Drop me a note...
(a) Describe your plan and why you chose it; what do you expect to happen? How much difficulty do you expect? What is the theory behind your plan?
(b) Describe what actually happened: how you made your observations, your confidence in them, what you found, what your reactions were.
(c) What are your interpretations and conclusions? What are the implications for traffic psychology?
In order to begin I looked through the generation one traffic psychology filesto see their definition of a driving personality makeover. Naturally their perceptions varied but I took bits and pieces of their ideas and incorporated some of my own to come up with a new definition. Some views were very straight to the point like Todd Crawford's. He said that it is a way to better yourself, and alter your faults. I liked this because he assumed that he is actually doing something wrong and knowing is half the battle right...? Everyone must realize that there is something deficient about their driving behavior before anything can be altered. Great idea huh? I thought so, but I didn't find it complete enough. So I looked further and I found another concept that all psychology majors are familiar with...the idea of self-actualization. In Joleen Lai's paper she views this driving personality makeover as a way to improve on our self actualization. I love it! Becoming a better driver could be yet another step in order to achieve self-actualization in one's life. For those of us not familiar with this concept, I have found it defined as fulfilling one's potential as an always growing human being. It sure sounds like a simple task, but it really isn't. It's something we all have to work for in order to achieve a better self. Joleen's contribution was a welcome additive to the culmination of my definition. However, Claudia Kaneshiro had the best definition I'd seen. The part that caught my eye was not her combination of observation and performance, but the important role of other stimuli around us. She mentions the weather, pollution, waiting and ignorance of others. Other ideas that I find important include the type of day a person has had, their personality type, and their physical and psychological health. When I put all these ideas together I came up with a new definition.
A driving personality makeover is a three step process that allows an individual to alter his or her behavior while a driver. The first step to is recognize the problem or fault. By pin pointing exactly what the deficient behavior is, adequate concentration and focus can be placed on altering it. The second step is to analyze both internal and external factors that a driver may experience. Internal factors could include a person's personality, inner conflicts or psychological problems. Other internal factors do not have to be so detailed, they could simply be the type of day a person is having, or whether they have a headache or not. Everything that is not external is internal. External factors are those that are not directly controlled by you. Situations like heavy traffic, the weather, and other drivers all influence our own driving behavior. Lastly, by altering our driving behavior to a more positive, safe and contientious one we take another step forward to becoming a self-actualized person. Like I say, a self-actualized person is a healthier and happier you.
My plan to become a reformed driver is as simple as my definition of a makeover. The first step was for me to realize what driving behaviors I possessed that were harmful to other drivers as well as myself. I proposed to do this by looking at my driving behavior in general for three consecutive days. This would allow me time to make observations of my personality changes in different traffic conditions as well as analyze my response to other obstacles on the road. After those three days I would decide on my worst driving traits and formulate means by which I would systematically alter my behavior. Once this was determined I would move on to step two. In this step I would formulate a way to record behaviors, thoughts and feelings while on the road, in traffic, in different weather conditions and different road conditions. Possible methods of recording could include a tape recording, journal, video or a combination of all. The third step would be to analyze my behavior and attempt to change certain aspects of my inadequate, unsafe driving behavior. I would see under what conditions my behavior while driving was safer and compare those situations to those where I was unsafe. Hopefully, I would have enough information to come up with a plan to actually alter my behavior. A possibility would be to use consistent means of positive stimulation or a reward system for myself. Finally I would need to implement my technique of driving behavior alteration and record the results.
By doing this I hope to see a great change in my driving personality however, I see this to be a long term process. It should be very time consuming to alter behavior that I have had for my entire driving lifetime, yet my pessimism prevails. I expect to constantly run into obstacles, time constraints, lack of supplies, insufficient data, etc. However, I have faith that change is possible.
The theory behind my plan goes back to my definition of a driving personality makeover. It incorporates internal and external factors, its address the realization of a problem and the striving for a self-actualized self. The motivating factor in this whole make-over should be to better ones self as well as making a safer world for us all. It is a selfless theory, one in which our individual actions will benefit everyone, rather than hurt another.
Making a plan based on a theory is nice when it's just that, a plan on a piece of paper. It would make anyone happy if all theories worked out just they way you want them to right? Well, I thought making my plan and doing my observations would be quite easy. That's where I was wrong. I thought it would be cool and fun to video tape myself while I was driving. What I did was set up a little cam corder on my dashboard and was all ready to go. Pressed record and off I went on my way to Waianae to visit some friends. While driving I spent a lot of time talking to the cam corder since I was sitting in traffic, getting frustrated as usual, but ironically not as frustrated as usual. I attribute it to the fact that I felt stupid having other people watch me drive and proceed to talk to myself. The video camera actually served as more of a distraction rather than a helpful tool. Having it next to me acted more as a distraction from the traffic which was a plus and a minus all in one. It helped me relieve stress, yet it didn't make me a safer driver. I paid less attention to traffic and more time on talking to the camera. At the end of my journey I checked the tape. I wanted to see my own personal home video. What did I find? I hit the wrong button. Instead of record I hit the power button and inadvertently turned it off. Wonderful! Not only did I look like a fool talking to herself, but I also paid less attention to my surroundings. What a big booboo.
Due to my technical error I decided any observations from then on would be written down upon reaching my destination. Obviously going back to basics would allow me to observe my behavior a lot better. When I analyzed my behavior for those first three days I realized I have to alter all of my driving behaviors. I am a menace to society, a tyrant on the loose, an accident waiting to happen. Due to this I decided to focus on one specific behavior at a time. The first behavior I decided to alter was tailgating. From doing the first report I realized that I am a chronic tailgator. In order to alter this behavior I decided to play a game with myself. Each time I came within another car's personal space I would have to slow down by 5 m.p.h. Boy did I get frustrated. I kept having to step on my brakes, and step on my brakes again and again. The first day it took me twice as long to get to work and I think I really put a strain on my cars brakes. I couldn't stand it. I kept yelling at the car in front of me to go faster so I wouldn't be tailing them, but of course they wouldn't. I felt like everyone was torturing me. They were all trying so desperately to get me away from them and to slow down. Oh how I wanted my revenge. All I could think of was owning a huge monster truck with the biggest wheels possible and me in the driver's seat plowing over all those slow cars in front of me. I even displaced the responsibility of my cars hurting brakes on those inconsiderate, slow, Sunday drivers. The next day I really dreaded getting into my car to fight traffic once again. This time I tried to control the inner tailgating demon by leaving a little earlier. I hoped if there were less people on the road I wouldn't have to tailgate anyone, or slow down by 5 m.p.h. Happy, happy, joy, joy!!! There were less people on the road. I could have a lane all to myself! That was until a four door, blazing red, Honda Accord decided to squeeze in between me and another car. Boy was I mad! Now I had to slow down again to leave space between me and that blazing red Honda Accord license #... well I better not. All I really wanted to do was tail her all the way to my cut off, but I told myself not to. The slowing down 5 m.p.h. wasn't only helping me to keep distance between myself and another car, but cut down on my speeding. I was changing two behaviors with one little game.
After just two days I realized that slowing down really wasn't enough. It was my response to others around me and my attitude that was is desperate need of alteration. Honestly I had no idea where to start. To most people I have always been a quiet and shy person, not really having much to say out loud. Yet surprisingly enough I must have changed somewhere along the road of life. As a driver passive is something I am not. I'm one of those people to take a chance, to take risks and am an all out maniac on the highways. I like having control of my life and what's going on in it. I like having stability, and am reluctant to change. However, I like learning new things and exploring the unexplored. I'm a jumbled up person with lot's of different life experiences, so I didn't know where exactly to start.
I assumed that perhaps that my mood as well as personality go hand in hand. Most of the time while I am on the road I am rushing off to an appointment, to school, or even to work. The one cure to relieving my driving stress yet leaving me alert enough to be a cautious driver is none other than the sound of music. I realized this one day purely by accident. I had popped in a CD with oldies but goodies and proceed to drive in traffic for nearly two hours with no stress, no tension in my neck and no headache to complain of. It was great! I never yelled once, was more courteous to other drivers and took my time to reach my destination. Since that wondrous experience I've experimented with different types of music. For me almost anything I know the words to distracts the stress from traffic. Dance, techno, alternative and Spanish music works equally as well. For some reason the music provides just the right amount of distraction I need to concentrate on driving, so I decided to do this as a means to altering my driving behavior. In many cases it work, but the music doesn't cure the problem completely. This in combination with a conscious awareness of my surroundings and proper behavior came into play. I made sure that I would periodically check the speedometer to insure that I would not exceed the speed limit. When my foot got a bit too heavy on the peddle and traffic was flowing, I would put the car on cruise control and not have to worry about my speed so much. While I was stuck in traffic I would spend a lot less time on the accelerator, more time watching the cars trying to change lanes and would often let others cut in front of me. I found that when I was nice to other people they tended to be nicer to me as well.
