control of their car typically in slippery road conditions while they were sober and driving with moderate speed. The most typical male drivers' loss-of control accident took place in good road conditions, and the driver was drunk and speeding. The results were discussed in the framework of Keskinen's (1996) hierarchical model of driving behaviour. The study concluded that female drivers are more safety oriented than male drivers are. However, female drivers have more problems in vehicle handling and mastering traffic situations. Males, on the other hand, have more problems with personal self-control in traffic, which is manifested e.g. by speeding or drink driving. The study concluded further that the traffic attitudes and accident pattems of female drivers have not changed during the last 20 years in Finland to resemble the ones of males. The proportion of speeding and drink· driving accidents has not increased among females during the studied time period. (Author/publisher)