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• The Driver Behaviour Questionnaire was administered in two independent samples. • The four factor solution was confirmed using exploratory factor analysis in the first sample. • Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the four factors in the second independent sample. • All four DBQ factors were significantly related to crashes in the first sample. • In the second sample the number of crashes reported was very low. The Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) is the most commonly used framework for investigating the relationship between self-reported driving behaviour and crash involvement. However, in spite of the fact that the scale is almost 30 years old, the factor structure of the scale and relationship to crashes in New Zealand remains under-researched. The present study set out to establish the factor structure of the DBQ in a sample of New Zealand private vehicle drivers and to examine the adequacy of this factor structure in an independent second sample of New Zealand drivers. Using exploratory factor analysis, the first sample (n = 860, M age = 39.3, 44% females) produced a factor structure that broadly supported the four hypothetical factors of errors, violations, aggressive violations and lapses. This factor structure was supported in a second sample from the New Zealand electoral roll (n = 441, M age = 53.4, 55% females), using confirmatory factor analysis. There were a number of differences in the relationships that the DBQ factors had with the demographic and descriptive variables. In the first sample, all four of the DBQ factors were significantly related to crash involvement. In contrast, none of the DBQ factors were related to crash involvement in the second sample, possibly due to the very small number of crashes reported. However, these differences are likely due to differences in the demographic composition of the two samples. The present study suggests that the DBQ is a valid measure of aberrant driving behaviour in New Zealand and this consists of errors, violations, aggressive violations and lapses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present study aimed to describe the road user behaviour of New Zealand adolescents and to investigate the applicability of the Adolescent Road user Behaviour Questionnaire (ARBQ) to New Zealand adolescents. In total 944 adolescents were surveyed in the North and South islands of New Zealand. Factor analysis of the scale produced three factors which had acceptable internal reliability and were very similar to those found in the original research. The three factors were “unsafe crossing behaviour”, “playing on the road” and “planned protective behaviour”. This research also found that males and those who were at least part Maori were more likely to put themselves at risk by playing on the road. Furthermore, those who identified themselves as being part Maori also engaged in unsafe road crossing behaviour more often than Caucasian and Asian adolescents. Interestingly, only the interaction effect between age and sex was significantly related to engagement in planned protective behaviour. However, despite differences between New Zealand and England, and differences in the sample characteristics, the scale appeared to be measuring the same latent variables. Therefore, this research confirmed that the ARBQ is a useful tool for investigating the behaviour of adolescents on the road. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Research has shown that using a mobile phone whilst driving may increase the risk of being crash involved by as much as nine times. As around 65% of New Zealand''s population own mobile phones, this represents a potentially very significant hazard. In order to effectively target interventions towards those drivers who use mobile phones while driving, information is needed about the characteristics of these drivers. The present study investigated the frequency of mobile phone use on New Zealand''s roads and the characteristics of drivers who use mobile phones while driving. The research found that more than half (57.3%) of the participants used a mobile phone at least occasionally while driving. Those who reported using a mobile phone more often whilst driving tended to; be male, reside in a main urban area, report a higher annual mileage, drive a later model car with a larger engine, prefer a higher driving speed, have less driving experience (in years) and to be younger. In line with previous research, there was also a significant relationship between crash involvement and use of a mobile phone whilst driving. However, once the contributions of the demographic and descriptive variables had been partialled out, using hierarchical logistic regression, the relationship between crash involvement and mobile phone use was no longer significant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examined the physical strain experienced by cable hauler choker setters, and the applicability of heart rate indices for measuring physical strain in commercial forest harvesting operations in New Zealand. The heart rate of four choker setters were recorded continuously throughout the working day and applied to heart rate indices. Based on the relative heart rate at work (%HRR), ratio of working heart rate to resting heart rate and 50% level indices, the mean working heart rate (HRw) of 106 bt. min(-1) +/- 6.9 (mean +/- SD) placed choker setting in the moderate workload category. The specific tasks of line shifts (120.3 +/- 4.8 bt. min(-1)), hooking up drags (118.8 +/- 6.6 bt. min(-1)) and uphill travel (126.1 +/- 12.9 bt. min(-1)), imposed the most severe workloads on the choker setters. This research also demonstrated that heart rate indices could be used as an effective means of determining the physiological strain of subjects working in New Zealand's commercial forest harvesting operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An industry specific rehabilitation programme was developed to cater for the special requirements of the New Zealand logging industry. The aims of the rehabilitation programme were to: reduce the amount of time lost due to injury, reduce the number of lost time injuries, and overall, to reduce the direct costs associated with logging injuries. The programme was field-tested on a logging company. The rehabilitation programme was effective for reducing the average amount of time lost due to injury and also for reducing the cost of the injuries. Although there were a number of factors that may have had an impact upon these results, this research provides evidence that this rehabilitation programme was effective for reducing the severity and cost of injury to the New Zealand logging industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes how a voluntary accident reporting scheme has been used to identify the requirements for, and monitor the effectiveness of interventions within the New Zealand logging industry. Development of chainsaw cut-resistant legwear; Determination of the most appropriate color for high visibility clothing; Underlying rationale for each intervention.

