GOING AGAINST OUR BETTER JUDGEMENT: AKRASIA AND THOSE UNPLANNED DECISIONS TO DRIVE FASTER

This paper reports an exploratory study of drivers' views and reactions in response to various manipulations involving speed cameras. 105 depth interviews were conducted, aiming to gain more insight into the impact of camera manipulation on drivers, and understand more about the thinking of four types of drivers identified in earlier research. At the end of an interview, each respondent was asked to complete an 'akratic' exercise, asking questions about speed at which they drove. A person displays 'akratic' behaviour when, to obtain an immediate benefit, he decides on a course of action that would normally be against his considered judgement. The only correlation found, approaching statistical significance, was a weak relationship between type of speeder and the extent to which akratic explanations were important to the driver. Thus no definite evidence of akrasia was found in this sample, although akratic explanations for exceptional levels of speeding seem important. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 899056.

• Corporate Authors:

  TRL

  Crowthorne House, Nine Mile Ride
  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom  RG40 3GA
• Authors:
  • CORBETT, C
• Conference:
  • BEHAVIOURAL RESEARCH IN ROAD SAFETY VII. PROCEEDINGS OF A SEMINAR AT ESHER PLACE, 14-16 APRIL 1997. (PA 3296/97)
• Publication Date: 1998

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 148-62

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Behavior; Conferences; Drivers; Interviewing; Motivation; Safety; Speed; Video cameras
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 9001: Behaviour; 6750: Camera; 8525: Conference; 1772: Driver; 9147: Interview; 2295: Motivation; 1665: Safety; 5408: Speed
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00752521
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 18 1998 12:00AM