ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE ON DRIVING BEHAVIOR

This survey aimed to examine the cognitive dimension of drivers for sequential road environments. To study such cognitive dimension, a semantic differential method was used, with subjects evaluating nine road spots. Then, using a correlation matrix for the sd rating scales, a factor matrix was found by the direct varimax method. As a consequence, it was found that road environment has a two-axis structure: one is the "emotional" axis which is represented by "ugly - beautiful," "restless - restful," and "bad - good;" the other is the "activity" axis composed of such scale as "diversified - monotonous," "busy - deserted," and "static - dynamic" which showed high factor loading. No significant difference was observed in factor structure between professional drivers and students. Then, the relationship between the items of road environment recalled after watching the environment and the psychological evaluation of that road environment, and the sd rating scale was examined. Consequently, it was found that recall responses for "quantity of greenery," "structures on the roadsides," and "the percentage of sky" and psychological evaluations affect those sd scales which belong to factor I (emotional factor). Also, a relatively high correlation was found between "men" and "cars" and the scales included in factor II (activity factor). An evaluation criterion for the physical characteristics of the road environment was constructed, and its relationship with the sd rating scales was studied. Evaluation scores for these characteristics of the road environment showed a correlation with factor I. The correlation was especially high with scale like "dangerous - safe" and "in disorder - in order" which evaluate the structure of road. Other sd rating scale included in emotional factors were found to lie on a regression line for all road spots excluding the Chuo expressway. No correlation was observed between those sd scales which belong to factor II (activity factor). From this, it was found that evaluation of road structure can be correctly and simply expressed and explained by sd scales representing the emotional axis. The two basic methods of presentation of road environment, 16 mm film and slides were compared. As far as evaluation using the sd rating scales was concerned, no significant difference was found between the two approaches. However, there were some differences observed between the contents of items recalled. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03861112
• Corporate Authors:

  International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences

  6-20, Yaesu 2-chome, Chuo-ku
  Tokyo 104-0028,   Japan 
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 3-13
• Serial:
  • IATSS Research
  • Volume: 6
  • Publisher: International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences
  • ISSN: 0386-1112

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Alertness; Attitudes; Behavior; Drivers; Emotions; Environment; Motor reactions; Perception; Reaction time; Tests; Vision
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction
• Geographic Terms: Japan
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver perception; Driver psychology; Driver vision
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 9001: Behaviour; 1772: Driver; 2455: Environment; 8053: Japan; 2229: Perception; 2247: Reaction (human); 6255: Test
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00368732
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-033 375
• Files: HSL, ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 30 1982 12:00AM