Citation

Sucha M. Int. J. Traffic Transp. Eng. (Rosemead, Calif.) 2014; 3(5): 216-221.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Scientific and Academic Publishing)

DOI

10.5923/j.ijtte.20140305.02

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present article deals with young drivers' motives, opinions, and attitudes in relation to their driving and owning a car. In an online questionnaire, the respondents were asked to answer two questions: "What does it mean to you to be a driver?" and "What does it mean to you to own a car?". A total of 1,477 respondents, 958 males and 519 females, aged 18-25, participated in the survey. The resulting data were analyzed using a qualitative data processing method, thematic analysis. For the purposes of the analysis, the sample was broken down into four different groups according to gender and age (18-19, 20-21, 22-23, and 24-25 years). The study results show that young drivers may generally be divided into two main groups. While the first group defines its attitude to driving and owning a car as emotional, the other may be characterized as being associated with drivers whose attitudes are mostly rational and who perceive both their driving and owning a car as a means of achieving other goals. A more detailed categorization is then used to identify seven types of relationships young drivers have with driving and their cars. Finally, the practical implications of the results are presented, particularly with regard to the reduction of CO2 emissions through increasing the rate of sustainable modes of travel, the reduction of young drivers' accident rate by addressing their risk-taking driving behavior, and their training and education.

Language: en