CROSS-CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN DRIVER SELF-ASSESSMENT

This study investigated differences in driver self-assessment among U.S., Spanish, and West German drivers. Subjects responded to 14 questions that used five-point semantic scales dealing with driver performance and abilities. Pairs of questions, concerning the same driving-related aspects, differed by requesting a self-assessment on an absolute basis and in relation to the average driver. The subjects in all three countries included younger, middle-aged, and older drivers of both sexes. The following are the main findings: (1) a majority of drivers in each country rated themselves positively on all driving-related scales studied; (2) significant effects of country, age group, and sex of the subjects were present for several of the scales; (3) some of these effects remained significant even after controlling for the differential driving experience. For example, U.S. drivers assessed themselves as safer than did West German and Spanish subjects, younger subjects less wise than middle-aged and older subjects, and males more relaxed than females.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Headington Hill Hall
  Oxford OX30BW,    
• Authors:
  • Sivak, M
  • Soler, Jose
  • Trankle, U
• Publication Date: 1989-8

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 371-375
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 21
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Assessments; Behavior; Culture (Social sciences); Driver performance; Drivers; Gender; Perception; Personnel performance; Questionnaires; Self evaluation; Traffic safety
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver perception
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00488040
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-040 741
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 30 1991 12:00AM