Driving experience, crashes and traffic citations of teenage beginning drivers

Accid Anal Prev. 2003 May;35(3):311-20. doi: 10.1016/s0001-4575(02)00006-4.

Abstract

Teenagers were surveyed by telephone every 6 months from their freshman to senior high school years (N=911). Self-reported crash involvements and citations were examined for each teenager's first year of licensure and first 3500 miles driven. Based on survival analysis, the risk of a first crash during the first month of licensure (0.053) was substantially higher than during any of the next 11 months (mean risk per month: 0.025). The likelihood of a first citation during the first month of licensure (0.023) also was higher than during any of the subsequent 11 months (mean risk per month: 0.012). Similarly, when viewed as a function of cumulative miles driven, the risk of a first crash or citation was highest during the first 500 miles driven after licensure. Fewer parental restrictions (e.g. no nighttime curfew) and a lower grade point average (GPA) were associated with a higher crash risk. Male gender, a lower GPA and living in a rural area were associated with a higher citation rate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic / statistics & numerical data*
  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Age Factors
  • Automobile Driver Examination / statistics & numerical data
  • Automobile Driving / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Licensure / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Time Factors