The relation between executive functioning and risky driving in young novice drivers

Abstract

Driving is a highly complex task demanding higher behavioral control abilities. Young drivers are involved in a disproportionately large numberof crashes. Lack of driving experience certainly helps to explain the high accident incidence of young drivers. As a first step, this study aimed to investigate whether executive functioning is related to risky driving in young novice drivers. Thirty-eight drivers(17-25 years, max. 12 months driving experience) completed a 25km-drive. Measures of risky driving were: standard deviation of lateral position, detection time of, reaction time to, and collisions with road hazards, speeding, yellow and red light running, and head distance. Executive functions of inhibitory control and working memory were measured by means of standardized computerized tasks. Correlation and regression analyses were carried out to determine to determine unique predictors(i.e.,executive functions, driving experience,gender) of risky simulated driving in young novice drivers. Lower executive functioning in young novice drivers was related to increased risky driving behavior. These results and implications for the development of future interventions will be discussed.