Bad Driving is Associated with Lower Awareness of Driving

Studies of self-regulation suggest that monitoring is essential for task performance and the attainment of goals. Research was conducted to investigate factors affecting the monitoring of driving and driving safety. Participants drove on a simulator course while discussing emotional topics or daily routines. Participants’ perceptions of their driving errors, safety, and performance were recorded. Measures were also taken of the importance of driving safety and performance on the simulator. Driving safety as reflected by driving errors was strongly associated with self-awareness of driving. Driving self-awareness and driving safety were greater when the importance of driving safely was high. The discussion of emotional topics had no effect on driving, driving self-awareness, or affect. Findings indicate that lower driving self-awareness is associated with bad driving. Driving education programs should teach developing drivers that monitoring their driving performance and state is central to safely operating a motor vehicle.

  • Record URL:
  • Record URL:
  • Supplemental Notes:
    • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
  • Corporate Authors:

    University of Utah, Salt Lake City

    Salt Lake City, UT  United States 

    Mountain-Plains Consortium

    North Dakota State University
    Fargo, ND  United States  58108

    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

    University Transportation Centers Program
    Department of Transportation
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Authors:
    • Sanbonmatsu, David M
    • Strayer, David L
  • Publication Date: 2019-9

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 15p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01719546
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: MPC 19-400
  • Contract Numbers: MPC-525
  • Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
  • Created Date: Oct 21 2019 9:45AM