•Young novice male drivers’ driving behavior during first year is investigated.•Driving behavior was evaluated using data collected by in-vehicle data recorders.•Impact of various feedback forms and ...guidance to parents’ monitoring were examined.•Feedback exposed to parents and parental training is most effective in reducing young drivers’ event rates.•The intervention also improved the parents’ driving behavior.
This study focuses on investigating the driving behavior of young novice male drivers during the first year of driving (three months of accompanied driving and the following nine months of solo driving). The study's objective is to examine the potential of various feedback forms on driving to affect young drivers’ behavior and to mitigate the transition from accompanied to solo driving. The study examines also the utility of providing parents with guidance on how to exercise vigilant care regarding their teens’ driving. Driving behavior was evaluated using data collected by In-Vehicle Data Recorders (IVDR), which document events of extreme g-forces measured in the vehicles.
IVDR systems were installed in 242 cars of the families of young male drivers, however, only 217 families of young drivers aged 17–22 (M=17.5; SD=0.8) completed the one year period. The families were randomly allocated into 4 groups: (1) Family feedback: In which all the members of the family were exposed to feedback on their own driving and on that of the other family members;
(2) Parental training: in which in addition to the family feedback, parents received personal guidance on ways to enhance vigilant care regarding their sons’ driving; (3) Individual feedback: In which family members received feedback only on their own driving behavior (and were not exposed to the data on other family members); (4) Control: Group that received no feedback at all.
The feedback was provided to the different groups starting from the solo period, thus, the feedback was not provided during the supervised period.
The data collected by the IVDRs was first analyzed using analysis of variance in order to compare the groups with respect to their monthly event rates. Events’ rates are defined as the number of events in a trip divided by its duration. This was followed by the development and estimation of random effect negative binomial models that explain the monthly event rates of young drivers and their parents. The study showed that: (1) the Parental training group recorded significantly lower events rates (−29%) compared to the Control group during the solo period; (2) although directed mainly at the novice drivers, the intervention positively affected also the behavior of parents, with both fathers and mothers in the Parental training group improving their driving (by −23% for both fathers and mothers) and mothers improving it also in the Family feedback group (by −30%). Thus, the intervention has broader impact effect beside the targeted population.
It can be concluded that providing feedback on driving behavior and parental training in vigilant care significantly improves the driving behavior of young novice male drivers.
Future research directions could include applying the intervention to a broader population, with larger diversity with respect to their driving records, culture, and behaviors. The challenge is to reach wide dissemination of IVDR for young drivers accompanied by parents’ involvement, and to find the suitable incentives for its sustainability.
Novice young drivers suffer from increased crash risk that translates into over-representation in road injuries. In order to effectively confront this problem, a better understanding of the driving ...behavior of novice young drivers and of its determinants is needed. This study analyzes the behavior of novice young drivers within a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. Data on driving behavior of 62 novice drivers and their parents, who voluntarily participated in this experiment, were collected using in-vehicle data recorders that calculate compound risk indices as measures of the risk taking behavior of drivers. Data were used to estimate a negative binomial model to identify major determinants that affect the driving behavior of young drivers during the first year after licensure. Estimation results suggest that the risk taking behavior of young drivers is influenced by gender, sensation seeking tendency, driving behavior of their parents, amount of supervised driving and level of parental monitoring.
•The effect of an intervention was evaluated 15months following licensure.•IVDRs and self-reports measured parents’ influence and young drivers’ attitudes.•Feedback and training to parents affected ...positively young drivers’ driving.•Parents’ risky driving related positively to young drivers’ reckless driving.•Attitudes towards accompanied driving related to young drivers’ reckless driving.
