PSY 409A Driving Psychology,  February 26, 2006

The Target Level of Risk and Skills that Influence Road-User Behavior

By: Melanie Baldueza

 

Wilde, Gerald J.S. The Theory of Risk Homeostasis. Reference 13

http://psyc.queensu.ca/target/chapter04.html#4.1

 

Instructions for this outline:

http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/g24-oral1.htm

 

I.                    The target level of risk

a.       People are willing to take difference risks in any given situation. 

b.      When the expected benefits or risky behavior are high and the expected costs are low, the target risk level of risk will be high

c.       Target means preferred, desired, or accepted

d.      Four categories of that motivates how much people are willing to risk

                                                               i.      Expected advantages of comparatively risky behaviors

1.      Being early for something when speeding

2.      Drive recklessly for an adrenaline rush

                                                             ii.      Expected costs of comparatively risky behaviors

1.      Car repair expenses

2.      Increase in car insurance premiums for being involved in an accident

                                                            iii.      Expected benefits of comparatively safe behaviors

1.      Discount in insurance premiums for not being in accidents

                                                           iv.      Expected costs of comparatively safe behaviors

1.      Using a seatbelt

2.      Being called a wimp by friends

a.       The higher the values in categories 1 and 4, the higher the target level of risk

b.      The higher the values in categories 2 and 3, the lower the target level of risk.

c.       Some motivating factors in all 4 categories

                                                                                                                                       i.      Economic in nature

1.      If moving yourself or supplies from one point to another is a way of earning money, speeding gains money and time at the same time. 

2.      But also has greater risk, higher gas costs and more car wear and tear

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Cultural, social, or psychological kind

e.       People strive for a certain level of risk for its own sake

II.                 Skills that influence road user behavior

a.       Three skills that have a direct effect on the level of risk perceived and the action that is performed

                                                               i.      Perceptual skills

1.      Determines the extent to which the person’s subjectively perceived risk corresponds to the objective risk

2.      Realize their limitations and act correctly

                                                             ii.      Decision-making skills

1.      The driver’s ability to decide what they should do in order to have a good change

                                                            iii.      Car-handling skills

1.      The driver’s ability to carry out the actions they have decided.

b.      Improvement on their levels of performance can be done by two methods

                                                               i.      Fit the driver to the task

1.      Can be done by giving good training procedures

2.      Practice the task

3.      Telling the driver how they did on the task

                                                             ii.      Fit the task to the driver

1.      Create an optimal environment for the driver to do the task at an efficient level

c.       Level of skillful driving can be improved by driver education

d.      Skills serve not to minimize risk, but to optimize it

 

Related Links:

 

1.  http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/324/7346/1149#art – Does Risk Homeostasis Theory Have Implications for Road Safety

I chose this link because the author of the reference is defending his theory against a person that says the theory has many flaws. It was interesting to see two very opposite views on risk homeostasis. 

 

2.   http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/pub/risk.pdf - Understanding Youthful Risk Taking and Driving

I chose this link because it focuses on a specific age group.  It talked about what factors would influence their judgments to take risks while driving.  It touched base on social pressures, learned behaviors, and other factors that might have influenced them to take risks while driving

 

3.  http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/muarc009.html - An Overview of Novice Driver Performance Issues – A Literature Review

I chose this link because it talks about the skills we need to develop to become better drivers.  They talk about perception skills, risk/hazard perception, cognitive domain, and other skills that need to be matured as the driver gains more experience on the road.

 

 

My Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409as2006/baldueza/baldueza-home.htm

 

G24 Class Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/classhome-g24.htm