title: Accuracy of self-report of on-road crashes and traffic offences in a cohort of young drivers: the DRIVE study.
abstract: In order to determine the accuracy of self-report of on-road crashes and traffic offences among participants in the DRIVE study, 2991 young drivers in New South Wales, Australia who completed the follow-up questionnaire were asked whether they had been involved in an on-road crash or were convicted for a traffic offence while driving during the year prior to the survey. This information was linked to police crash data to determine the level of accuracy of self-report of on-road crashes. There was a high level of accuracy in young drivers' self-report of police recorded crashes (85.1%; 95% CI 78.2% to 92.1%) and of police recorded traffic offences (83.0%; 95% CI 79.4% to 86.6%). Results suggest that surveys may be useful tools for estimating the incidence of on-road crashes and traffic offences in young drivers. The findings are particularly relevant to jurisdictions where access to administrative data is limited.
authors.affiliation: Injury Division, The George Institute for International Health, Sydney, Australia. sboufous@george.org.au
authors.forename: Soufiane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boufous
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ivers
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Senserrick
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D016495:Police; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult