Increasing age is associated with an increase in the rate (per mile driven) at which drivers have driving accidents, particularly fatal accidents. In the oldest age groups, men in particular are at risk. If beliefs about the controllability of accidents are reflected in differences in safety-related behaviors, and if increasing age is associated with more external control beliefs about accidents, this might be reflected in changes in safety and driving behavior which could result in increased accident rates. We assessed Driver Locus of Control and found mixed support for that hypothesis, depending on sex and control beliefs addressed, in a group of drivers aged 40–92.
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