DAD, MAY I HAVE THE KEYS - FACTORS INFLUENCING WHICH VEHICLES TEENAGERS DRIVE

Objective. To determine the role of vehicle safety features, particula rly vehicle size and weight, compared with other factors in parental d ecisions about choosing vehicles for teens to drive. Methods. Written questionnaire to parents of teenagers attending drivers education trai ning. Results. The response rate to the survey was 62.6%. Two thirds r eported that the teen would drive an existing family vehicle, 10.5% wo uld buy an additional vehicle, and 20.3% would buy another vehicle as well as have the teen drive an existing family vehicle. Large size was important to only similar to 40% of families purchasing a car for the teen or families in which the teen would use an existing family vehic le. Gas mileage and other safety features were ranked as more importan t even in families in which a large car was available in the household . Conclusions. Families did not rank vehicle size and weight as import ant as other, less effective safety features in choosing cars for thei r teens. Information about vehicle crash-worthiness should be incorpor ated into drivers education and other programs reaching new teen drive rs and their families.