Psy 409a - Driving Psychology, April 24, 2006

Dream Cars, Technology and Distractions

Tiare MacDonald

Dr. Leon James and Dr. Diane Nahl. Road Rage and Aggressive Driving: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare. 254-268.

Instructions for this activity are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/g24-oral1.htm

Instructor: Dr. Leon James

In the Driver’s Image

• Car buyers consciously seem to want practical features in a car, but subconsciously, they may have desires to own a car that allows them to drive without boundaries.
• Car commercials portray people living out these driving fantasies.
• This may be sending out the wrong message to viewers, as the methods of driving used in these advertisements are often dangerous and unrealistic.
• People commonly associate the type of car someone drives with the type of person s/he is.
• For example, a driver stepping out of an expensive, shiny, black SUV may be perceived as wealthy, professional and attractive, and a driver stepping out of a 20 year old vehicle may be looked at as having no ambition in life, unattractive and poor.
• Thus, cars and image go together.
• Many people feel passionate about their cars.
• However, just because someone has a passion for cars does not mean that they cannot be an emotionally intelligent driver.
• Many drivers do not want to become supportive because they do not want to look like sissies on the road (especially men).

Driving Music

• Drivers’ driving mannerisms often are influenced by the kind of music that they listen to in the car as well as how loud it is.
• Listening to music may decrease response time.
• However, music can positively influence driving.
• For example, an aggressive driver is listening to Kenny G may not be so aggressive.

Dashboard Dining

• People on-the-go frequently eat while driving.
• Fast food chains accommodate this by creating food that is easy to consume while driving.
• Eating behind the wheel can be dangerous because you may take your eyes off of the road and/or become mentally preoccupied with eating.
• Car consumers value having many cup holders in a potential vehicle.
• Drivers can train to become safer dashboard diners.

Car Phones

• People commonly talk on their cell phones behind the wheel.
• This can be risky because it distracts people.
• Conversation in general can be dangerous.
• Drivers can train themselves to multi-task between talking and driving.
• Doing simulations while not behind the wheel.
• Keeping conversations to a minimum.

Mobile Computing

• Car manufacturers may start putting computers in cars called “automotive telematics.”
• This may include: advanced GPS systems, internet access, video entertainment systems, and rear seat cameras to monitor children in the back seat.
• Like everything else, drivers will need to train themselves to use these gadgets with discretion.

Intelligent Transportation Systems

• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are designed to dictate traffic via electronics, lesson road danger, give you directions, regulate pollution, control parking, etc.
• Driving as we know it is vastly changing through technological innovations.
• ITS operates to lessen driver’s involvement through automatic functions.
• The down side is that ITS is much too expensive for most drivers and will be for a long time.

Managing the New World of Driving

• Flying cars may become a part of our market sooner than we think.
• Greater technology may increase drivers’ feelings of isolation and immunity to their outside environment as well as lesson communication between other drivers.
• Drivers need to know how to use these new car features.
• Many people fail to realize that driver training must change alongside vehicle technology.
• Supportive driving will be needed even more in light of the increasingly intricate driving environment.

RELATED LINKS:

“Flying Cars Ready to Take Off”

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/15/60minutes/main688454.shtml

I picked this link because the idea of flying cars is so unbelievable to me, but I think that I will see it happen in my lifetime. I wonder what this will entail as far as driver’s education and driving psychology is concerned. One interesting thing is that one of the flying car engineers featured in the article says he will sell it for only $50,000. That’s not too expensive, although I would be hesitant to trust the mechanical safety of flying cars until they go main-stream.

“Intelligent Transportation Systems”

http://www.its.dot.gov/index.htm

I thought that this website was interesting because allowed me to learn more about Intelligent Transportation Systems. One feature that particularly fascinated me was the “Collision Avoidance Systems,” which encompassed the following features: intersection collision warning, obstacle detection, lane change assistance, lane departure warning, rollover warning, road departure warning, forward collision warning and rear impact warning. I think that these will be assets in reducing the amount of car accidents. I personally have always thought it would be great if real cars were built with really protective bumpers (like bumper cars).

“Find Exotic Sports Cars for Sale”

http://www.chooseyouritem.com/exotics/

I chose this website because it shows a variety of cars that are known to be the object of many people’s fantasies. This page reminded me of how children are schooled in driving values at a young age because I remember when I was a kid and both boys and girls had pictures of dream cars that go 200+ mph up in their rooms. Car fantasies were a common topic in our conversations.

My Homepage: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409as2006/macdonald/macdonald-home.htm

Class Homepage:  www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/classhome-g24.htm