Trust in motoring
Book faQs: J. Peter Roth, Beyond Traffic Safety. 1993
Drivers have a sense of trust that traffic flow will continue as before, and other road users will continue to collaborate enough to produce continuity, reliability, and predictability.
ONTOLOGICAL SECURITY: The unconscious need to believe that things are as they appear and that they will remain that way. Trust in societal norm. The idea that we have a general trust in society, i.e. trust in teachers, law officials, mail carriers. We see the suit and we believe the person behind it all knowing and trustworthy in their profession.
TRUST IN TRAFFIC: The idea of trust in standardized behavior, for example staying on the right side of the road. We follow standardized markings that we take for granted that everyone will follow like, lanes, intersections, roadway markings, signal lights, traffic signs etc. When variations happen that shatter the certitude of these driving routines or standardized behavior, for example, reckless driving. These things are usually taken in stride and assessed by drivers as the other driver being inconsiderate or stupid. It does not usually shatter basic trust. They still maintain their ontological trust that drivers will stop at stop sign, will drive on the right hand side of the road and will not stop and park on the freeway in the middle lane.
FIDUCIARY TRUST: The belief that people can be trusted because they also want to uphold, community standards and that they also have a moral obligation to defend individual and community interests.
FOUR BASIC PILLARS OF UTILITARIANISTM
That all will be satisfied not only a fortunate few.
The safety of one person is associated with the safety of all.
The common good must be accounted for without infringing on individuals rights.
Education and intervention are the key to enabling more people to enjoy social reform.
FROM TRUST TO DISTRUST: Experiments were done that broke up peoples normally trusted routines. It was found that people became burdoned to question everything that was trusted and taken for granted. Although, this distrust may lead to paranoia. This paranoia ultimately leads to higher awareness or wariness. Some traffic experts believe this is healthy. "Expect the unexpected" reads a prominent Canada safety council?s slogan.(P.20)
ROTH?S CONCLUSION: It is concluded that basic trust in traffic safety has not yet been thoroughly explored. People trust other people to behave in a normal predetermined set of roadway guidelines. People believe that officials in charge of such things as roadway signs, lights, etc. will ultimately make the right decisions.
Questions and answers about Trust in Motoring
One student asked
THE IDEA OF "TRUST" ON THE ROAD. IN YOUR OPINION, IS THIS TRUST SOMETHING GOOD/ TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE DRIVER, OR THE OPPOSITE/SOMETHING BAD, OR DISADVANTAGEOUS TO THE DRIVER? In my opinion this idea of trust is a needed aspect of life and a part of driving that is needed. Without this trust one would become paranoid and it would be impossible to get anything done at all. You would be questioning everything. Although it is important to have trust one must not take this trust to an extreme level. Being wary can be an attribute sometimes, especially when confronting new events.Dr. James asked me
PARANOIA IS HEALTHY, YOU SAID: EXPLAIN HOW THIS IS TRUE, AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT. In the book, Beyond traffic safety Peter Roth states "Distrust may lead to increased wariness, which traffic safety experts suggest may be healthy."(Roth p.20) I feel that a good level of ontological security is good, but too much turns into accidents. Often time accidents occur when people push the limits and have the trust that other drivers will react and slow down. For example when taking a left turn with oncoming traffic one might trust that the other driver is not suddenly going to speed up. More aggressive drivers might have a trust that the other driver sees them and will slow down if need be.Dr. James also asked
HOW IS UNIVERSAL OTHERHOOD RELATED TO AGGRESSIVE DRIVING TODAY? Universal otherhood is the exact opposite idea of aggressive driving. Aggressive driving is the idea of only thinking of yourself. Universal otherhood entails thinking of what is good for the whole driving community around you. Otherhood includes wanting to yield for other drivers. Not wanting to speed excessively or even hold up traffic.Chris Flores asked the question
DO YOU THINK ALL PEOPLE KNOW THE IMPLICIT "RULES OF THE ROAD"? I feel that they are taught to us indirectly throughout the years. We have all been passengers in automobiles. I feel that we have learned from observation rules like always driving on the right side of the road and staying in between the lines. I also feel that we learn offensive driving tactics from our parents also and through observation on the television.My reaction and those of my classmates
How do I compare to my class mates
After viewing other peers web pages and oral reports I feel that I have done an adequate job. Many people have great pictures and flashy back grounds, which I feel I will catch up with in the upcoming months. I found it was exciting to look at others web pages and reports because you never know what your are going to find.
Suggestions to future generations
For future generations I suggest that you start writing out your oral reports as soon as you do them in class. Also while I was reading for each report I took notes to better help me remember the main themes of each chapter and any extra interesting information.
My Report1: (Music and Driving)
My Report2: (Definitions of driving)