title: Aggressive driving behaviour in young drivers (aged 16 through 25) involved in fatal crashes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We wished to determine the extent to which number of passengers, driver age, and sex were associated with aggressive driving actions (ADAs) in young drivers involved in a fatal crash.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used U.S. fatal-crash data from Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 1991 -2008. Proxy measures of aggressive driving included ADA presence and speed differential (posted speed limit minus estimated travel speed). We examined the odds of an ADA and speed differential in young drivers (aged 16 to 25) by passenger status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to driving alone young drivers (aged 16) had increased odds of an ADA between 14% (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.07; 1.22) and 95% (OR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.40; 2.74) when accompanied by one and five passengers, respectively. Further, carrying a higher number of passengers was a stronger predictor of speeding in younger drivers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the use of graduated licensing approaches. Specifically, developing interventions to reduce aggressive driving appear imperative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the results of our study support the use of graduated licensing approaches there is room for improvement. Our study indicates that tackling impaired driving is not sufficient to drastically reduce aggressive driving among the youngest drivers. Further research on young drivers is required to understand the influence of peers and the role of gender on driving behavior. Strategies to reduce aggressive driving behaviors among the youngest drivers may not only prevent crashes during their early driving careers but may also translate into a reduced crash risk over their lifetime.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Program, Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada. aniklb@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Anik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambert-Bélanger
authors.forename: Sacha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bédard
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012622:Seat Belts; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult