Selection of Safe Drivers

Hakkinen's work on bus drivers in Helsinki, and Lynette Shaw's research on bus drivers in Johannesburg are discussed. Both found that when mileages and traffic conditions were controlled some drivers had consistently more accidents than others over considerable periods of time. Both devised tests which were, under controlled conditions good predictors of accidents. Other work showing differences in the characteristics of drivers considered to be safe and unsafe is reviewed. For job selection the tests must be objectively rated and unfakeable, and possible selection tests are considered from this point of view. Lynette Shaw's predictive tests depend on the interpretation of Thematic Apperception Tests and some people might have difficulty in rating these tests. Hakkinen's tests, though objectively measured, are only predictive if age is held constant, since they indicate that young drivers should be safer, when in fact younger drivers tend to have higher accident rates than older drivers. Some measure of risk-taking is needed to supplement Hakkinen's battery of tests. Barbara Preston measured drivers' Galvanic Skin Response in town traffic and on country roads. The ratio of the GSR per mile in town traffic to that on the country road showed a statistically significant difference between drivers who paid high or low insurance premiums. This test is recommended as an objective measure of risk-taking. Accident rates in Great Britain for Public Service Vehicles and Goods Vehicles over 1-1/2 tons unladen weight are given to show the importance and scope for reductions in accidents in which these vehicles are involved.

• Corporate Authors:

  Gower Publishing Company

  Gower House, Croft Road
  Aldershot, Hampshire  United Kingdom  GU11 3HR
• Authors:
  • Preston, Barbara
• Conference:
  • Transport Research for Social and Economic Progress. Proceedings of the Second World Conference on Transport Research
  • Location: London , England
  • Date: 1980-4-14 to 1980-4-17
• Publication Date: 1981

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 2507-2518
• Monograph Title: Transport Research for Social and Economic Progress

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus drivers; Crash analysis; Crash risk forecasting; Forecasting; Hazards; High risk drivers; Human factors; Risk assessment; Traffic safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01082917
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 21 2007 7:56AM