At-Risk Behaviours

Introduction

The aim of module 4 is to initiate discussion on the subjects of risk-taking and factors that increase risk while driving.
Learners are exposed to an initial overview of the issue of risk, the behaviours most frequently associated with risk and the
role of those behaviours in road accidents.

Certain themes that are mentioned briefly in this module will be dealt with more fully in modules 8, 10 and 11: speeding,
failure to wear seat belts, impaired driving (under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication), fatigue and distractions.
 At-Risk Behaviours

Driving Involves Risk

Like many other activities in daily life, driving a road vehicle carries its own share of risk. Yet, because it is an integral part
of everyday activity, most people do not perceive driving a vehicle as dangerous. They often underestimate, forget or
simply deny the element of danger in driving. They indulge in risky behaviour, such as speeding, or driving when their
faculties are impaired by alcohol, drugs or fatigue.

Driving is nonetheless a complex, demanding activity, and the risk of being involved in even a minor accident is present
every time a driver goes on the road. Because of its complexity, driving calls on all of a drivers faculties. Hence the
importance of being capable of driving when we take the wheel and of remaining capable for as long as we use the road.
 At-Risk Behaviours Risk Factors

Risk Factors

There are many factors and behaviours that increase the risk of committing an offence or of being involved in a road
accident.

Personal Factors

Age, sex and driving experience are factors specific to each individual that can influence the perception of and relationship
with risk. Self-knowledge and self-control also come into play, as do emotions and influences, especially those of friends
and family.

Age, Sex and Experience

Why is it that young drivers aged 16 to 24 commit more driving offences than older drivers? And why are more drivers
in that age group involved in road accidents? How to explain the fact that, among young drivers, the rate of fatal
accidents is higher for men than for women? These phenomena are not unique to Qubec; they have been noted in
all industrialized countries. What this means is that all young drivers, regardless of where they hail from, share certain
characteristics, such as:

Lack of physical and emotional maturity: The body and particularly the brain are still developing.
Influenceability: Friends especially can influence young drivers, who in addition wish to be up to handling the
situation, take up a dare from buddies or fit in with a circle of friends.
A tendency to overestimate their driving abilities, despite limited experience as drivers.
A tendency to underestimate the complexity of driving.

Young people are going through a period of rapid maturation where they test their limitations and assert their
independence. Their social life is often very intense, with numerous activities at night and over the weekend,
sometimes in groups. The lifestyle of many young people greatly exposes them to risk situations, such as driving at
night, having several passengers in the vehicle, being tired from staying up late, and using alcohol or drugs, etc.

Young men especially are undergoing hormonal changes that explain in part their tendency to take risks.
Testosterone levels in young men are 20 times higher at 16 than in the years before puberty, and there is a link
between the level of testosterone, sensation seeking and at-risk behaviour. Sensation seeking increases from the age
of 14 on, peaking at around the age of 20 and dropping progressively from then on.

Young men and young women differ from one another. As a rule, young men drive more for pleasure and for
associated sensations. As a result, they are more inclined to take risks, adopt antisocial behaviours and indulge more
in speeding. They have a greater tendency than young women to overestimate their driving skills and be vulnerable to
peer pressure. They are also involved in a greater number of accidents.

Young women in general have a practical approach to driving. For them, a car is a means of getting from Point A to
Point B. They are more cautious, as they have a greater fear of accidents causing injury to themselves or other
people.

Self-Knowledge, Self-Control and the Relationship with Risk

Not everyone has the same relationship with risk, and some seek out risk more than others. Likewise, what appears
dangerous to some does not necessarily seem dangerous to all. It depends on temperament, personality and
tolerance for risk. But, generally speaking, young people between 16 and 24 have a higher risk-taking threshold than
older people.

It cannot be denied that driving a road vehicle is very pleasurable for some people. Speed, especially, can go to the
head. But, pleasure aside, safety must be the guiding rule in driving. It is important to exercise self-control and assess
the level of risk - to oneself and others - associated with the manoeuvre to be executed.
 At-Risk Behaviours Risk Factors

A Question of Choice

Whether conscious or not, the decision to drive when tired or under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication increases
the risk of committing an offence or being involved in an accident. These are instances of impaired faculties. The physical
and mental health of each individual can affect the ability to drive, as can individual reactions to the absorption of
behaviour-altering substances (alcohol, drugs or medication) or fatigue.

