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INDEX: Traffic Psychology Convoys Over-Confident Driver Social Facilitation Self-Handicapping Accordian Effect Modeling Perspective Subjective Value of Driving Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Traffic Violence Back-Seat Drivers

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TRAFFIC PSYCHOLOGY

knowing how to identify and modify our own driving persona.

See Jae Isa's glossary for additional information.

CONVOYS:

when a pack of cars travel in groups on the freeways and regular streets; this is caused by many things: slow drivers on the road, slow moving vehicles, large vehicles, police, ambulances, intersections (i.e., stop lights), the type of roadway, or the date and time of day. (See Caroline's definition.)

OVER-CONFIDENT DRIVER:

this type of driver believes that she is the best driver on the road, no one can out speed or manuver better than her on the highways; with this type of thinking comes the belief that she will never get caught speeding by policemen or that she will get into an accident that is her fault.

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SOCIAL FACILITATION:

this phenomenon applies to driving by influencing the driver to drive in certain ways that she ordinarily would not drive; when there are passenger(s) in the car at the time she's driving, she tries to drive the way that would impress the people in the car: she could drive slower and more cautiously when she has her parents in the car or she could drive faster and more recklessly when she has her friends in the car. See also Diane Beauchemin'sdefinition.

SELF-HANDICAPPING:

this phenomenon applies to driving by influencing the driver; if the driver believes that she is a bad driver and tells herself this all the time, her driving will change to be exactly the way she perceives it to be.

ACCORDIAN EFFECT:

this usually happens when there is bumper-to-bumper traffic or at traffic lights; the cars in the front move forward and the space between cars widen as each car starts to move, when the cars in front start to slow down or stops the space between cars becomes smaller as each car slows down or stops. See also Nicole Yoshimitsu'sdefinition.

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MODELING PERSPECTIVE:

this is when a driver uses another driver as a model; she sees a driver do something (illegal or legal) and she does the same thing; if she normally doesn't do that, her rationale is "the other driver did so why can't/don't I."

SUBJECTIVE VALUE OF DRIVING:

when we let external events control our driving or behavior while driving.

ATTENTION DEFICIT-HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD):

when someone has a hard time concentrating on one thing for long periods of time; stated in a GCP that most teenagers with this disorder tend to be more prone to accidents than other teenagers.

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TRAFFIC VIOLENCE:

involves peoples thoughts or action while driving; when we drive and have violent thoughts about other drivers, but don't show/express them it hurts us by not being humane or loving, and this affects our personality. (See Cynthia's definition.) See also Kendall Matsuyoshi'sdefinition.

BACK-SEAT DRIVERS:

people who are passengers in a car and make comments to the driver; e.g., telling her how to drive or what they should do or be doing; what usually happens is the driver gets stressed or upset and ends up driving worse.

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