Study finds P-platers often take risks on road
ONE quarter of P-platers are so tired from school work, part-time jobs and socialising, they are putting lives at risk just by being on the road.
A national study of young Australian drivers aged 16 and 17 has found that eight in 10 Pplaters and more than half of learner drivers had engaged in some form of risky driving during their 10 most recent trips.
The most common types of risky driving by 16-17 year-olds were speeding and driving when very tired, according to the Growing Up In Australia Longitudinal Study of Australian Children.
Australian Institute of Family Studies director Anne Hollonds said risky driving behaviours such as speeding; drowsy driving and driving under the influence put young people at high risk of being involved in serious crashes.
“Drivers are at their highest risk of being involved in a crash during their first year of driving unsupervised,” she said. “It’s important therefore to understand the risks they take while learning to drive and to iron out any bad habits before they take hold.”
Institute Research Fellow, Suzanne Vassallo said the most common risk novice drivers took was driving when very tired and exceeding the speed limit by up to 10km/h, or in some cases as much as 25km/h.
“Risky driving behaviour was, not surprisingly, more common among P-platers than among learner drivers who, with the exception of motorcyclists, are required to drive under adult supervision,” she said.
“However, one in six learners had exceeded the speed limit by between 10 and 25km/h on a recent trip and one in four had driven when fatigued – two behaviours commonly implicated in serious road crashes.
“In addition, up to 8 per cent of 16-17 year olds reported they had driven without wearing a seatbelt – or helmet if riding a motorcycle.
“A small group took risks on every trip. About one in five teens who failed to wear a seatbelt at all when driving – or a helmet if riding a motorcycle – had done so on all of their past 10 trips”.
Ms Vassallo said the study also found 4 per cent of 16-17year-olds reported driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs within the past 12 months, and one in 10 had been the passenger of a driver who was under the influence.