Risk+taking+and+road+related+injuries

The general nature of the area
The freedom that comes with being able to drive a motor vehicle in order to establish a sense oif independence is often the aim of many adolsecents. Many adolscents feel that once they have gained their provisional license they have the necessary skills to control a vehicle, however, it takes many years of driving, and in all conditions, before a driver can assume a certain level of competence and drive confidently on our roads. Many young people are irresponsible road users as they often try to gain the acceptance of their peers by engaging in dagerous behaviours and take unnessary risks putting their own lives, and those of other road users including pedestrians at risk. Of course, the reasons behind the over representation of young drivers in the road statistics is not as simple as 'just showing off'.

Driving means many things to different people, and this also contributes to the high rate of young people dying on our roads. In addition to the main causes of road fatalities (speed, fatigue, drink-driving, and lack of occupant restraint use), are also factors that include driver inexpereince, increased risk taking, too many passengers for the number of seat belts and poor car maintenance due to the financial situation of most young road users.

According the the AIHW, injury (which includes poisoning) is a leading cause of death of young people in Australia - more deaths in young people are due to injury than all other causes of death combined. Injury can affect a person's employement or educational opportunities and can lead to disability and disfigurement, which can affect future health and well being.

à Children from remote areas are more likely to report more injuries from transport accidents à Males are more likely report more injuries from transport accidents than females à Decrease in mortality and injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents due to more awareness of speeding limits, laws and fines; legislation of seatbelts and alcohol limits; more safety features installed in vehicles including seatbelts, airbags and ABS; and increase in pedestrian crossings and traffic lights à Young drivers (17-20) are four times more likely to die in a motor accident than older drivers (21-25)
 * // ~ Motor vehicle accidents: //**

à Drink driving: there has been a decline in the mortality rate due to the implementation of fines and loss of demerit points, legislation of alcohol limits. Also, more awareness of the implications of drink driving is widely available and evident to young Australians à Speeding: decrease in fatality rate due to more police patrol, speed cameras and legislation of speeding limits à Government initiatives such as safer vehicles, better roads and ongoing community education about road safety have contributed to the decrease in fatality rate à The implementation of the Graduated License Scheme allows improvement on training and licensing arrangements for new drivers. This promotes for safer behaviours on the road and therefore reducing the risk of fatal outcomes. The 120hrs allows young people to gain experience and adopt safe behaviours on the road.
 * ~ Negative risk taking behaviours: **

à Factors contributing to high rates of fatalities are due to inexperience, combined with engaging in risky driving behaviours (such as speeding, driving when fatigued) and/or driving in situations that place them at greater risk (including driving at night) à A rate of 466 people per 100 000 are hospitalised by road related accidents à Hospitalisation rate of traffic accidents increased with age, but lower for females than for males à Among 18-24 yr olds, car drivers had the highest hospitalisation rate for both males and females à Decline in hospitalisation rate for motor vehicle accidents. The rate for males have been consistently higher à In very remote areas, the transport accident hospitalisation rate was almost 3 times as high as that in major cities à Young people living in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas had a higher transport accident hospitalisation rate than those in least socioeconomically disadvantaged areas à In 2005, 25% of all transport accident deaths were of young people <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; msobidifontfamily: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; msoasciifontfamily: Arial; msohansifontfamily: Arial; msochartype: symbol; msosymbolfontfamily: Wingdings;">à Decline in fatalities due to traffic accidents <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; msobidifontfamily: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; msoasciifontfamily: Arial; msohansifontfamily: Arial; msochartype: symbol; msosymbolfontfamily: Wingdings;">à Transport accident death rate for young males has been consistently 3 times higher than females
 * ~ Extent of the impact: **

**__ Groups of young people most at risk __** __ Have a motor vehicle accidents __ - Males between 15-24yrs are more at risk of being injured in motor vehicle accidents - Although there has been a drop in the annual death toll the deaths overall are still in large numbers. With laws on the amount of passengers for P-plate drivers would hopefully increase the amounts. There are studies showing that those with two or more passengers are at a higher risk of having an accident - People under 26 years only 15% <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">of them have their licence whereas 36% are involved in road accidents. But those on the P1 licence are four times more likely to be in an accident then those over 26 __ Engage in risk taking behaviour __ - The risk taking behaviour involves speeding, drugs and alcohol and reckless driving. With most of the risky behaviours being connect to motor vehicle accidents. - Males would be at risk of taking part in risky behaviours due to any number of reasons such as peer pressure.


