Transcript Adolescent Risk Taking

Deadly issues for young
drivers
Frank McKenna
General factors
• Age related
• Experience related
Age related problems
• Crime
• Drug abuse
• Accidents
What is adolescence?
that period between puberty and taking on
adult responsibilities.
Length of adolescence
• Traditional societies
• Contemporary societies
2-4 years
14 years
Sensation seeking related to
• Crime
• Drug use
• Risky driving
Average response score
(1=not like me at all, 4=very
like me)
Sensation seeking
3
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.2
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
11
12
13
14
15
16
Age group
1720
2130
3150
>50
Opportunity for risk taking
increases as adult supervision
decreases
Arrest rate (after Moffit 1993)
arrest per 100,000 people
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
12
15
17
20
25
age
30
40
Experience
post licence crash involvement
crash per million km
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
months after test
15
17
Experience paradox
• Need experience to reduce risk
• Acquiring experience exposes new
drivers to high risk
solution
• Increase experience under supervised
conditions
Key behavioural risk factors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Speed
Close following
Alcohol and drugs
Driving violations
Hazard perception
Fatigue
What works?
• Graduated licensing
• Supervised experience