title: Investigating risky, distracting, and protective peer passenger effects in a dual process framework.
abstract: Prior studies indicated higher collision rates among young novice drivers with peer passengers. This driving simulator study provided a test for a dual process theory of risky driving by examining social rewards (peer passengers) and cognitive control (inhibitory control). The analyses included age (17-18 yrs, n=30; 21-24 yrs, n=20). Risky, distracting, and protective effects were classified by underlying driver error mechanisms. In the first drive, participants drove alone. In the second, participants drove with a peer passenger. Red-light running (violation) was more prevalent in the presence of peer passengers, which provided initial support for a dual process theory of risk driving. In a subgroup with low inhibitory control, speeding (violation) was more prevalent in the presence of peer passengers. Reduced lane-keeping variability reflected distracting effects. Nevertheless, possible protective effects for amber-light running and hazard handling (cognition and decision-making) were found in the drive with peer passengers. Avenues for further research and possible implications for targets of future driver training programs are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University, Belgium. Electronic address: veerle.ross@uhasselt.be.
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University, Belgium. Electronic address: ellen.jongen@uhasselt.be.
authors.forename: Ellen M M
authors.initials: EMM
authors.lastname: Jongen
authors.affiliation: Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University, Belgium; Faculty of Applied Engineering Sciences, Hasselt University, Belgium. Electronic address: kris.brijs@uhasselt.be.
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brijs
authors.affiliation: Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University, Belgium. Electronic address: tom.brijs@uhasselt.be.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brijs
authors.affiliation: Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University, Belgium. Electronic address: geert.wets@uhasselt.be.
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wets
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D065840:Protective Factors; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Driving simulation; Dual processes; Peer passengers; Young novice drivers