Pre-drivers and their parents: analysis of traffic safety-related behaviours and attitudes and the influence of parenting

Abstract

Child development is known to be influenced by interpersonal relationships within the family (Schor, 2003). The influence of the behavior of parents on different types of trafficrelated behaviours of their children has been extensively studied. The majority of prior research concentrates on the influence of parents with respect to the driving behaviour of young novice drivers (e.g. Miller & Taubman-Ben-Ari, 2010; Simons-Morton, 2007; Bianchi & Summala, 2004). Little is known about the interplay between the attitudes and behaviours of parents and their children and the influence of parenting styles and practices on the general traffic-safety behaviours of early and young adolescents. The aim of the research was to examine the relation between the traffic safety-related attitudes and behaviours of pre-drivers and their parents while taking into account the dyadic component resulting from their family relationship and to examine the perceptions on and influence of parenting styles and practices.