ÖAMTC survey: Novice drivers show more consideration for children in traffic than experienced drivers

What novice drivers pay particular attention to

"Schlechtwetterfahrten und das Navigieren in starkem Verkehr teilen sich mit je 22 Prozent Rang drei", fasste ÖAMTC-Verkehrspsychologin Marion Seidenberger die Ergebnisse zusammen. She interprets the results as an indication that the fresh memory of one's own training and the associated sensitization continues to have an effect. Young drivers would therefore perceive traffic situations involving children more consciously and react more quickly.

The study also highlighted the importance of the so-called principle of trust (Vertrauensgrundsatz). While many experienced motorists rely on children behaving in accordance with the rules, the surveyed novice drivers show a more cautious basic attitude. They more frequently expect unexpected movements and consciously keep more distance.

Principle of trust and caution

For the ÖAMTC, the survey provides arguments to further strengthen the training of novice drivers. The mobility club has long advocated that theoretical and practical training be geared even more strongly toward the protection of vulnerable groups such as children, elderly people, and cyclists. The current data is being used as empirical support for this demand.

The question of self-assessment of one's own driving experience also played a role in the survey. Many of the novice drivers stated that they do not yet see themselves as fully routine road users and therefore drive particularly attentively. This self-perception is reflected in an above-average cautious behavior toward children.

Demands on driver training

The study's author Seidenberger emphasized that the results should not be understood as a blanket condemnation of experienced drivers. Rather, the survey shows that an intensive training phase can positively shape later traffic morality. The ÖAMTC sees this as an incentive to specifically focus on empathy and consideration in driver training.

Overall, the ÖAMTC survey provides a nuanced view of the driving behavior of the youngest generation of drivers in Austria. The data suggest that newly licensed drivers, through their reserved driving style and watchful eye on children, can make an important contribution to road safety.

The mobility club announced that it would also incorporate the results into the ongoing discussion about amending regulations for novice drivers. Among other things, this concerns accompaniment phases, advanced seminars, and mandatory refresher courses in the first years after obtaining a license. The survey is intended to serve as an argument for expanding such offerings.

In the broader road safety debate, experts see the results as an indication that investments in driver training have a long-term effect. A safe and considerate driving style that is internalized at a young age can reduce the risk of accidents on the road for decades.

The ÖAMTC plans to repeat the survey in the coming years in order to document changes in novice drivers' behavior over time. The survey is part of a broader series of studies examining the driving behavior of different age groups in Austria.