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Accident Analysis and Prevention 37 (2005) 619–624

Risky driving habits and motor vehicle driver injury

Stephanie Blowsa,., Shanthi Ameratunga b, Rebecca Q. Ivers a, Sing Kai Loa, Robyn Norton a

a The George Institute for International Health, University of Sydney, P.O. Box M201, Missenden Road, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia

b Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences,

University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

Received 23 December 2004; received in revised form 14 March 2005; accepted 14 March 2005

Abstract

Risky driving is an important cause of motor vehicle injury, but there is a lack of good epidemiological data in this field, particularly data comparing risky driving in younger drivers to those of other age groups. We examined the elationship between risky driving habits, prior traffic convictions and motor vehicle injury using cross-sectional data amongst 21,893 individuals in New Zealand, including 8029 who were aged 16–24 years. Those who reported equently racing a motor vehicle for excitement or driving at 20 km/h or more over the speed limit, and those who had received traffic convictions over the past 12 months, were between two and four times more likely to have been injured while driving over the same time period. Driving unlicensed was a risk factor for older but not younger drivers, and driving at 20 km/h or more above the speed limits was a stronger risk factor for younger (<25 years) than older drivers. These results confirm the need for interventions targeting risky driving and suggest that different strategies may be required for different high-risk groups.

© 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Risky driving; Traffic conviction; Young driver; Motor vehicle injury