The Effects of Teen Passengers on Teen Driver Speeds and Headways

This observational study investigated teen driving as a function of passenger presence and passenger gender. Vehicles were observed leaving high school parking lots at dismissal time, and the apparent age (teen or adult) and gender of drivers and passengers were recorded. At sites near the school, vehicle speeds and headways were recorded using a LIDAR and video-based system. Vehicles in the traffic stream were matched, where possible, to vehicles identified leaving the school. Thus, vehicles driven by teens could be distinguished from “general traffic.” Passenger presence and gender had strong effects on speed and headway and were more pronounced than driver gender effects. While teens drove slightly faster than general traffic, the primary influence on speed was the presence of a male passenger. Similarly, shorter headways were associated with male, rather than female, passengers. Passenger influences on teen driving depend on passenger gender, driver gender, and the particular driving measure.