Psychology 409a - April 10, 2006
Reaching People to Make a Positive Change
By Aaron Reich

Peter Rothe, Editor (2002). Driving Lessons: Exploring Systems That Make Traffic Safer. (Edmonton: University of Alberta Press). pp. 202-209

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

I. Getting the Message Out

  • There are two primary ways of creating change in society: top-down and ground-up. The top-down method is characterized by powerful, far-reaching entities (usually companies, or sometimes individuals) sending out a message that will reach the masses and promote change. The ground-up method starts at the level of the community, and is the method that is applicable to most people. In the realm of driving psychology, we as students and individuals can reach the most people to create a positive change via the ground-up method; that is, by being a role model for others in our local community.

  • As we have learned from the three-fold model of the self, behavior and attitude are inseperable. Attitude usually precedes behavior, and it is often not enough to forcedly impose a change on behavior without correcting the underlying attitude. The problem with traffic enforcement is that it seeks to change behaviors without addressing the attitude that led to the behavior in the first place. Is the problem of dangerous driving an innate human tendency toward aggressiveness, or is it a product of culture?

  • The word accident is a misnomer because crashes (or "collisions") are the result of wrong decisions, mistaken perceptions, failed adjustment to conditions, errors and distractions, and only in three percent of cases are they the result of mechanical failures, some of which could have been avoided with proper car maintenance. Thus, to use the word accident implies that no one is at fault or responsible for the collision, and this is clealy not the case.

  • The way that culture reports on driving and driving-related problems is full of complications, including the emphasis on pain rather than responsibility. Articles about collisions involving teenagers often focus on how tragic it is that they died so young rather than how stupid they were to have been driving irresponsibly. Once again, this takes the blame off of them and nobody really learns from their mistake.

  • The media needs to change the way they are reporting traffic accidents that emphasizes that drivers are responsible for their own actions and have to be careful about their own driving in order to prevent dangerous situations from occurring. The media is the main way of getting the message out to others.

    • II. Leading Others Toward a New Direction

  • Cars are more than just a means of transportation; they are a means of communication. When drivers were asked if the car they had expressed themselves, they initially said no because the car that did express themselves was destroyed in a car accident. In reality, their new and less expensive car did express their true existence.

  • Driving is a social activity and a cultural activity and therefore is an act of communication. People dislike most about driving what would also not be proper in communication, disrespect and lack of courtesy. We must work toward reducing the emotional investment and dependence that many young people place on driving. People need to focus less on their own car and more on other drivers.

  • In general, drivers must realize that every move they make on the road is a form of communication to other drivers. Every individual has the power to change the maladaptive driving norms that currently prevail and effect a positive change on the world. People need to be taught how to reduce risks and evaluate risks effectively. People need to value responsiblity and recognize the emotional component of driving. Continuous and lifelong driver education is the main answer to the road rage epidemic.

    • III. Related Links

    1. Fast music - dangerous driving - This is a link to a brief article about the correlation between fast music and dangerous driving. According to the article, fast tempo music causes people take more risks while driving. It also communicates to other drivers that driving is for them only and they do not care about otehr drivers.

    2. Bioptic Driving - This is a link for a homepage dedicated to the subject of bioptic driving. This is not closely-related to the topic of the outline; however, I found it very interesting and worthy to be included here. Bioptic driving is for drivers with poor vision and is a technology of mini-telescopes in glasses. I think this is pretty crazy!

    3. Criminal Law - Dangerous Driving - This link is to a website that displays the breakdown of the dangerous driving law, including fines and what qualifies as dangerous driving. This is important to know, and scary that there has to be a law like this one.

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