An indispensable issue in contemporary research on risk-taking by young drivers is parents’ influence on their offspring’s driving behavior. The current study measures this influence by using a risk index of parents’ driving behavior measured via in-vehicle data recorders together with young drivers’ self-reported answers to a set of questionnaires. Both parents and young drivers participated in one of three intervention program groups to enhance safe driving within a longitudinal study, and the outcome of this intervention was measured 15months following licensure. The aim of the current study was thus to assess the contribution of parents’ actual driving behavior, participation in the intervention, and teen drivers’ attitudes towards accompanied driving (measured six months after licensure), to the reported risky driving of the young drivers fifteen months after receiving their driving license. The data consist of a sample of 78 parent-young driver dyads who were originally randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups (receiving different forms of feedback) or a control group (with no feedback). Findings indicate that the feedback and training to parents intervention group, as well as parents’ risky driving events rate, were positively associated with the reported proneness to reckless driving and the reckless driving habits of the young drivers. In addition, lower perception of accompanied driving as enabling a sense of relatedness with parents, and higher negative perceptions of this period, were related to higher reported risky driving among young drivers fifteen months after licensure. The results highlight the importance of parents’ behavior and relationships with their offspring as key concepts in moderating risky driving among young drivers. Practical implications for road safety are discussed.
This paper describes the overall framework and components of an in-vehicle data recorder (IVDR) called DriveDiagnostics and presents results from a study to validate its performance. This IVDR has ...been designed to monitor and analyze driver behavior not only in crash or precrash events but also in normal driving situations. It records the movement of the vehicle and uses this information to indicate overall trip safety. A validation study involved 33 drivers whose vehicles were instrumented with the IVDR. The experiment first included a blind profiling stage in which drivers did not receive any feedback from the system; that stage was followed by a feedback stage in which drivers had access to personal web pages with the information recorded by the system. Data collected in the blind profiling stage was used to investigate the connection between driver safety indices as captured by the system and historic crash data. The results show significant correlations between the two data sets, suggesting that the driving risk indices can be used as indicators of the risk of involvement in car crashes. This connection enabled investigation of the potential impact of the system on driving behavior and on safety. The results show that the initial exposure of drivers to the system has a significant positive impact on their behavior and on safety. Access to the feedback provided by the system has further impact on driver performance. However, if follow-up efforts are not made, neither of these positive impacts is sustained over time.
•Pre-license driving is motivated by subjective norms.•Pre-license driving intentions are motivated by parental authority and messages.•Pre-license driving pertains to the behavioral level.•Intended ...pre-license driving pertains to the cognitive level.•It is important to safeguard youth against the influence of peer pressure.
The present study examines reported pre-license driving among youth from the population of Arab citizens of Israel. The purpose of the present study is to examine which sociodemographic variables, attitudes and perceptions about safe driving and individual and societal behavioral norms are associated with pre-license driving. The research distinguished between the factors that actually contribute to pre-license driving (reported behavior, peer norms, gender and parents' messages) and the factors that explain the intention (parental authority, social norms, parents' messages and fear of road crashes). Even though there was a significant partial overlap (84%) between those who intend to drive without a license and those who reported driving without a license, the main factors that distinguish pre-license driving groups are different from the factors that distinguish the intention to drive before receiving a license.
What is unique about the findings is the identification of the context in which social norms are influential and that in which parental authority is influential. The study indicated that in the case of pre-license driving, the main motivating factor is subjective norms, whereas in the case of expecting to drive without a license, the main motivating factor is the interaction between parental authority and the messages that parents convey.
While actual behavior pertains to the behavioral level, we argue that intended behavior pertains to the cognitive level. At this level, rational considerations arise, such as fear of parental punishment and fear of accidents. These considerations compete with the influence of friends and their norms, and may outweigh them.
The findings suggest that it is important to safeguard youth against the influence of peer pressure as early as the stage of behavioral intentions. Follow-up studies can simulate situations of pre-license driving due to social pressure and identify the factors that might affect young people’s decision-making. Moreover, providing parents with training before the accompaniment period is highly recommended.
Abstract Vigilant care aims at reducing adolescent risk behaviors while matching parental involvement to the level of alarm signs. This study examined the effect of parent training in vigilant care ...and technological feedback on driving risk of novice male drivers. A sample of 217 Israeli families was divided into four conditions: a) no-feedback, b) individual feedback, c) family feedback, and d) family feedback plus parent training in vigilant care. Feedback and risk assessment were conducted through in-vehicle data recorders. A significant difference was found in favor of the vigilant care group compared to the no feedback group. When only the drivers in the high risk percentiles were considered, the vigilant care group was found superior to the family feedback group. The findings suggest that parental training in vigilant care may help reduce driving risk.
