Authors
Goodwin, A.H., Foss, R. D., & Natalie P. O’Brien, N. P.
Publisher
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Website Section
Driver Types
Method
Naturalistic study
Abstract
This report contains the results of a study designed to provide insight into how transporting peers contributes to the crash risk of young drivers. During a 6-month study period, 4466 driving clips were collected from event-based data recorders and were analyzed by the research team. The sample included 52 drivers: 38 newly licensed teens and 14 high-school-age siblings. The results showed teenage drivers were two times more likely to engage in one or more potentially risky behaviors when driving with one teenage passenger compared to when driving alone. When driving with multiple teenage passengers, the likelihood increased even further. These findings suggested the mere presence of teenage passengers may influence risky driving behaviors. However, the data sample collection methods warranted caution in generalizing the findings to all teenage drivers.
Reference
Goodwin, A.H., Foss, R. D., & Natalie P. O’Brien, N. P. (2012) The Effect of Passengers on Teen Driver Behavior. DOT HS 811 540. Washington, D.C.: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Related Topics
Passenger, effects
