Associations between self-assessment of driving ability, driver training and crash involvement among young drivers

The core aim of the present study is to examine the psychometric qualities of a measurement instrument for self-assessment of driving ability. The results are based on a self-completion questionnaire survey conducted among a representative sample of Norwegian drivers who were 18, 19 and 20 years of age (n = 1419). The response rate was 37%. The results showed that self-assessment of driving ability consisted of the following four dimensions: general driving ability, safety orientation, the body dimension, and specific task skills. The reliability and validity of the measurement instrument were found to be satisfactory. The highest level of self-assessed driving ability was found among male respondents, experienced drivers, drivers who had had a high amount of informal driver training, and drivers with the lowest levels of accident risk. The consequences of the results for driver training and accident prevention are discussed.