As the days passed by I made sure that I was aware of my surroundings, I watched and allowed others to change lanes in front of me. When other cars let me in front of them I was sure to always say thank you. Then it happened. The very thing I was trying to avoid. Yes, I became the victim of a car accident. Everything I was working on went completely out the window again. I was on my way to work, driving along, minding my own business, listening to my CD player when BAM. A lady driving a silver BMW slammed into the side of my car while attempting a lane change. Since she hit the rear left hand side of my car at the speed of 65 plus m.p.h. she sent my car into the side wall just after the Punahou cut off. Boy did that send me off the deep end. I had tried to be a safe driver and where did it get me? Into a @#$%!(*& car accident. I let that lady have a piece of my mind as I flew into a frenzy. Tears streaming down my face, taking several deep breaths and counting to 50, I finally calmed down. Of course the damage to her car was minimal and my car was a mess. Then she had the nerve to tell me she didn't want to file a police report. Instead she wanted to pay for the damages. She must have been off her rocker. To think I wasn't going to file a report, can you imagine how much more upset I was. I didn't know her, where she lived, worked, anything. She could easily have given me her name and phone number, but how would I know that she wasn't lying. After I refused her we exchanged information and finally a police officer came. All he did was take a statement, our names, addresses and insurance info and sent for a tow truck for my poor baby. It took nearly an hour before the truck came and another hour before the paper work was taken car of. This whole incident took over six hours. Frustrated and mad I finally caught the bus home. It's been a long time since I've been without a car and catching the bus was an experience all in itself. My day in automobile hell was coming to a close and I thought the nightmare was over. Let me tell you it was only the beginning. Till this day I have no car, the insurance company is still in the process of having an appraisal done and I have to borrow my parents car in order to get around.
Since this accident I have not been as cautious as I was. I still try to refrain from tailgating, but I've begun to speed again. I feel violated for some reason. I tried to better my behavior and it got me into an accident. It wasn't even my fault and that frustrates me more. It's always the good guys that get hurt and while I was playing good guy I lost. My car is in the shop, and I'm messed up again. Some people have a hard time getting back behind the wheel after being in an accident, but I had no time for that. The healing process hasn't occurred yet and that makes me a road hazard capable of anything.
Writing my observations down after reaching my destination worked well. I was able to keep track of my thoughts and feelings while driving as well as my actions in traffic. As for their accuracy and validity, well, they probably aren't as accurate as video or cassette recordings, but they are accurate enough for me to analyze my behavior. My observations are surely invalid in scientific realms, but for my analization they serve their purpose.
After observing my behavior I've realized that I am a long way from becoming a reformed driver. I was able to concentrate on various aspects of my driving, traits like speeding and tailgating were my main focus and therefore I was successful in identifying the problem. I was even able to find a method that worked for me to reduce stress and pressure. Unfortunately listening to music and being consciously aware of my surroundings is only part of the battle. Maintaining a consistently safe and contientious driving persona is vital and I have not been able to do this. Being the victim of a traffic accident is really no fun. I could not help but feel all my hard work was for nothing, I still got into an accident. When I wasn't so careful it never happened so why now? This is an obstacle in my way. Now I have an internal conflict going on inside me. Should I continue to change or not. It's really hard to say what is in my future as a driver. Maybe I should stop for now, and become strictly a pedestrian for awhile. I really don't know what's in store for me now.
Doing this exercise is extremely important to traffic psychology because it allows us as individuals to analyze our own personal driving behavior. By doing this we open the doors to a safer driving community, however, there will always be those who choose not to alter their behaviors and maintain their dangerous, harmful ways. I have learned that it really is possible to become a reformed driver. Personally I do not know how efficient it is to sustain a positive attitude and safe driving mentality. After my accident I know it will be difficult to return to a safe driving regiment, but I do plan to try again in time. I believe that if everyone were to change just one of their negligent behaviors the roads would be 50% safer. Hopefully, by the successful driving makeover's of a few members of this traffic psychology class, those who have preceded us and those who have yet to follow
the streets and highways of Hawaii have a bright and safe future. Only time will tell the success or failure of this traffic awareness program.