Drivers' illusions -- no more risk

Abstract In this invited address to the International Congress of Applied Psychology, it is argued that traffic psychology has not had a major impact on accident prevention. The factors that have determined this are discussed. A review of the theories and models pertinent to drivers’ risk taking and road user behaviour in general is presented. It is argued that both risk-homeostasis theories and task capability model are not sufficiently precise to be used as a basis for preventive measures. Attitude–behaviour models derived from social psychology have proved to be powerful in identifying motivational factors influencing road user behaviour, but the majority of empirical evidence is based on self-reported rather than observed behaviour. It is argued that individual differences can provide a basis for accident prevention, in particular driver training.

[1]  L. Åberg,et al.  OBSERVED VEHICLE SPEED AND DRIVERS' PERCEIVED SPEED OF OTHERS , 1997 .

[2]  D. Parker,et al.  Extending the theory of planned behaviour: The role of personal norm , 1995 .

[3]  B. Verplanken,et al.  ATTITUDE VERSUS GENERAL HABIT -- ANTECEDENTS OF TRAVEL MODE CHOICE / , 1994 .

[4]  Frank P. McKenna,et al.  It won't happen to me: Unrealistic optimism or illusion of control? , 1993 .

[5]  Karel Brookhuis,et al.  Alcohol, drugs and traffic safety , 1988 .

[6]  F. McKenna,et al.  Factors underlying illusory self-assessment of driving skill in males and females. , 1991, Accident Analysis and Prevention.

[7]  O. Svenson.  ARE WE ALL LESS RISKY AND MORE SKILLFUL THAN OUR FELLOW DRIVERS , 1981 .

[8]  P Barjonet.  TRANSPORT PSYCHOLOGY IN EUROPE: A GENERAL OVERVIEW , 1997 .

[9]  Fokie Cnossen,et al.  Strategic changes in task performance in simulated car driving as an adaptive response to task demands , 2000 .

[10]  I D Brown,et al.  Assessing one's own and others' driving ability: influences of sex, age, and experience. , 1989, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[11]  Gerald J.S. Wilde,et al.  Risk homeostasis theory and traffic accidents: propositions, deductions and discussion of dissension in recent reactions , 1988 .

[12]  Talib Rothengatter,et al.  Maintaining task set under fatigue: A study of time-on-task effects in simulated driving. , 2001 .

[13]  Icek Ajzen,et al.  From Intentions to Actions: A Theory of Planned Behavior , 1985 .

[14]  D. Yagil.  Gender and age-related differences in attitudes toward traffic laws and traffic violations , 1998 .

[15]  J. G. Hollands,et al.  Engineering Psychology and Human Performance , 1984 .

[16]  Gerald J.S. Wilde,et al.  The Theory of Risk Homeostasis: Implications for Safety and Health , 1982 .

[17]  R Fuller,et al.  A conceptualization of driving behaviour as threat avoidance. , 1984, Ergonomics.

[18]  J. Beckmann,et al.  Action control : from cognition to behavior , 1985 .

[19]  Heikki Summala.  Behavioural adaptation and drivers' task control , 2002 .

[20]  T. Rothengatter,et al.  Traffic and Transport Psychology: Theory and Application , 1997 .

[21]  J A Michon,et al.  Explanatory pitfalls and rule-based driver models. , 1989, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[22]  Jörgen Garvill,et al.  Factors influencing drivers' decision to install an electronic speed checker in the car , 2003 .

[23]  D. Walton,et al.  Examining the self-enhancement bias: professional truck drivers’ perceptions of speed, safety, skill and consideration , 1999 .

[24]  R D Huguenin.  DO WE NEED TRAFFIC PSYCHOLOGY MODELS , 1997 .

[25]  Adriaan Heino.  Risk taking in car driving; perceptions, individual differences and effects of safety incentives , 1996 .

[26]  W. A. Tillmann,et al.  The accident-prone automobile driver; a study of the psychiatric and social background. , 1949, The American journal of psychiatry.

[27]  I. Ajzen,et al.  Belief, Attitude, Intention, and Behavior: An Introduction to Theory and Research , 1977 .

[28]  Heikki Summala,et al.  A psychophysical method for determining the effect of studded tires on safety , 1980 .

[29]  L. Robertson,et al.  For and against , 2002, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[30]  Gerald J.S. Wilde,et al.  RISK: PERCEPTION, ACCEPTANCE AND HOMEOSTASIS , 1997 .

[31]  Theo F. Meijman,et al.  Anticipation and the adaptive control of safety margins in driving , 1999 .

[32]  Nils Petter Gregersen,et al.  FROM CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE TO PERSONAL SELF-CONTROL; BROADENING THE PERSPECTIVES TO DRIVER EDUCATION , 2002 .

[33]  Lynn R. Kahle,et al.  Seat Belt Attitudes, Habits, and Behaviors: An Adaptive Amendment to the Fishbein Model , 1983 .

[34]  H. Summala.  HIERARCHICAL MODEL OF BEHAVIOURAL ADAPTATION AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS , 1997 .

[35]  J Fuller.  PSYCHOLOGY AND THE HIGHWAY ENGINEER , 2002 .

[36]  S E Forward.  MEASURING ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR USING THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR , 1997 .

[37]  R. Fuller.  The task-capability interface model of the driving process , 2000 .

[38]  Patricia Delhomme,et al.  Control motivation and young drivers' decision making , 1998 .

[39]  K. Brookhuis.  How to measure driving ability under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and why , 1998 .

[40]  Jonathon D. Brown,et al.  Evaluations of Self and Others: Self-Enhancement Biases in Social Judgments , 1986 .

[41]  D. Parker,et al.  Attitudinal predictors of interpersonally aggressive violations on the road , 1998 .

[42]  Ray Fuller,et al.  Human Factors for Highway Engineers , 2002 .

[43]  Frank A. Haight.  Accident proneness: the history of an idea , 1964 .