Chapter #3 From Rothe's
Beyond Traffic Safety
Responsibility and Driver Conduct
By Dustin Telles
 
Table Of Contents
 
Introduction
Summary
Conclusion
Navigational Table

Introduction
    So far we have set the stage for driving and discussed trust while driving.  It is only right that we now talk about Responsibility and Driver Conduct while driving. Everyone knows that when you drive you are not only responsible for you, but you are also responsible for your passengers and other drivers around you.  This is something that everyone seems to forget when they break the law or cut someone of.  This chapter is an awareness chapter on your responsibility as a driver.  I hope you get out of it as much as I did.
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Summary
 
    The chapter starts off by saying that there is no question that traffic is patterned behavior.  A mere collection of rules, albeit often unstated, serve as socially approved boundaries within which drivers operate their vehicles.  It then goes on to say that responsibility in traffic can be thought of in three connected yet conceptually distinct ways-personal, social, and legal.  That driving is regarded as a behavior resulting from individual decision-making.  The singular driver becomes the medium for the fulfillment of responsible behavior.
 
    Personal responsibility is classified as once a driver chooses to drive in some way or other, they must accept the consequences of those decisions.  Basically you reap what you sew.  Social responsibility refers to obligations people meet in everyday life while playing different roles in different situations.  This means that you follow the norms of the area.  If everyone else is speeding than you speed too to fit in.  The last is legal responsibility which means that it may be viewed as an ideal, constructed on the belief that laws are social contracts between drivers and the state.

    The book then goes into Responsibility and Intention and deeper by discussing four levels of intention.  The first is actual intention, this is when drivers consciously choose to behave a certain way by invoking reasons for the decisions.  Pays attention to what they are doing as well as why they are doing it.  Then there is virtual attention.  Virtual attention is one that was once made continues to influence the driving act.  But it is not present in the motorists' consciousness at the moment of performing driving acts.  Example, making a right hand turn at a busy intersection while the mind wanders.  The third, habitual intention implies habit.  A driver drives a certain way because it seems like second nature.  example, smoking while driving.  The last is interpretive intention.  This is one that has not been originally made but presumably would have been made if the motorists were aware of the circumstances.  Arriving to late work because of a flat tire is an example of this.

    The last section deals with the legal aspect about five modifications of legal responsibility.  These five modifiers are ignorance, passion, fear, health, and habit.  Ignorance is when there is a lack of knowledge about some law or policy can be and is frequently invoked in varying degrees by drivers.  Although this is a modifier it does not take away responsibility.  Passion is defined as the experience of an all-powerful emotion that reduces self-control.  Once again this may lessen but it will not negate legal responsibility.  Fear is defined as an emotion, the appearance of a sudden fright-producing reflex, or an impulsive act of avoidance.  Once again lessens but does not negate responsibility.  Health is tricky.  It says that if you knew about the condition then you are held responsible.  However, if it was not diagnosed by the doctor then the doctor is held responsible.  Habit is defined as doing things because its like second nature.  Once again does not negate responsibility.

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Conclusion

    In conclusion, the chapter discusses a lot of ideas and concepts.  However, it does leave things a little open ended so that we can decide for ourselves.  This chapter has given me more information than I already had on responsibility as a driver.  Now that I know these things I will look for them in my everyday driving.  Especially the habits that I have.  It has also opened my eyes to make me aware all the time when I am driving instead of daydreaming or singing along with the radio.  The chapter has taught me that no matter what I am responsible and that by possessing a drivers license I am agreeing to that responsibility.

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