Assessment of driver inexperience with an automobile as a factor which contributes to highway accidents

This study addresses the statistical relationship between driver familiarity with\nvehicles and accident frequency. In 1981, 8.9 percent of all drivers in NASS-reported\nautomobile accidents had less than 150 miles driving experience with the accident\nvehicle. Our best estimate of the share of driving done by this group is 1.5 percent.\nThe study examined the NASS data for reporting bias and performed statistical tests\nto determine whether other factors explain the hightened risk. The study concluded\nthat driving experience with the vehicle per se is an important factor influencing\naccident risk.\nThe study suggests an inexpensive countermeasure and recommends that additional\ninformation which could be collected in NASS might lead to an even more cost-effective\ncountermeasure.\n