title: Young and unlicensed: risky driving before entering the licensing system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  On-road driving before gaining a valid license (prelicense driving) represents a risk for all road users. Prelicense driving among young people who obtained a provisional license within an enhanced graduated driver licensing program in Queensland, Australia, was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recently licensed drivers (n = 1032) aged 17 to 19 years (M = 17.54) completed a survey exploring their driving experiences while on their learner's license. Six months later, 355 of these drivers completed the same survey exploring their experiences on their provisional (intermediate) license.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve percent of participants reported prelicense driving. Prelicense drivers reported significantly more risky driving as learners and provisional drivers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prelicense drivers not only place themselves and other road users at risk at the time but also continue to do so through their subsequent risky driving. Prelicense driving should be discouraged, and parents should be encouraged to monitor car use and the driving behavior of their children.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia. b.scott-parker@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scott-Parker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hyde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011793:Queensland; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult