Risk perception and age-specific accidents of young drivers

Accident risk involved in 100 slide-presented traffic situations was rated by 208 male and 100 female drivers in the age groups 18-21, 35-45, and 65-75 years. The main finding is that young male drivers rated the traffic situations as less risky than did older male drivers. This was especially the case for situations involving the following aspects: darkness, inclining/declining or curved roadways, and rural environment. No comparable age effect was present for females. These findings are in agreement with findings from accident studies, showing overinvolvement of young males in single-vehicle accidents that are characterized by the above mentioned aspects. The results show that educational measures for young drivers should emphasize different aspects for young men and young women and especially that young men's risk perception (as well as their risk tolerance) in those situations mentioned above must be made part of further efforts.