ABSTRACT

There are 6,000,000 drivers in Ontario. One million three hundred thousand, or twenty-two percent are deemed to be problem drivers who have had previous driving offences or crashes and are at increased risk for ‘problem driving’ (MTO: Ministry of Transportation of Ontario 1991). The Ministry of Transport publication ‘Ontario Road Safety Agenda’ (1994) outlines the epidemiology of problem driving. One specific target group known to be at increased risk are younger, new drivers. New drivers are three times more likely to be killed than the average driver. They make up fifteen percent of licensed drivers and have thirty percent of driver fatalities. Statistics from ‘Drinking and Driving in Ontario Statistical Yearbook 1990’ indicate that the nineteen to twenty-four-year-old group are overrepresented both in terms of non-drinking accidents as well as drinking related accidents. For this reason, new drivers have to go through a graduated licensing programme. At the age of sixteen, an application can be made for a beginner’s licence. After obtaining a G1 licence, the probationary driver can drive under the supervision of an experienced driver. The probationary driver must stay off 400 series highways, abide by a 12.00 am to 5.00 am curfew and have zero serum alcohol whilst driving. After twelve months’ supervised driving, eight months if they have completed an approved MTO approved driving course, they can take their G2 road test that allows them to drive without a supervising driver in the car but with the continued requirement of zero blood alcohol. After a further twelve months they can apply to take their final road test to obtain the full G licence. This is the graduated licensing programme currently in force in Ontario. This system tries to protect against risk through education and progressive experience. Whilst the effectiveness of the graduated licensing programme is beginning to be evaluated, current best estimates are that two thirds of all accidents are not predictable on the basis of current knowledge of driver characteristics and training 208(Ontario Road Safety Agenda, 1994). This study will attempt to show that a screening instrument designed to evaluate new drivers’ impulsivity may lead to a more accurate prediction of problem driving and eventual primary prevention interventions.