Pre-licence driving experience in newly licensed Maori drivers: New Zealand Drivers Study

Despite recent reductions in motor vehicle injury rates in New Zealand, the rates for young drivers and especially young Maori drivers remain disproportionately high. This is commonly associated with driver inexperience and led to the development of road safety initiatives such as graduated driver licensing to increase beginner driver experience in low risk situations. There is anecdotal evidence that many newly licensed drivers in New Zealand have had some pre-licence driving experience, but no scientific research has been done to explore this issue. This paper describes a study of pre-licence driving experience in a cohort of newly licensed Maori drivers and its relationship with rural or urban locality. Results will be presented that describe and compare the pre-licence driving experience in the cohort of 824 Maori drivers. This will identify any fundamental differences or similarities by locality within this high risk driving population at the time of licensure. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E217612.

[1]  Dorothy Begg,et al.  New Zealand drivers study: developing a methodology for conducting a follow-up study of newly licensed drivers. , 2003, Journal of safety research.

[2]  A F Williams,et al.  Young driver risk factors: successful and unsuccessful approaches for dealing with them and an agenda for the future , 2006, Injury Prevention.

[3]  P Palamara,et al.  Behavioural factors as predictors of motor vehicle crashes: differentials between young urban and rural drivers , 2001, Australian and New Zealand journal of public health.

[4]  Mark Woodward,et al.  Unlicensed Drivers and Car Crash Injury , 2005, Traffic injury prevention.

[5]  Dorothy Begg,et al.  Graduated driver licensing: the New Zealand experience. , 2003, Journal of safety research.

[6]  Dennis M Gorman,et al.  Underage driving as an indicator of risky behavior in children and adolescents. , 2006, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[7]  T M Senserrick,et al.  Reducing young driver road trauma: guidance and optimism for the future , 2006, Injury Prevention.

[8]  J D Langley,et al.  An evaluation of the New Zealand graduated driver licensing system. , 1996, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[9]  J Langley,et al.  Injury to Maori. II: Serious injury. , 2000, The New Zealand medical journal.

[10]  A James McKnight,et al.  Young novice drivers: careless or clueless? , 2003, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[11]  David D Clarke,et al.  Voluntary risk taking and skill deficits in young driver accidents in the UK. , 2005, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[12]  J Langley,et al.  Impact of graduated driver licensing restrictions on crashes involving young drivers in New Zealand , 2001, Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention.

[13]  A I Reeder,et al.  The New Zealand graduated driver licensing system: teenagers' attitudes towards and experiences with this car driver licensing system. , 1995, Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention.

[14]  Lawrence T Lam,et al.  A neglected risky behavior among children and adolescents: underage driving and injury in New South Wales, Australia. , 2003, Journal of safety research.