PERCEPTIONS, ATTITUDES, MOTIVATIONS, AND BEHAVIORS OF DRIVERS 18 TO 22 YEARS OLD

Young people are open to accidents because of their age, their attitude, their lack of experience, and their tendency for risk-taking. Feelings also have been found to be important predisposing factors in the actions that people take. Sometimes feelings that we are not fully aware of create problems or constitute obstacles to solutions. In exploring such predisposing factors, this study sought an answer to the following general question: What are the perceptions, attitudes, feelings, and self-reported behaviors of young people that may lead to traffic safety problems or interfere with solutions? To answer this question, the investigators conducted focus group discussions, and administered a semantic differential instrument and a data sheet on driving to 316 young drivers selected from the target population. The results of the study are presented as (1) Questionnaire Findings and (2) Focus Groups Findings. The Questionnaire Findings are a presentation of demographic and driving information, ratings of semantic differential concepts, concepts distinguishing males and females, and prediction of driving behavior. The Focus Groups Findings include: (a) introductory discussion topics - what the car and driving represent, young drivers' thoughts regarding older drivers, and fun and excitement; (b) behaviors related to traffic safety - drinking and driving, seat belt use, speeding, and risk-taking of passengers; and (c) additional perspectives related to prevention - perceived causes of accidents, explanations why some drivers are more or less cautious than others, topics young drivers would stress in programs and ways they say they can be influenced, factors affecting change in driving behavior, society and peers as influences, and concern for others as a determinant of driving habits.

• Corporate Authors:

  Columbia University

  Teachers College, 367 Franklin Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  11010

  AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

  2990 Telestar Court, Suite 100
  Falls Church, VA  United States  22042
• Authors:
  • Basch, C E
  • De Cicco, I M
  • Malfetti, J L
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 166 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Attitudes; Behavior; Drivers; Motivation; Perception; Prevention; Safety; Teenage drivers; Traffic safety
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver perception
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00477358
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1988 12:00AM