SPEED AND ACCELERATION AS MEASURES OF DRIVING STYLE IN YOUNG MALE DRIVERS

This study investigated different measures of speed and acceleration i ndicators of safe driving style. 58 young males drove a 7.1-km test ro ute twice in an instrumented car. Drivers were instructed to drive as they usually do. Driving style was measured by both site-specific meas ures (speed on a crest and speed and lateral acceleration in a sharp a nd a gentle curve) and general measures (maximum speed and lateral and longitudinal accelerations over the route). Analysis of Variance (acc ident involvement x mileage) showed that drivers who had had prior acc idents drove at higher speed and higher accelerations on a sharp curve than accident-free drivers. Drivers involved with accidents drove at higher maximum speed, left accelerations (at right-hand curves), and E quivalent Vector Acceleration, a mean parameter of accelerations, than accident-free drivers. However, multiple regression analysis indicate d that only maximum speed predicted the number of accidents significan tly. In conclusion, maximum speed seemed to be a convenient and robust measure of a safe driving style.