Fatigue and Drowsiness

While most people acknowledge the risks inherent in driving under the influence of alcohol, few realize that driving when
tired also comprises major risks of having an accident. It is not necessary to actually fall asleep at the wheel to cause a
tragic incident on the highway. It is known that fatigue and drowsiness, like alcohol, dull drivers reflexes and alertness and
affect their judgment. Regardless of age, not getting enough sleep creates a sleep debt - and a five-hour sleep debt has the
same effect as a few glasses of wine. The only way to overcome the problem is to get enough sleep.

Preventing Drowsiness and Fatigue p. 218

Alcohol, Drugs and Medication

A driver's judgment, coordination, reflexes and perceptions are all affected by alcohol, drugs and medications (both over-
the-counter remedies and prescription drugs). The devastating effects of drinking and driving have been clearly understood
for a long time. In Qubec, alcohol is involved in 30% of road deaths. The risk of being in a fatal accident is two to five times
higher for drivers who have been using cannabis, cocaine or benzodiazepines (tranquilizers) than for drivers who are sober.
Depending on the type of drug, the effects on driving can vary from drowsiness (tranquilizers) to at-risk behaviour such as
speeding or aggressiveness (cocaine, ecstasy). Mixing drugs with alcohol is particularly dangerous, and the risk of an
accident rises exponentially. In addition, impaired drivers can be charged with committing an offence under the Criminal
Code.

Drive without Consuming Alcohol or Drugs p. 221

: Driving a Passenger Vehicle

: Drivers Handbook
 At-Risk Behaviours Risk Factors

Distractions

There are many distractions both inside and outside a vehicle. They include advertising along the roadside, scenery, and
other road users, not to mention adjusting the heating or air conditioning, changing the radio station or CD, and talking on a
cell phone or chatting with passengers. Distractions reduce the concentration essential for driving. Despite good intentions,
distracted drivers are slower to detect danger or adjust to traffic conditions. They reduce the safety margins between
themselves and other road users, thus increasing the risk of an accident..

While it is impossible to completely ignore all the distractions that can reduce concentration, distractions can be managed
and some eliminated, so as to minimize their effect on driving and reduce the risk of an accident.

Eliminating Distractions p. 215

: Driving a Passenger Vehicle

: Drivers Handbook
 At-Risk Behaviours Risk Factors

Other At-Risk Behaviours

While speeding and not wearing a seat belt may not impair drivers faculties or affect their ability to handle a vehicle, they
do increase the risk of having an accident and the severity of any injuries sustained.

Speed

The majority of drivers have a poor perception of the dangers of speeding. Yet speed has an impact on the risk of having
an accident and thus on the frequency of collisions. Recent studies have shown that increasing speed beyond the
prescribed limit increases accident risk exponentially. In other words, the more a driver's speed exceeds the limit, the more
the risk increases.

As well as increasing the frequency of collisions, speeding affects the severity of the injuries sustained in an impact. The
effects of a collision are much more dramatic at high speeds than at lower speeds. And injuries are more seriousfor the
driver as much as for passengersbecause of the relation between speed and released kinetic energy. In accidents
involving vulnerable users, such as pedestrians, high speeds often result in death.

Non-Wearing of Seat Belts

Not buckling up does not increase the risk of being involved in an accident. It does, however, contribute to the severity of
the injuries sustained in a collision, in particular because unbelted occupants may be ejected from the vehicle. Also, not
wearing a seat belt is often associated with other dangerous behaviour (such as drinking, using drugs and speeding). For
these reasons, not wearing a seat belt is an offence that earns a fine in addition to demerit points in the persons driving
record.
 At-Risk Behaviours

Additional Reading

A Revoked or Suspended Licence p. 27 to 45

Factors that Influence Driving p. 45 to 57

Offences and Fines p. 257 to 267

: Driving a Passenger Vehicle

: Drivers Handbook
 At-Risk Behaviours

Conclusion

As a rule, a persons behaviour behind the wheel reflects the persons behaviour overall. Young people are often driven by
the quest for independence, an attitude of recklessness and a search for identity, leading them to test their strength and
limits. There are of course major differences among individuals, and not all young people indulge in at-risk behaviour when
driving.

It must always be kept in mind, however, that driving involves risks. All drivers, regardless of age and driving experience,
must do everything possible not to raise the level of risk. This is why it is essential for drivers to think about conditions every
time they get behind the wheel: What condition am I in physically, mentally? What condition is my vehicle in? What are the
road and weather conditions? Keeping these questions in mind contributes to safe and responsible driving.