Relationship between resistance to peer influence and risky driving attitudes in sample of Lithuanian driver-learners

Abstract

Driver-learners face pressure and certain expectations from social environment to drive in a certain, usually, risky manner. In order to be accepted by peers, inexperienced drivers tend to formulate positive attitudes towards risky driving right from the start of driving learning. However, relationship between peer resistance and attitudes towards risky driving is not clear, especially in predicting future risky driving of inexperienced drivers. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between resistance to peer influence and risky driving attitudes in the sample of Lithuanian driver-learners. 524 driver-learners (206 males and 318 females) who registered for the practical driving exam have agreed to participate in online study. Peer resistance was measured using modified Resistance to Peer Influence Scale (Steinberg, Monahan, 2007; Sumter, Bokhorst, Steinberg, Westenberg, 2009) and risky driving attitudes were measured using Risk-taking attitudes for drivers scale (Ulleberg, Rundmo, 2002). The results have shown that male driver-learners have lower resistance to peer influence in comparison to female participants. Lower resistance to peer influence was related to more positive different attitudes towards risky driving female driver-learners group. Lower resistance to peer influence was related to more positive different attitudes towards except attitude towards joyriding and showing off driving skills to others in male driver-learners group. The results imply that the reduction of sensitivity to peer pressure is needed in order to change positive attitudes towards risky driving of driver-learners as well as to encourage safe driving in the future.