Accident register data, time budget studies and road traffic flow data were
used to compute the age and gender-dependent relative risk [odds ratio (OR
)] of being involved in a driving accident in which the driver was injured
or killed. Alcohol-related accidents were excluded from the analysis. The r
esults showed that the night-time risk, compared with that of the forenoon,
was dramatically increased (OR = 5) for young drivers (18-24 years) and re
duced for old (65 +) drivers. In direct comparison, the young drivers had 5
-10 times higher risk of being involved in an accident during late night th
an during the forenoon, with the excess risk during the daytime being consi
derably lower. Women had a less pronounced night-time peak than men. In dir
ect comparison, men had twice as high a risk as women during the late night
hours. The results clearly demonstrate a strong effect of young age on nig
ht-time accident risk, together with a moderate effect of (male) gender.