Profiles of Risky Driving Behaviors in Adolescent Drivers: A Cluster Analysis of a Representative Sample from Tuscany Region (Italy)

Vieri Lastrucci, Francesco Innocenti, Chiara Lorini, Alice Berti, Caterina Silvestri, Marco Lazzeretti, Fabio Voller and Guglielmo Bonaccorsi
Additional contact information
Vieri Lastrucci: Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
Francesco Innocenti: Epidemiologic Observatory, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Via Pietro Dazzi 1, 50141 Florence, Italy
Chiara Lorini: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy
Alice Berti: Epidemiologic Observatory, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Via Pietro Dazzi 1, 50141 Florence, Italy
Caterina Silvestri: Epidemiologic Observatory, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Via Pietro Dazzi 1, 50141 Florence, Italy
Marco Lazzeretti: Epidemiologic Observatory, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Via Pietro Dazzi 1, 50141 Florence, Italy
Fabio Voller: Epidemiologic Observatory, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Via Pietro Dazzi 1, 50141 Florence, Italy
Guglielmo Bonaccorsi: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background: Research on patterns of risky driving behaviors (RDBs) in adolescents is scarce. This study aims to identify distinctive patterns of RDBs and to explore their characteristics in a representative sample of adolescents. (2) Methods: this is a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of Tuscany Region students aged 14–19 years ( n = 2162). The prevalence of 11 RDBs was assessed and a cluster analysis was conducted to identify patterns of RDBs. ANOVA, post hoc pairwise comparisons and multivariate logistic regression models were used to characterize cluster membership. (3) Results: four distinct clusters of drivers were identified based on patterns of RDBs; in particular, two clusters—the Reckless Drivers (11.2%) and the Careless Drivers (21.5%)—showed high-risk patterns of engagement in RDBs. These high-risk clusters exhibited the weakest social bonds, the highest psychological distress, the most frequent participation in health compromising and risky behaviors, and the highest risk of a road traffic accident. (4) Conclusion: findings suggest that it is possible to identify typical profiles of RDBs in adolescents and that risky driving profiles are positively interrelated with other risky behaviors. This clustering suggests the need to develop multicomponent prevention strategies rather than addressing specific RDBs in isolation.

Keywords: adolescent drivers; risky driving behaviors; cluster analysis; problem behaviors; road traffic accidents; severe road traffic accidents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6362/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6362/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6362-:d:573575

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().