|Title||Unlicensed teenaged drivers: who are they, and how do they behave when they are behind the wheel?|
|Publication Type||Journal Article|
|Year of Publication||2008|
|Authors||Elliott MR,
|Title||Unlicensed teenaged drivers: who are they, and how do they behave when they are behind the wheel?|
|Publication Type||Journal Article|
|Year of Publication||2008|
|Authors||Elliott MR, Ginsburg KR, Winston FK|
|Date Published||2008 Nov|
|Keywords||Accidents, Traffic, Adolescent, Automobile Driving, Female, Humans, Licensure, Logistic Models, Male, Prevalence, Public Health, Socioeconomic Factors, United States|
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for unlicensed driving among 9th- through 11th-graders.
METHODS: A nationally representative school-based survey of 5665 9th-, 10th-, and 11th-graders ascertained whether students engaged in unlicensed driving and determined associated driving behaviors, risk behaviors, and demographic factors. Unlicensed driving, defined as not having any type of license and "driving on [one's] own" as opposed to learning to drive, or not driving yet was ascertained.
RESULTS: One (4.2%) in 25 US 9th- through 11th-graders reported that they drove at least 1 hour/week without a license. Unlicensed drivers were more likely to identify as being black or Hispanic, to live in rural or central city districts, and to report lower grades in school. No relationship was found between license status and reported crashes; however, unlicensed teenaged drivers were less likely to report seat belt use, more likely to report driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and more likely to report more trips without a purpose. One fourth (28%) of t