QUT - Academic profiles - Dr Natalie Watson-Brown

Biography

Dr Natalie Watson-Brown is a Research Fellow at MAIC-QUT Road Safety Research Collaboration. Her PhD research focused on the application of psychosocial theory to the complex young novice driver problem through an exploration of the development and training of higher-order driving skills to improve the safety of young drivers. Since completing her PhD in 2019, she has continued to focus her research on the cognitive processes of self-regulation that contribute to young drivers' engagement in risky and non-compliant behaviours. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, her research examined the impact of the temporary suspension of static roadside random breath testing on drink-driving behaviours. Her main areas of research interest include:

Young drivers
Education and training
Graduated licensing systems
Risky and non-compliant behaviours
Adolescent social and cognitive development
Other high-risk and vulnerable road users
Application of new theory to road safety

+61 7 31384885

natalie.watsonbrown@qut.edu.au

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Personal details

Positions

Research Fellow
Faculty of Health,
School of Psychology & Counselling

Keywords

young driver, adolescent development, graduated driver licensing, driver education and training, risky driving behaviour, driver training pedagogy, self-determination theory, Goals for Driver Education, quantitative survey techniques, qualitative research methods

Research field

Public health, Transportation, logistics and supply chains

Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020

Qualifications

PhD of Philosophy - Behavioural Science nec (University of Sunshine Coast)

Professional memberships and associations

Member - Queensland Chapter, Australasian College of Road Safety
Member - International Outreach Chapter, Australasian College of Road Safety
Member - Transportation Research Board - Young Driver Subcommittee

Teaching

2018-2019 - Social Research Methods, University of the Sunshine Coast

Publications

Watson-Brown, N., Scott-Parker, B. & Senserrick, T. (2018). Development of a higher-order instruction coding taxonomy for observational data: Initial application to professional driving instruction. Applied Ergonomics, 70, 88–97. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/124550
Watson-Brown, N., Scott-Parker, B. & Senserrick, T. (2019). Association between higher-order driving instruction and risky driving behaviours: Exploring the mediating effects of a self-regulated safety orientation. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 131, 275–283. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/131559
Watson-Brown, N., Mills, L., Senserrick, T., Freeman, J., Davey, J. & Scott-Parker, B. (2021). A complex system of learning to drive: The instructor's perspective. Safety Science, 136. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/207470
Mills, L., Watson-Brown, N., Freeman, J., Truelove, V. & Davey, J. (2021). An exploratory investigation into the self-regulatory processes influencing drug driving: Are young drivers more externally regulated? Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 80, 237–249. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/209914
Watson-Brown, N., Truelove, V., Parker, E. & Davey, J. (2021). Drink driving during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 78, 369–380. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/208328
Watson-Brown, N., Scott-Parker, B. & Senserrick, T. (2021). Higher order training supporting competence, autonomy, relatedness (HOT-CAR): A model to improve learner drivers' higher order skills. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 80, 79–89. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/209599
Watson-Brown, N., Senserrick, T., Freeman, J., Davey, J. & Scott-Parker, B. (2021). Self-regulation differences across learner and probationary drivers: The impact on risky driving behaviours. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 154. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/208325
Watson-Brown, N., Scott-Parker, B., Simons-Morton, B. & Senserrick, T. (2020). Exploring the dimensions of driving instruction through naturalistic observation of formal practical lessons with learner drivers. Transportation Research Record, 2674(3), 219–231. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/202293
Watson-Brown, N., Scott-Parker, B. & Senserrick, T. (2020). Higher-order driving instruction and opportunities for improvement: Exploring differences across learner driver experience. Journal of Safety Research, 75, 67–77. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/208912
Seibokaite, L., Endriulaitiene, A., Zardeckaite-Matulaitiene, K., Oviedo-Trespalacios, O., Watson-Brown, N. & Scott-Parker, B. (2020). The self-reported driving behaviour of young drivers in Lithuania: An application of the behaviour of young novice drivers scale - Lithuania (BYNDS-Li). Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 69, 311–323. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/197505

QUT ePrints

For more publications by Natalie, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).

