COMPARATIVE PERCEPTIONS OF DRIVER ABILITY A CONFIRMATION AND EXPANSION

This study investigated earlier Swedish and United States research which has shown that drivers tend to rate themselves as more skillful and less risky than the average driver, and to extend the range of driver characteristics on which such ratings are made. A total of 178 male and female drivers rated 'me as a driver,' 'an average driver' and 'a very good driver' on the following eight relevant bipolar semantic differential scales: foolish-wise, unpredictable-predictable, unreliable-reliable, inconsiderate-considerate, dangerous-safe, tense-relaxed, worthless-valuable, irresponsible-responsible. The results confirmed expectations that a substantial majority of drivers, up to 80%, would rate themselves above average on a number of important characteristics, but also showed that they rated themselves below 'a very good driver.' The ratings did not vary significantly across demographic categories. Impllications for road safety are briefly discussed.

• 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:
  • McCormick, I A
  • Walkey, F H
  • Green, D E
• Publication Date: 1986-6

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 205-208
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Driver performance; Drivers; Highway safety; Human characteristics; Perception; Personnel performance; Self evaluation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver characteristics
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver perception
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00495922
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-039 944
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM