Road Trauma Research Report

Table of Contents

Title Page
Introduction 3
Methods of research 3
Statement of findings 4
Suggestion and evaluation of alternative solutions 6
Summary & Recommendation 9
Appendix/es 10
Bibliography and Reference List 11

Introduction
Topic-
Injury is the single biggest killer of Australian youth; more than all other causes combined.(1) The topic of this report will be to research the effectiveness of the current laws regarding the graduated licence system, focusing on 16-24 year old drivers and the measures that must be taken, to counteract and eliminate the effects that immaturity and inexperience

It will look towards expanding a deeper knowledge on the licencing laws and analyse the alternative ways in which they can be improved, to benefit the overall fatalities in amongst the Queensland roads in 2015. Also to analyse the current licensing laws and propose alternative strategies on how to improve them. And discuss appropriate approaches on how we can build on providing a better supportive environment for the current stakeholders by justifying the proposed alternatives. Subsequently, aiming to choose the most viable and appropriate strategies in which will address the serious issue on road

This is affecting the 16-24 year old drivers majorly as it becomes the main distraction when on the roads. This is evident as it has been identified as being a contributing factor in 22% of car crashes and near crashes in naturalistic driving studies. (4) Mobile phone use has been an increasing risk factor of young drivers fatalities on the road. In Australia, young adults have the highest level of general mobile phone use, with the age groups of 18 to 24 years and 25 to 39 years reporting the highest percentages of 94% and 91%, respectively. These age groups are also more likely to use a mobile phone while driving than older drivers, with 3/5 Australian drivers aged between 18 and 24 years reporting that they had sent or received a text while driving compared with 1/3 drivers aged over 25 years. (4) This had all lead up to the conclusion that young drivers have more access to new technologies, even whilst driving they are not able to live without them. They do not have the personal skills yet to understand the serious consequences that will occur as these technologies can be distracting in three different ways, physically, cognitively and visually distracting. Physical distraction is when the driver’s hand is moved from the steering wheel to pick up the phone, answer or end the call, or type a message. Visual distraction occurs once the driver’s eyes are diverted