Peer influence predicts speeding prevalence among teenage drivers

Abstract

Objective This research examined the psychosocial and personality predictors of observed speeding among young drivers. Method. Survey and driving data were collected from 42 newly-licensed teenage drivers during the first 18 months of licensure. Speeding (i.e., driving 10 mph over the speed limit; about 16 km/h) was assessed by comparing speed data collected with recording systems installed in participants’ vehicles with posted speed limits. Questionnaire data collected at baseline were used to predict speeding rates using random effects regression analyses. For mediation analysis, data collected at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 months after licensure were used. Results. Speeding was correlated with elevated g-force event rates, including hard braking and turning (r = 0.335, p < 0.05), but not with crashes and near crashes (r = 0.227; ns). Speeding prevalence increased over time. In univariate analyses speeding was predicted by day vs. night trips, higher sensation seeking, substance use, tolerance of deviance, susceptibility to peer pressure, and number of risky friends. In multivariate analyses the number of risky friends was the only significant predictor of speeding. Perceived risk was a significant mediator of the association between speeding and risky friends. Conclusion. The findings support the contention that social norms may influence teenage speeding behavior and this relationship may operate through perceived risk.

The role of fines and rewards in the self-regulation of young drivers

“…Numerous studies have argued that young males are more likely to speed compared to other groups, citing reasons as peer pressure, lack of driving experience, a greater tendency for thrill-seeking, or inappropriate parental modelling [2,4,18,27,29]. Excluding inexperience, all these rationals share the same assumption that young drivers expect some benefits from engaging in risky driving behaviors.…”

“…Numerous studies conducted in different countries found that young drivers suffer from a disproportionate risk of crashing [15,32]. In Israel, a recent report by the Israeli National Road Safety Authority (RSA) found that during 2015, 71% of young drivers (aged 24 and below) who were involved in a fatal accident committed a traffic violation, compared to 58% of drivers aged [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] and 54% of those aged 45-64 years old [12]. A common violation exacerbating both the risk of crashing and the potential of its severity is speeding [26].…”

Evaluating changes in driver behaviour: A risk profiling approach

“…The difference in results shares similarities with research on the influence of parents and peers on young drivers' behaviour. The research suggests that children's driving style is strongly correlated with that of their parents (Bianchi and Summala, 2004;TaubmanBen-Ari et al, 2005;Prato et al, 2009) but the evidence also shows a relationship with the behaviour (and perceptions) of peers (Fleiter et al, 2006;Simons-Morton et al, 2012). Post-trip feedback with parental involvement may be related to the way in which the opinions and behaviour of passengers and other road users is prioritised over family members that are not present (Haglund and Åberg, 2000).…”

Teen Driving Risk and Prevention: Naturalistic Driving Research Contributions and Challenges

“…Relative to their parents, novice teens drove more frequently in higher risk conditions such as at night. While teens generally drove alone, seldom with a parent or other adult, and infrequently with more than one teenage passenger, those with primary vehicle access drove more than other teens, particularly at night, with multiple teen passengers present, and more of the time 10 MPH above the speed limit [15,48]. Crash rates were highest when teens drove alone, and lowest when they drove with a parent, somewhat lower with a teen passenger than when driving alone, higher during the day than at night [18,47] and higher when engaging in certain secondary tasks [9].…”