Differences between pickup truck and automobile driver-owners

This study compares pickup truck driver-owners and drivers who owned only a utomobiles with respect to demographic factors, conditions of use, risk-tak ing driving behavior, prior driving history and attitudes towards motor veh icle laws. A telephone survey conducted in Riverside County, CA determined that 36% of the households had a pickup truck. Pickup truck owners were pri marily male, aged 30-39 years, married, reported lower restraint use and mo re risky driving behaviors, and had more traffic citations. Differences in behaviors and attitudes were largely a function of age and gender. There is a need to design appropriate occupant safety interventions for those most likely to own pickup trucks. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.