NEW ZEALAND DRIVERS STUDY: RESULTS FROM A PILOT STUDY TO DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR A COHORT STUDY OF NEWLY LICENSED DRIVERS IN NEW ZEALAND

The proposed New Zealand Drivers Study is a prospective cohort study that will examine the impact of early driving behaviour and driving related experiences of newly licensed drivers on subsequent negative traffic-related outcomes, such as crashes and convictions. Newly licensed drivers will be recruited face-to-face after completing their learner licence test and a baseline questionnaire administered. This will cover demographic details, pre-licensed driving experience, opinions and attitudes to licensing and driving, alcohol and drug use, and sensation seeking. Participants will be traced by the Driver Licence Registry (DLR) using the national driver licence register. Two follow-up interviews (mainly telephone) will take place. The first is scheduled after the driver passes the restricted licence test, the second after the full licence test. Follow-up questionnaires cover quantity and quality of driving experience, professional instruction, supervision, compliance with restrictions, enforcement, crashes, driving behaviour, and alcohol and drug use. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E210298.