title: Aggressive behavior while driving as predictor of self-reported car crashes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Greece, there is a lack of scientific evidence on the relationship between aggressive behavior while driving and young drivers' involvement in car crashes; this study examined this potential relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  The randomly selected samples of 356 young drivers (18-24 years old) were interviewed through a questionnaire of self-reported car crash involvement, which mainly focused on their behavior on the road and the number of car crashes in which they had been involved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The statistical methods used were principal components analysis (PCA) and multiple regression analysis. Two factors relevant to aggressive driving emerged: (a) driving violations and (b) irritability while driving. The multivariate model suggested that driving just for fun (joyriding) and irritability were predictors of young drivers' involvement in car crashes. It was found that younger age was negatively associated with young drivers' involvement in car crashes. IMPACT ON GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY: The findings of this study can contribute in the formation of public policies aiming to prevent young drivers' car crashes. These findings can also be the starting point of some health promotion interventions trying to reduce car crashes and casualties on the road. Finally, the insurance companies may be interested in applying these findings into their field of interest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Estavromenos, 71500 Heraklion, Greece. jchlia@seyp.teiher.gr
authors.forename: Joannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: El Chliaoutakis
authors.forename: Panayotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Demakakos
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzamalouka
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bakou
authors.forename: Malamatenia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koumaki
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Darviri
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires