'Safe' and 'unsafe' - a comparative study of younger male drivers

M McDonald, R Ingham and G W P RollsTransportation Research Group, in conjunction with the Department of Psychology, University of Southampton

Cost: 19,000
Published: March 1992

The study (FDN7 - link) published in April 1991 identified within-group differences amongst younger male drivers. The 1992 report sought by qualitative research to explore some of the more general lifestyle factors by giving 56 young drivers between 17-25 years of age the opportunity to provide their own accounts and explanations of their driving behaviour based on their own realities and experiences.

Its findings challenge traditional thinking about road safety education by suggesting that pre-licence training should include social influences on driving, emphasising also that driving skills alone will not prevent accidents. Road safety campaigns have little effect on some young men who believe they are safe drivers even when they are not.

Other findings and recommendations included:

• too many young male drivers sought to earn respect from their peers by undertaking risky driving;
• radio/cassette players should be designed to be as automatic as possible and sold with the information highlighting the possible influence of music on driving;
• young men generally found drink driving unacceptable, but sometimes travel arrangements were altered, necessitating driving when over the limit;
• unsafe drivers considered an accident as unlucky rather than something that should have been avoided;
• some found pressure of work led them to take risks;
• 90 per cent reported that passengers had an influence on driving, with parents, adults and girlfriends encouraging safer or slower driving;
• the media showed cars in an unrealistic light;
• 'safe' drivers tended to enjoy the benefits that driving brings, more than the driving itself;
• 'safe' drivers believed good drivers to be safe and courteous, getting to a destination without endangering themselves or other road users, whereas 'unsafe' drivers believed good drivers to be those who could handle a car and had quick reactions.

The results of this study were fundamental in the development of a policy relating to newly qualified drivers, parts of which were subsequently incorporated in the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995.

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