ADOLESCENT CRASHES AND OFFENSES BY GENDER: IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTION

This study examines relationships of self-reported demographic and substance abuse measures with driving behavior (crashes and offenses on driving records). Young-driver crashes can result from inexperience, as well as risk-taking behavior. Offenses, however, more likely result from behavior under a driver's control. A school-based substance abuse prevention evaluation provided the chance to add driving behavior to other measures being studied. Adolescent problem behavior theory suggests that substance abuse and high-risk driving are in the same constellation of behaviors. This study provides a test of that theory, as well as results that offer implications for preventing adolescent high-risk driving behavior. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 893732.