The relationship between leisure time and driving style in two groups of male drivers

Despite overall improvements in traffic safety levels, young male drivers continue to be over represented in accidents. In this study the association between driving style and leisure time was examined in two groups of drivers. The sample consisted of 4000 male drivers of which 2000 were 18 years old and 2000 were 28 years old. A posted questionnaire was used. The overall response rate was 51% (N = 2018). A similar factor structure of three factors with regard to driving style was identified in both groups of drivers. The factors were named Thrill, Anxiety and Anger. Despite significant differences regarding specific leisure time activities, a similar relationship between leisure time and driving style was found in the two groups of drivers particularly in relation to problem behaviours. In both groups driving related interaction with friends as well as a high paced leisure time was found to be related to a high score on the factors Thrill and Anger. In the older group of drivers cruising with friends was associated with problem behaviours such as smoking pot and doing drugs. Results indicate a need for early intervention enhancing safe behavioural choices thereby preventing unsafe behaviours to become permanent behavioural strategies in life.