Speed choice: the influence of human, vehicle, and road

On average, about 40-50% of all drivers exceed the speed limit nowadays in the Netherlands. Drivers often deliberately choose a speed that is too high. Factors that play a role are haste, pleasure, or adapting to other traffic. However, driving too fast sometimes also happens unintentionally. Subjective speed perception is important here, in this case underestimation of one's driving speed. This happens, for example, if one has driven fast for a long time, or if there are no buildings or trees along the roadside as a reference for the speed driven. The nowadays quiet and comfortable cars and particular road features can also unintentionally lead to higher speeds than desired. Intentional and unintentional speeding offences can be prevented by an appropriate road layout, credible speed limits, and enforcement. (A) (The title of the Dutch version of this fact sheet is: 'Snelheidskeuze: de invloed van mens, weg en voertuig').

• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 6p
• Serial:
  • FACT SHEET
  • Publisher: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Automobiles; Crimes; Drivers; Driving; Environment; Law enforcement; Layout; Perception; Prevention; Speed; Speed limits
• Uncontrolled Terms: Selection
• Geographic Terms: Netherlands
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 1243: Car; 1772: Driver; 1855: Driving (veh); 1534: Enforcement (law); 2455: Environment; 2885: Layout; 8078: Netherlands; 1516: Offence; 2229: Perception; 9149: Prevention; 9072: Selection; 5408: Speed; 624: Speed limit
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01051109
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jun 11 2007 1:24PM