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Filter publications:

2025

Rejali, S. S., Kaye, S., Watson-Brown, N., Senserrick, T. & Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. (2025). Drivers' perceptions of improving official information and road rules for distracted driving: Enhancing content, design, and delivery. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 110, 148–162. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/256121

2024

Rejali, S. S., Watson-Brown, N., Kaye, S., Senserrick, T. & Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. (2024). Is official information about distracted driving enough? A critical investigation of Government-provided information and road rules in Australia. Safety Science, Article 106519, 175. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/247891
Kaye, S., Watson-Brown, N., Lewis, I., Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. & Senserrick, T. (2024). Perceived effectiveness of traditional and technology-based speeding-related countermeasures. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 104, 348–358. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/249100
Yendra, D., Haworth, N. & Watson-Brown, N. (2024). A comparison of factors influencing the safety of pedestrians accessing bus stops in countries of differing income levels. Accident Analysis and Prevention, Article 107725, 207. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/251758
Rejali, S. S., Watson-Brown, N., Kaye, S., Senserrick, T. & Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. (2024). Is it all about mobile phones? Exploring drivers' perceptions of government information and road rules on distracted driving. Accident Analysis and Prevention, Article 107770, 208. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/251923
Watson-Brown, N., Nicolls, M., Mardani, A., Aveleira Fernandes, I. & Truelove, V. (2024). A qualitative study of the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: The impact on alcohol consumption and driving behaviours. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 104, 449–460. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/254846
Watson-Brown, N., Truelove, V. & Senserrick, T. (2024). Self-Regulating compliance to enhance safe driving behaviours. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 105, 437–453. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/254847

2023

Truelove, V., Davey, B. & Watson-Brown, N. (2023). Examining the differences in perceived legal and non-legal factors between drink driving and drug driving. The Journal of Criminology, 56(1), 59–77. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234311
Truelove, V., Watson-Brown, N. & Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. (2023). External and internal influences on mobile phone use while driving: Combining the theories of deterrence and self-determination. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 93, 280–293. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237834
Senserrick, T., Watson-Brown, N., Kaye, S. & Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. (2023). Upskilling Professional Driving Instructors of Young Learner Drivers: What Are We Waiting For? Journal of Road Safety, 34(2). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/239730
Rodwell, D., Watson-Brown, N. & Bates, L. (2023). Perceptions of novice driver education needs; Development of a scale based on the Goals for driver education using young driver and parent samples. Accident Analysis & Prevention, Article 107190, 191. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/241717
Kaye, S., Watson-Brown, N., Yin, J., Oviedo Trespalacios, O., Senserrick, T. & Lewis, I. (2023). Perceived effectiveness of traditional and technology-based approaches to reduce speeding. 258–261. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/243611
Masterton, G., Brady, M., Watson-Brown, N., Senserrick, T. & Tranter, K. (2023). Driver Licences, Diversionary Programs and Transport Justice for First Nations Peoples in Australia. International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 12(3), 93–107. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/243495
Huang, B., Watson-Brown, N. & Truelove, V. (2023). Low-range, mid-range and high-range speeding: The association with speeding habits, perceived legitimacy and deterrence. Journal of Safety Research, 87, 313–322. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/246854

2022

Truelove, V., Watson-Brown, N., Mills, L., Freeman, J. E. & Davey, J. (2022). It's not a hard and fast rule: A qualitative investigation into factors influencing speeding among young drivers. Journal of Safety Research, 81, 36–44. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/213436

A complete list of publications is available at: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/natalie.watsonbrown

Awards

Type: Advisor/Consultant for Industry
Reference year: 2022
Details: I was the key advisor for driver trainers across Australia for a submission to the Australian Industry Standards (AIS) regarding the training requirements for Car Driving Instruction. This qualification was undergoing reform with minimal industry knowledge. In addition to the CARRS-Q submission that was supported by the Australasian College of Road Safety and authored by me, multiple submissions were sent from groups of driver trainers and registered training organisations across Australia. This resulted in a decision by the AIS to maintain the number of competencies that were to be reduced under the reform.

Type: Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
Reference year: 2022
Details: The Transportation Research Board is based in Washington DC. I was invited to be part of the establishing committee for Early Career Researchers, since 2021.

Type: Editorial Role for an Academic Journal
Reference year: 2022
Details: Recommended and appointed as a guest editor for the special issue, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on road user behaviour: Now and towards the future

Type: Reviewer for an Academic Journal
Reference year: 2022
Details: Since 2017 I have reviewed papers for the following journals:Accident Analysis and PreventionJournal of Adolescent HealthSafety SciencePLOS MedicineAmerican Journal of Preventative MedicineBMC Public HealthTransportation Research Board Annual MeetingTraffic Injury PreventionIATSS

Type: Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
Reference year: 2022
Details: I am involved in the 2022 Christchurch, New Zealand Australasian Road Safety Conference (the ACRS's annual conference) organising committee in preparation for the Queensland conference in 2023.I am a member of the ACRS Queensland Chapter Executive Committee, The International Outreach Chapters, and one of three members involved in establishing the new Australasian ECR Chapter.

Supervision

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Dr Natalie Watson-Brown