Files and links (2)
Accepted VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Research Statement (supplemental)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
"They're lunatics on the road": Exploring the normative influences of parents, friends, and police on young novices' risky driving decisions
Safety Science, Vol.50(9), pp.1917-1928
2012
Abstract
Purpose: Young novice drivers experience significantly greater risk of being injured or killed in car crashes than older more experienced drivers. This research utilised a qualitative approach guided by the framework of Akers' social learning theory. It explored young novice drivers' perspectives on risky driving including rewards and punishments expected from and administered by parents, friends, and police, imitation of parents' and friends' driving, and advantages and disadvantages of risky driving. Methods: Twenty-one young drivers (12 females, 9 males) aged 16-25 years (. M=. 17.71 years, . SD=. 2.15) with a Learner (. n=. 11) or Provisional (. n=. 10) driver licence participated in individual or small group interviews. Findings and conclusions: Content analysis supported four themes: (1) rewards and (2) punishments for risky driving, and the influence of (3) parents and (4) friends. The young novice drivers differed in their vulnerability to the negative influences of friends and parents, with some novices advising they were able to resist risky normative influences whilst others felt they could not. The authority of the police as enforcers of road rules was either accepted and respected or seen as being used to persecute young novices. These findings suggest that road safety interventions should consider the normative influence of parents and friends on the risky and safe behaviour of young novices. Police were also seen as influential upon behaviour. Future research should explore the complicated relationship between parents, friends, the police, young novices, and their risky driving behaviour.
Details
- Title
- "They're lunatics on the road": Exploring the normative influences of parents, friends, and police on young novices' risky driving decisions
- Authors
- Bridie Scott-Parker (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyB Watson (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyM J King (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyM K Hyde (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication details
- Safety Science, Vol.50(9), pp.1917-1928
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Date published
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ssci.2012.05.014
- ISSN
- 0925-7535; 0925-7535
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2012. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450126202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
85 File views/ downloads
697 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Web Of Science research areas
- Engineering, Industrial
- Operations Research & Management Science
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites