2. Pre-Driving Adolescent Attitudes: Can They Change? Helen Mann, Heriot-Watt University

3. AIMS What is “Crash Magnets”? Evaluating “Crash Magnets” Evaluating the evaluation: Can we change pre- driver adolescent’s attitudes to driving? The future for driver interventions

4. What is “Crash Magnets”?

5. Pre-driver awareness campaign Aimed at Scottish secondary school students in classes S3-S6 DVD for use during lessons on issues regarding young people and driving A learning resources pack: - 4 class activities - situation cards to aid class discussion.

6. What is “Crash Magnets”? Question: What do you think about seatbelts?

7. What is “Crash Magnets”? Topics covered: Driver Behaviour Drink & Drug-driving, cruising, mobile phones and consequences of car crashes. In-car behaviour Passenger behaviour and seat-belt wearing Pedestrians Distraction, Drinking

8. Evaluating “Crash Magnets” 3 main topics of interest in evaluation were regarding attitudes to…… SEAT-BELT WEARING DRINK-DRIVING SPEEDING

9. Evaluating “Crash Magnets” Two questionnaires 1 st questionnaire: 2 sections. 1 st section completed before pilot and 2 nd section immediately after 2 nd questionnaire: Completed 6 months after the pilot.

10. Evaluating “Crash Magnets” 1) Speeding is: a) Safe 1234567 Unsafe b) Reckless Cautious c) Enjoyable Un-enjoyable d) Good Bad 2) How likely is it that you will exceed the speed limit when you drive? Very Likely 1234567 Very Unlikely 3) It’s OK to: a) Drive faster than the speed limit as long as you drive carefully Strongly Agree 12345 Strongly Disagree b) Not wear seat-belts as long as you drive carefully Strongly Agree 12345 Strongly Disagree c) Drink and drive as long as you drive carefully Strongly Agree 12345 Strongly Disagree

11. Evaluating “Crash Magnets” 557 students from 26 schools took part in pilot 155 students (72 males, 83 females) from 12 schools completed two evaluation questionnaires Participants were aged between 12-16 yrs

12. Evaluating the Evaluation Results summary: -There were significant sex differences (except on attitude towards drinking and driving question) -There were significant differences in responses over the three sampling points

13. Evaluating the Evaluation Sex differences:  Males scored significantly higher than females on….. - …attitudes towards..: -….speeding being safe, enjoyable, good and ok if driving carefully -….not wearing a seatbelt being ok if driving carefully -…intention to speed in the future -…attitude to speeding -…attitude to driving violations (speeding + drink-driving + non-use of seat-belts)

14. Evaluating the Evaluation Time differences: Significant DECREASES … from pre-intervention → 6 months post-intervention: - Acceptability of not wearing seatbelts, drinking and driving and driving faster than the speed limit if driving carefully - Attitudes to speeding being un-enjoyable or enjoyable - Attitudes to driving violations in general …from pre-intervention → immediate post-intervention - Intentions to speed in the future. Significant INCREASES …from immediate post-intervention → 6 months post-intervention - Attitudes to speeding being unsafe or safe

15. Evaluating the Evaluation The results are showing typical sex differences that are seen in young drivers (ie. that males are riskier than females) Male pre-drivers are already voicing greater intentions to speed and positive attitudes to driving violations Intentions to engage in behaviours have been shown to be directly linked to engagement in behaviour (see Theory of Planned Behaviour) Need to work at changing pre-driver intentions and attitudes towards driving violations.

16. Evaluating the Evaluation “Crash Magnets”: …..has been found to lower intentions to speed in the future …..has been found to lower acceptability of not wearing seat-belts, speeding and drink-driving and attitudes towards driving violations in general. …has been found to have long-term and short-term effects …appears to have been a success!!!

17. Evaluating the Evaluation QUESTION: Can we change pre-driver adolescent’s attitudes to driving? ANSWER:……it appears that we can even if only temporarily!

18. The Future for Driver Interventions Need to educate pre-drivers who are not near the driving age Create desirable attitudes before undesirable attitudes are formed Need to have regular interventions to reinforce intervention messages and maintain desirable attitudes/behaviours

19. The Future for Driver Interventions Interventions need to shift focus from drivers and learner drivers to pre-drivers ……………..prevention is better than cure!!

20. Final thought to leave you with…

21. Any questions?