Pii: S1369-8478(99)00007-8

The study, comparing di€erent driver licensing methods, involved 267 subjects (132 male, 135 female) with a mean age of 19.6 years (range 17±23) who had obtained their driver's licence either by completing a competency-based training course (145 subjects) or by passing a practical examination (122 subjects). Subjects completed a survey regarding their driving attitudes, behaviours and experiences. Licensing method had no e€ect on driving outcomes (i.e. crash and o€ence rates) or self-perceptions of driving attitudes or behaviour. However, drivers who had passed the practical examination had higher self-ratings of skill than drivers who had completed competency-based training. These ®ndings indicate that the di€erent licensing methods produce young drivers with similar driving attitudes and behaviours. Path analysis showed that self-perceptions of skill and safety are good indicators of crash and o€ence rates, and that rather than being a determinant of driving behaviour, licensing method may itself be determined by selfperceptions of skill. Ó 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.