Citation

Sobel R, Underhill RN. Proc. Am. Assoc. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1974; 18: 417-431.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Teenagers account for a disproportionate number of traffic accidents and violations. Assuming that family disequilibrium affects adolescent driving, the authors have investigated the life styles and family relationships of 496 adolescents, age 16 to 19, and their parents in relation to their driving records. Family dysfunction and social stress seem to be very important in the causation of accidents in males, but not females. The only important predictor for females seems to be exposure to risk or actual mileage driven. These preliminary studies give credence to the hypothesis that for males, auto accidents, like social deviancy, are symptomatic of family disorder. That females do not choose this avenue of expression of conflict is probably due to six-role limitations on assertive behavior in girls.