FROM PRONENESS TO LIABILITY --ROAD USER BEHAVIOR. THEORY AND RESEARCH. PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE 2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ROAD SAFETY HELD IN GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS, AUGUST 1987
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As a result of in-depth or at-the-scene accident investigations, the predominant role played by 'human error' in traffic accidents is now an established fact. It might be expected, therefore, that the study of the way in which individual road users differ in their liability to have road accidents would be one of the best documented and active areas of traffic safety research. In reality, this is far from the case. The study of the factors that influence an individual's liability to have accidents has had a long history. Indeed, the area seems to be notable more for past attainments than for current activity. For example, what is probably the most frequently quoted phrase about the subject -'a man drives as he lives' -is nearly forty years old. Further, there is a lack of consensus about the most appropriate methods of investigation, about the analysis of data, and about the interpretation of results. Worse, there is little evidence of any real progress after what amounts to decades of research. In short, the area gives the impression of being a research programme that has run out of steam. The purpose of this chapter is to look at the reasons for the past decline, to note some promising methodological developments in the last decade, and to argue for renewed interest and activity in this field.(a) for the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 815404.