POLYDRUG EFFECTS AND TRAFFIC SAFETY

The over-involvement of youthful drivers in traffic accidents has been known for several decades and has been a topic of innumerable statistical studies and theoretical treatises. In 1972, "Accident Analysis and Prevention" published two comprehensive analyses of the issue--one a state-of-the-art review by Leon Goldstein and the other a longitudinal statistical analysis by David Harrington. Although a few isolated studies of youthful drivers have been published since that time, most of the recent efforts have focused on specific aspects of the problem, such as risk perception, alcohol and drugs, driver training, and exposure. With the possible exception of the alcohol and drugs component, the facts and knowledge gaps identified in the about 1972 papers, are as valid today as when they were written. This paper will therefore summarize the Goldstein and Harrington papers in considerable detail to provide a state-of-the-art perspective on the role of youth in traffic accidents. Having established a perspective, the paper will present current statistics from California on the relation between age and accidents in an attempt to clarify the issue and uncover possible etiological factors mediating the youth-accident relationship. The paper concludes with some observations concerning future research needs and paradigms.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Full title of publication is Alcohol, Drugs and Driving: Abstracts and Reviews in Alcohol and Driving.
• Corporate Authors:

  Brain Information Service

  California University, Center for Health Science
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90024
• Authors:
  • Peck, R C
• Publication Date: 1985-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 45-68
• Serial:
  • ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND DRIVING
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue Number: 1-2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Drivers; Future; Research; State of the art studies; Statistics; Teenage drivers; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Future research
• Geographic Terms: California
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00452026
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-039 206
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 31 1986 12:00AM