Dorothy Begg1, Rebecca Brookland2. 1. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address: dorothy.begg@ipru.otago.ac.nz. 2. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address: rebecca.brookland@ipru.otago.ac.nz.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The New Zealand GDL includes a time-discount at the restricted license stage, for attendance at an approved driver education course. This is despite international evidence showing that earlier licensure associated with a time-discount can increase risk for newly licensed drivers. OBJECTIVE: To examine participation in driver education courses and especially those that qualify for a time-discount; compare the profiles of course participants with non-participants; examine reasons for participation; and examine the association between a time-discount and traffic offenses once fully licensed. METHOD: This study was based on the New Zealand Drivers Study (NZDS), a prospective cohort study of newly licensed drivers. Data on driver education courses were obtained at the full license interview (n=1763), driver license and traffic offense data from the NZ Driver Licence Registry, and other data at the NZDS interviews. RESULTS: 94% had heard of and 49% (n=868) participated in a defensive driving course (DDC). No other course had more than 1% participation. Compared with the others, the DDC group were young, non-Māori, and from an area of relatively low deprivation. Through GDL, the DDC group were relatively more compliant with the conditions, and less likely to crash or receive a traffic offense notice. The groups did not differ on personality, alcohol and drug use. The reason most (85%) attended a DDC was to get their full license sooner; 86% (n=748) received a time-discount. The time-discount group were 40% more likely to receive a traffic offense notice on their full license; this reduced to 10% after controlling for other factors. CONCLUSION AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of this study, when viewed in conjunction with other NZ crash evidence, indicate that a time-discount should not be given for completing a DDC or Street Talk course.
INTRODUCTION: The New Zealand GDL includes a time-discount at the restricted license stage, for attendance at an approved driver education course. This is despite international evidence showing that earlier licensure associated with a time-discount can increase risk for newly licensed drivers. OBJECTIVE: To examine participation in driver education courses and especially those that qualify for a time-discount; compare the profiles of course participants with non-participants; examine reasons for participation; and examine the association between a time-discount and traffic offenses once fully licensed. METHOD: This study was based on the New Zealand Drivers Study (NZDS), a prospective cohort study of newly licensed drivers. Data on driver education courses were obtained at the full license interview (n=1763), driver license and traffic offense data from the NZ Driver Licence Registry, and other data at the NZDS interviews. RESULTS: 94% had heard of and 49% (n=868) participated in a defensive driving course (DDC). No other course had more than 1% participation. Compared with the others, the DDC group were young, non-Māori, and from an area of relatively low deprivation. Through GDL, the DDC group were relatively more compliant with the conditions, and less likely to crash or receive a traffic offense notice. The groups did not differ on personality, alcohol and drug use. The reason most (85%) attended a DDC was to get their full license sooner; 86% (n=748) received a time-discount. The time-discount group were 40% more likely to receive a traffic offense notice on their full license; this reduced to 10% after controlling for other factors. CONCLUSION AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of this study, when viewed in conjunction with other NZ crash evidence, indicate that a time-discount should not be given for completing a DDC or Street Talk course.
Authors: Jessica H Mirman; Allison E Curry; Flaura K Winston; Megan C Fisher Thiel; Melissa R Pfeiffer; Rachel Rogers; Michael R Elliott; Dennis R Durbin Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2016-12-12 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Francisco Alonso; Sergio A Useche; Eliseo Valle; Cristina Esteban; Javier Gene-Morales Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-31 Impact factor: 3.390