What potential role do siblings play in young drivers’ driving styles?

Siblings’ contribution to young drivers’ driving styles has received little attention. This study examined the unique and combined contributions of sibling relations and perceived sibling's driving style to the self-reported driving styles of young drivers. Three hundred and fifty one young drivers (17–22 years old) completed scales assessing their own driving styles (MDSI; Taubman – Ben-Ari, Mikulincer, & Gillath, 2004), the driving styles of an older sibling, and their relationship with that sibling (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985). The findings revealed significant associations between the driving style of the young driver and their sibling, and significant contributions of both sibling relations and perceived sibling driving style to the self-reported driving style of the young driver. The results indicate the potentially overlooked importance of siblings in determining how young drivers choose to drive, strengthening previous evidence regarding the strong influence of the family's global climate on the dynamics surrounding youngsters’ driving.