NCJ Number
200373
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2003 Pages: 32-37
Date Published
March 2003
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on road safety campaigns aimed at young men in Australia.
Abstract
Young men are the most dangerous individuals on Australian roads. In the past 5 years, young Australian male drivers have significantly contributed to the high numbers of injuries and damage caused by motor vehicle accidents. Discussing the way in which road safety campaigns are designed to encourage drivers to rationally calculate the outcomes of their actions, the author describes both the intrinsic consequences of bad driving such as injury or death, as well as the extrinsic or legal consequences of bad driving behaviors. Following a discussion of the importance of car culture in young men’s lives, the author suggests that understanding men’s behaviors in general relies on the importance of understanding masculinity itself. Suggesting that there is a linkage between cars and dominant forms of masculinity, the author maintains that understanding Australian youth male culture is key to recognizing the association between masculinity and high-risk driving behavior. Road safety education strategies need to address both physiological as well as cultural influences on dangerous driving in adolescent males. References