• Three measures of different aspects of driving anxiety are examined. • The Driving Cognitions Questionnaire measures driving anxiety-related cognitions. • The Driving Situations Questionnaire measures anxiety and avoidance in driving situations. • The Driving Behavior Survey measures anxious driving behaviour. • The measures are promising for use in supporting research and clinical practice. Driving anxiety is a common experience that can have a significant impact on everyday functioning, especially avoidance of driving and travelling in a car. The heterogeneity of driving anxiety means that treatment often needs to address multiple areas of anxiety, cognition, and behaviour, and psychometric measures are an important part of individualised treatment and outcome measurement. There are several measures of driving anxiety, but their psychometric properties in non-clinical samples have not been adequately researched. The present study investigated the psychometric properties of three measures of driving anxiety, the Driving Cognitions Questionnaire (DCQ), Driving Situations Questionnaire (DSQ), and Driving Behavior Survey (DBS). In total, 420 participants from the New Zealand electoral roll completed a survey containing the three measures of driving anxiety, a measure of aberrant driving behaviour (the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire) and demographic and descriptive variables. The three driving anxiety scales demonstrated strong concurrent validity and the DSQ had strong discriminant validity. However, the discriminant validity findings for the DCQ and DBS were mixed. Further research is needed to evidence the psychometric properties of these measures of driving anxiety, so they can be of maximum benefit in designing tailored psychological treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the factor structures of the 14-item version of the DAS (Driving Anger Scale) and the Propensity for Angry Driving Scale (PADS) using a sample of New Zealand drivers drawn from the general population. The two scales were also investigated with regards to their relationships with general trait anger, risky driving behaviour, along with crash involvement and a variety of crash-related conditions. Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported both scales as unidimensional, although the PADS was reduced from a 19-item to an 18-item scale. Both the PADS and DAS were significantly related to trait anger, risky driving behaviour and near-misses. However, once the influence of the demographic variables and trait anger had been partialled out, the addition of the PADS and DAS made a significant contribution to predicting violations, but it was only the PADS which was significant. In contrast, after the demographic variables and trait anger had been partialled out, the addition of the DAS and PADS again made a significant contribution to the prediction of near-misses, but this time it was only the DAS which made a significant contribution. The present study clearly shows that both scales are robust measures, measuring similar, but slightly different aspects of driving anger., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify demographic and behavioural factors associated with pre-licensed driving., Method: A cohort comprising 3526 newly licensed drivers aged 15-24 years old from throughout New Zealand completed a questionnaire which sought information on pre-licensed driving behaviour and factors thought to be related to this., Results: Almost half of the participants had driven on-road prior to passing their learner license theory test; 14% had driven more than 20 times; and 7.5% had driven more than 200 km. Multivariate logistic regression showed the results differed depending on the outcome examined. In general pre-licensed driving was significantly higher among males, among Māori, those living in a rural area, and those living in an area of high deprivation. Furthermore, those who drove pre-licensed were more likely to engage in other risky behaviours such as hazardous drinking and cannabis use, and have medium to high scores for sensation seeking and aggression/hostility., Conclusion: The young people who were pre-licensed drivers displayed a range of demographic and behavioural characteristics that indicate they may be at higher crash risk than their peers who did not drive before licensing. Identifying those who drive before licensing and targeting road safety interventions towards this group may help reduce the high crash risk among novice drivers., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)