Citation

Hanna CL, Taylor DM, Sheppard MA, Laflamme L. J. Saf. Res. 2006; 37(4): 385-393.

Affiliation

Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. (channa@mphi.org)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2006.05.007

PMID

17020771

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Young unlicensed drivers' involvement in fatal crashes is a recurrent problem in the United States. METHODS: This descriptive study extracted cross-sectional data on fatal crashes from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System from 1998 to 2002. Young unlicensed driver fatal crashes are examined by age, gender, and region. RESULTS: There were 2,452 young unlicensed driver fatal crashes representing 10.8% of all young drivers' fatal crashes. By age, 72.5% are over 15 years, males are involved in 74.5%, and southern and western states have a higher percent of young unlicensed driver fatal crashes. CONCLUSIONS: Subgroups of young people based on their age, gender, and region are over-represented in fatal crashes as unlicensed drivers. Further studies are needed to investigate the context and factors of young unlicensed drivers, essential to tailor interventions. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Young unlicensed drivers circumvent the established licensing process and pose a serious threat to themselves and other road users.

Language: en