•This study evaluates parents’ contribution to young male drivers’ driving behavior.•In-vehicle data recorders combined with self-report questionnaires are used.•Male young drivers’ risky behavior is ...positively associated with that of their parents.•Intervention leads to a lower rate of risky driving among young male drivers.•Lower perceived parental monitoring and commitment to safety are related to higher risky driving.
One of the prominent issues in contemporary research on young drivers deals with the mechanisms underlying parents’ influences on their offspring's driving behavior. The present study combines two sets of data: the first gathered from in-vehicle data recorders tracking the driving of parents and their teenage sons, and the second derived from self-report questionnaires completed by the young drivers. The aim was to evaluate the contribution of parents’ driving behavior, participation in a parent-targeted intervention, and the teen drivers’ perception of the family climate for road safety, to the driving behavior of young drivers during solo driving. The data was collected over the course of 12 months, beginning with the licensure of the teen driver, and examined a sample of 166 families who were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups (receiving different forms of feedback) or a control group (with no feedback). Findings indicate that young male drivers’ risky driving events rate was positively associated with that of their parents. In addition, any type of intervention led to a lower rate of risky driving events among young drivers compared to the control group. Finally, a higher perception of parents as not committed to safety and lower perceived parental monitoring were related to a higher risky driving events rate among young drivers. The results highlight the need to consider a complex set of antecedents in parents’ attitudes and behavior, as well as the family's safety atmosphere, in order to better understand young drivers’ risky driving. The practical implications refer to the effective use of the family as a lever in the attempt to promote safety awareness among young drivers.
▶ Research highlights ▶ When not considering cost most parents express willingness to install the technology. ▶ Parents estimated relatively high willingness among parents to install the technology. ...▶ Monetary cost rated as a barrier by about half of the parents. ▶ Most parents thought parents should feel obligated to install the technology. ▶ Parents thought the technology would force parents not to be oblivious. ▶ Objecting parents felt the technology erodes trust and confidence in young drivers. ▶ Parents who supported the technology thought it would enhance communication.
In-vehicle technologies that document driving practices have the potential to enhance the driving safety of young drivers, but their installation depends largely on their parents’ willingness and raises ethical dilemmas. This study investigated, using closed and open-ended questions, the views of 906 parents of young drivers in Israel regarding their willingness to install such a technology, and their conceptions of social norms and ethical issues associated with the technology and of factors that would encourage or discourage parents to adopt it. Most believed parents should feel morally obligated to install it. When cost was not a consideration, most said they would, and believed other parents would be willing to install the technology. Fewer (about half) expressed willingness to install it after being told about its estimated cost. Monetary cost was rated as a barrier to install it by about half. Environmental considerations were viewed as an incentive. Parents who supported the installation believed it would serve as a trigger for parent–young driver communication but those who did not thought it would erode trust in the parent–young driver relationship. Most said parents should have access to the monitoring data. Policy implications regarding issues of privacy and resources for parents are discussed.
•Young male drivers’ personality and tendencies are important predictors of risky behavior.•Intentions to drive recklessly are translated into actual behavior.•The parental role is extremely relevant ...and counteracts risky tendencies.•Trait anger and driving anger represent different aspects of anger.•Both contribute to risky driving, implying differentiated interventions.
The study investigated the relation between the risky driving behavior of young male drivers and their personality traits, familial attitudes and conduct in respect to road safety, intentions to drive recklessly, and driving anger. In-vehicle data recorders were used to measure the actual driving of 163 young male drivers, who also completed self-report instruments tapping traits and perceptions. Personality traits were assessed near in time to receipt of the driving license, and actual risky driving and driving-related variables were measured 9–12months after licensure to examine relatively stable driving behavior and attitudes. Findings indicate that (a) young male drivers’ personality traits and tendencies play a major role in predicting risky behavior; (b) intentions to drive recklessly are translated into actual behavior; and (c) the parental role is extremely relevant and counteracts risky tendencies. Moreover, the results suggest that although trait anger and driving anger both contribute to risky driving, they represent different aspects of anger. Thus, for safety interventions to be effective, they must not only teach drivers how to cope with anger-provoking driving situations, but also address underlying personality traits and environmental factors.
