The relationship between vehicle performance and novice driver crash involvement

The aims of this project were (i) to provide contemporary evidence of the relationship between vehicle performance factors and the risk of serious injury crash involvement among young novice drivers in Western Australia, and (ii) to review the current Australian vehicle restriction programs. Data for analysis were n=11,321 vehicles driven by those aged 17+ years involved in serious injury crashes during the period 2001-2008. High performance vehicles driven by those aged 17-19 years accounted for less than 1per cent of the serious injury crashes investigated, while 7.6 per cent of serious injury crashes involving drivers aged 17-19 years involved a high performance vehicle. The findings of a number analyses provided some evidence, albeit definitive, to suggest that drivers aged 17-19 years have a higher relative rate of crash involvement when driving a high performance vehicle and that six and eight-cylinder vehicles and high performance four-cylinder vehicles have a higher representation in single vehicle crashes compared with two-vehicle crashes. Comparable vehicle restriction schemes for novice drivers currently operate in four Australian jurisdictions (Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia). A review of the schemes noted an absence of published empirical evidence to support their introduction and no evaluations to date to determine their impact on the novice driver problem. All jurisdictions expressed the view that the schemes were somewhat difficult to administer and enforce. On the basis of the above findings and others, a number of recommendations were provided to the Road Safety Council, including the rejection of a vehicle restriction scheme for Western Australian novice drivers.