 * ~ The major related social factors: **
 * Social Factor || Influence ||
 * Socioeconomic status || People of a low SES are more likely to be involved in risk taking and road related injuries. While people of a high SES are less likely to partake in risky behaviours and road injuries as they are more aware of the implications of risky behaviours on the road ||
 * Employment || Type of employment can increase risk taking behaviours and road related injuries such as truck drivers are more likely to develop driver fatigue as they drive for long distances and usually at night. Also, they tend to come from rural/isolated areas where roads are quiet unsafe and heavily undeveloped. The Global financial crisis has increased the risk as people are working more hours and driving long distances to work. People with higher incomes are able to access better cars with more safety features and manage their car a lot better. ||
 * Education || People with better education are less likely to be involved in road accidents as they are aware of the implications associated with risky behaviour. Higher education level equates to better employment and income. They are able to buy cars with better safety features and manage their cars ||
 * Gender || Males are more likely to be involved in risk taking behaviours and road related injuries ||
 * Peer Influence || Many young people are greatly influenced by their peers and friends. It may be positive as in “speeding no one thinks big of you” or negative when the peer groups may encourage risky behaviour. Male passengers are less likely to discourage the driver from engaging in risky behaviour. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Male drivers are less likely to drive recklessly while there is a female passenger in the car ||

Health promotion
Critically analyse a health promotion program designed to promote the health of young people related to each of the **two** areas of concern being investigated

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[|Speeding. No one thinks big of you] [|Notes campaign] [|Arrive Alive] [|U Turn the Wheel] [|Road Wise] [|Youthsafe] [|Road Safety]

Health promotion - RTA campaign- speeding ‘no one thinks big of you’

Aim/ objective To discourage young males especially from speeding

Identified groups Young people (males especially)

New public health approach Aims to prevent injury associated with road accidents rather than a focus on a cure <span style="font-size: 12pt; background: aqua; line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri; mso-highlight: aqua; msohighlight: aqua;">Effectiveness of meeting objectives Statistics relating to road accidents and injury have decreased over the past decade indicating that the campaign; along with other health promotion initiatives have played a role in decreasing these figures

<span style="font-size: 12pt; background: aqua; line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri; mso-highlight: aqua; msohighlight: aqua;">Other approaches that could be adopted Focus on other risk taking behaviours other then speeding i.e. the consequences of drink driving

Skills and actions <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; msolist: Ignore; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri;"> -   Developing health literacy and accessing skills - provides education and knowledge to young drivers highlighting that speeding is not an acceptable behaviour <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; msolist: Ignore; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri;"> -    Creating a sense of future - targets young people attempting to develop health conscious skills at a young age <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; msolist: Ignore; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri;"> -   Social action - encourages all people, especially young drivers to discourage speeding


 * **Criteria** || **Checklist**
 * Yes/No** ||
 * Are young people the target group? ||  ||
 * Does the health promotion program focus on the major cause/s of morbidity and mortality in young people?
 * risk taking and road related injury
 * substance abuse
 * stress and coping
 * sexuality
 * body image
 * violence ||  ||
 * Does the health promotion campaign recognise the social factors that impact on the lives of young people?
 * SES
 * education
 * employement
 * gender
 * ethnicity
 * Aboriginality
 * geographic location
 * sexual orientation
 * peer influence ||  ||
 * Does the health promotion program encompass the new public health approach?
 * empowering young people
 * community participation
 * recognition of social determinants ||  ||
 * Does the health promotion program develop the skills young people need to cope effectively with their health and life?
 * building positive health concepts
 * developing a sense of connectedness
 * promoting an acceptance & valuing cultural diversity
 * developing health literacy & accessing skills
 * coping skills
 * social problem solving skills
 * supportive networks
 * creating a sense of future
 * social action ||  ||

Skills & actions
Investigate ways of improving health outcomes of young people in the **two** areas of concern in the context of examining the skills and actions identified in the next focus question.

[|Road Safety 2010] [|Monash Research] [|My Space Profile]

Resources
http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10451 http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10500 http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/road_fatality_statistics/index.aspx http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/statistics/index.html http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/downloads/accident_statistics_dl4.html http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/index.html http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/index.html http://www.youthsafe.org/