Beginner Driver Education · Driver Behaviour
Understanding Motives that Influence Young Drivers' Behaviour
Driviology Road Safety Education Team
What this actually means for you
Nobody sits down and decides to drive badly. It happens through habits and moods, which is exactly why this topic is in the course. Several factors may influence the driving style that a driver learns or has observed over time. The good news: unlike reflexes, this is entirely within your control, starting from your very first drive.
Motives Influencing Young Driver Behaviour - Safe Driving Practices
Several factors may influence the driving style that a driver learns or has observed over time.
For example, a young driver may have observed a parent's driving style – which may be outdated.
Other similar influences include:
- Family drivers
- Associates at work
- School bus drivers
- Media and television representation
- Similar experiences
All these motives can significantly influence driving style. It is essential to recognize that just because one sees someone doing something does not mean it is the right thing to do, and one must be well-informed before doing anything.
Using this on Ontario roads — and on your road test
This matters most in your first year or two with a G2, when your skills are still new and your confidence is growing faster than your experience. That is exactly the combination Ontario's graduated licensing system is built around, and it is why novice drivers face escalating consequences — up to licence suspension — for the serious offences. Passengers, late-night drives, and the urge to prove something are all part of real GTA driving life; the drivers who get through those years cleanly are the ones who treated this topic as a decision they made once, in advance, rather than a judgement call they remake every Friday night.
Questions drivers ask us
Can you explain motives that influence young drivers' behaviour in simple terms?
For example, a young driver may have observed a parent's driving style – which may be outdated.
What is the simplest way to get this right?
Decide your standards before you get in the car, not in the moment. Most bad driving decisions are made under pressure — from passengers, from traffic, from your own mood — and a standard you set in advance is much harder to argue yourself out of.
Can my attitude really affect my road test result?
Yes. Examiners mark judgement as much as technique: the gaps you accept, the speeds you choose, how you react to other drivers' mistakes. A technically smooth driver who makes impatient decisions does not look like a safe driver, and the score sheet reflects that.