Report 1

This tremendous talent we all share, that is, operating a vehicle and at the same time having the capabilities to be self-involved with our own thoughts, feelings and actions, costs thousands of people their lives each year. This would seem a valid enou gh reason to re-adopt the level of awareness we had when we first got behind the wheel, but are we willing to recognize the tragic effects of self-involvement? Are we willing to make the effort to change our behavior or are we too stubborn and lazy? Traffic Psychology has emerged to study the factors involv ed.

Traffic Psychology may be defined from what Jae Isa G(1)states as "The study of behavioral patterns and psychological theories regarding various issues of traffic in any shape or form. Its two main purposes are to decrease auto accidents and fatalities and to improve the American character." To improve the American character, as Berna Collado G(2)states in her Traffic Psychology definition, is through "Self-modification attempts in acquiring a more rational and sociable driving personality." One strategy to accomplishing this can be described in Lori Kim G(3a) traffic psychology definition as "a way of examining your thoughts and behaviors whenever you are in a "traffic situation".

These last two definitions of traffic psychology depict the behavior we had when we first learned to drive. We were a conscious and humane driver. We were concerned about how we drove and about the safety of ourselves and others. This virtuous behavior opens the doors to growth in all areas of life in addition to the fact that thousands of lives may be saved from traffic accidents and fatalities.