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Young and unlicensed: risky driving before entering the licensing system
B Scott-Parker1, B Watson, M J King
1Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia. b.scott-parker@qut.edu.au
Traffic Injury Prevention
|May 22, 2012
Summary
Young drivers who engage in prelicense driving exhibit riskier behavior both before and after obtaining their provisional license. This risky driving pattern persists, highlighting the need to discourage prelicense driving and enhance parental supervision.
Area of Science:
- Road safety research
- Adolescent driver behavior
- Traffic psychology
Background:
- On-road driving before obtaining a valid license (prelicense driving) poses risks to all road users.
- Graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs aim to reduce risks for novice drivers.
- Understanding prelicense driving within GDL is crucial for safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate prelicense driving among young drivers in Queensland, Australia.
- To examine the driving behaviors of young drivers who engaged in prelicense driving.
- To assess the impact of prelicense driving on subsequent risky driving within a GDL framework.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 1032 recently licensed drivers aged 17-19 years.
- Participants reported on their driving experiences during the learner's permit phase.
- A follow-up survey assessed driving experiences on the provisional license six months later.
Main Results:
- Twelve percent of participants reported engaging in prelicense driving.
- Drivers who engaged in prelicense driving reported significantly riskier driving behaviors.
- This increased riskier driving was observed during both learner and provisional license stages.
Conclusions:
- Prelicense driving significantly increases risks for young drivers and other road users.
- The risky driving patterns established before licensing continue after obtaining a provisional license.
- Discouraging prelicense driving and increasing parental monitoring of car use are recommended safety measures.
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