OPINIONS AND MOTIVES OF LORRY DRIVERS AND THEIR EMPLOYERS ON THE DRIVING SPEED ON MOTORWAYS

MENINGEN EN MOTIEVEN VAN VRACHTWAGENCHAUFFEURS EN HUN WERKGEVERS OVER RIJSNELHEID OP AUTOSNELWEGEN

The speed limit for lorry drivers on the Dutch motorways is 80 km/h. Recording of the actual driving speeds of these road users however, shows that a vast majority of them exceeds this limit. In order to gain a better insight into the factors relating to the driving speed of lorry drivers, a questionnaire survey was carried out among both lorry drivers and their employers. The questionnaires were mailed to separate samples of lorry drivers and of employers, both of which were taken by registering the number plates of lorries and trucks at several locations on motorways. At the same time the actual driving speed was measured. On the basis of the reported habitual driving speed, two distinct groups of lorry drivers were observed. The first group, the so-called slow drivers, consisted of respondents who generally drive slower than 85 km/h, while the second group, the fast drivers, consisted of respondents who generally drive at a speed of 85 km/h or higher. A relationship was found between driving speed and speed control by the employer. The employers of the fast drivers turned out to supervise less than the employers of the slow drivers. Besides, the fast drivers were allowed to plan their own routes more often. The attitudes of fast drivers towards the legal speed limit were more negative, compared to the slow drivers. Also the former group was more convinced of the merits of speeding, while they were less certain about the possible disadvantages. Moreover, the fast drivers held a more positive subjective social norm towards speeding than the slow driving group. Similar to both groups of lorry drivers, a majority of the employers preferred a higher speed limit for lorries on motorways. At the same time, however, according to the employers, strict compliance with the speed limit by the drivers would hardly have any negative consequence for the company or concern. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9068071483
• Corporate Authors:

  Rijkuniversiteit Groningen, Verkeerskundig

  P.O. Box 69
  Haren,   Netherlands 
• Authors:
  • ROOIJERS, A J
• Publication Date: 1989

Language

• Dutch

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 69 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Employers; Speed limits; Surveys; Truck drivers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00612132
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• ISBN: 90-6807-148-3
• Report/Paper Numbers: VK 89-18
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1991 12:00AM