DO SAFETY MEASURES REALLY WORK? AN EXAMINATION OF RISK HOMOEOSTASIS THEORY

The claim that safety measures in general fail to work is examined. This claim is seen as consistent with risk homoeostasis theory which proposes that following the introduction of a safety measure drivers compensate in such a way as to bring the accident involvement back to the preceding level. The validity of risk homoeostasis theory rests on several assumptions: (i) people have a simple and straightforward representation of accident risk, (ii) people can detect all changes in this accident risk, (iii) people can, over time, completely compensate for changes in accident risk and (iv) people cannot be discouraged prevented from compensating for changes in accident risk. Each of these assumptions is examined.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00140139
• Corporate Authors:

  Taylor & Francis

  4 Park Square, Milton Park
  Abingdon,   United Kingdom  OX14 4RN
• Authors:
  • McKenna, F P
• Publication Date: 1985-2

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 489-498
• Serial:
  • Ergonomics
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Taylor & Francis
  • ISSN: 0014-0139
  • EISSN: 1366-5847
  • Serial URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/terg20

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Drivers; Hazards; Interchanges; Psychology; Risk assessment; Safety; Theory; Validity
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver psychology
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450365
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-038 884
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1985 12:00AM