Young driver risk in relation to parents' retrospective driving record.
OBJECTIVE
Parents are an important potential influence on the driving safety of their children. This study examined the relationship of parental driving record on male and female offspring's at-fault collision risk.


METHODS
Drivers aged 16-21 on the date of full licensure were selected from driver records and a matching process was used to identify putative parents in two-parent households. Poisson regression models were developed to predict at-fault collisions of male and female youth in the three years following full licensure from parents' at-fault collisions, speeding offenses, and other moving offenses in the four years prior to children's licensure. One set of models examined the relative risk associated with increasing numbers of maternal and paternal at-fault collisions and offenses. Other models examined the joint versus separate maternal and parental contributions.


RESULTS
Controlling for region of residence, both mothers' and fathers' at-fault collisions were associated with an increased risk in both male and female youth at-fault collisions. Mothers' and fathers' speeding offenses were also associated with increased relative risk of at-fault collisions for both sons and daughters, while fathers' other moving offenses increased collision risk for sons but not daughters.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research is required to identify how parental driving risk is transmitted to children.


CONCLUSIONS
(a) Parents of young children should be informed of their role in influencing their children's future driving risk; (b) The results identify risk factors that could be of interest to licensing authorities and the insurance industry.
Wilson
R Jean
RJ
Road Safety Research, Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, PO Box 3750, Victoria BC, Canada V8W 3Y8. jean.wilson@icbc.com
Meckle
Wayne
W
Wiggins
Sandi
S
Cooper
Peter J
PJ
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety