THE YOUNG MALE DRIVER; THE INFLUENCE AND EFFECT OF PEER GROUPS AND "P PLATE" PROBATIONARY LICENCE LABELS UPON DRIVING BEHAVIOUR

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence and effect of specific social factors upon the driving behaviour of young males, less than 25 years of age. It is argued that young males of "blue collar" occupations have a desire to obtain recognition and acceptance by driving in a manner that is considered aggressive and risk taking. Furthermore it has been found that this young male subgroup within the driving population are subjected to more severe police surveillance, increased traffic offence charges and too many road accidents, which result in injuries and deaths. A sample population of 835 young male drivers working in jobs identified as "blue collar", responded to a self administered questionnaire. The results obtained provided evidence to suggest that this sample population are influenced by two social factors. These factors were identified as peer group bondings and the young male's own perception related to himself being labelled as a probationary driver, requiring the display of "p plates" on his vehicle. The influence of both these social factors was measured in terms of the respondents expressed actual driving behaviour, which was identified as aggressive, risk taking displays of skill that do not conform to the social expectation of "good", safe driver behaviour. It is apparent from this study that the young male's desire to drive in a manner that displays these unsafe risk taking practices is influenced by his desire for acceptance by his peer group. This research report was submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the graduate diploma of applied social psychology.

• Corporate Authors:

  SWINBURNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

  JOHN STREET
  Hawthorn, Victoria,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Glowaski, D
• Publication Date: 1987-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 89 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Attitudes; Behavior; Data collection; Driver experience; Drivers; Jobs; Males; Perception; Police; Questionnaires; Recently qualified drivers; Risk taking; Sociology; Surveillance
• ITRD Terms: 1757: Age; 2267: Attitude (psychol); 9001: Behaviour; 8623: Data acquisition; 1772: Driver; 2225: Experience (human); 9147: Interview; 1787: Man; 2271: Occupation; 2229: Perception; 1522: Police; 2259: Risk taking; 2253: Sociology; 9101: Surveillance
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00483230
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: May 31 1989 12:00AM