Normal Behavior and Traffic Safety: Violations, Errors, Lapses and Crashes

Recent work by the Manchester Driver Behaviour Research Group is reviewed. Questionnaire studies in the UK distinguished between lapses, errors and violations. This work has also been repeated in other countries. In the UK, drivers' scores for violations (e.g. speeding, tailgating and crossing red traffic signals) were statistically associated with their accident involvement over three years, both retrospectively and prospectively, and for both active and passive crashes. Violations were more frequent among young drivers, male drivers and high mileage drivers. Active crashes (with responsibility attached) were best predicted by violation score plus driver gender, but passive crashes (responsibility not attached) were best predicted by annual mileage plus violation score. For the covering abstract see ITRD E110301.

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