Week 6: Psychology Of Driving

Question 0

Only 7% of the world covered by comprehensive rules (5)

Answer 0

1. Controlling speed reduces road traffic injuries
2. Drinking alcohol and driving increases the risk of a crash
3. Wearing a good-quality helmet can reduce the risk of death from a road crash
4. Wearing a seat-belt reduces the risk of death among front-seat passengers
5. Infant seats, child seats and booster seats can reduce child deaths in the event of a crash

Question 1

Road traffic stats

Answer 1

• 1.24 mil deaths worldwide and 50mil PD
• leading cause of death for young people, majority of males
• overwhelming majority of deaths coming from developing world

Question 2

Developing world vs. developed

Answer 2

• deaths increasing across developing countries

- reducing across high income countries

Question 3

Accident causation theories

Answer 3

• if we are able to reduce the factors that lead to near-misses and minor accidents we can reduce the incidence of serious crashes
• Heinrich 300-29-1 pyramid: number of near-misses to serious accidents

Question 4

Domino theory

Answer 4

• 1. Injuries are caused by the actions preceding factors
     • ancestry and social environment
     • fault of person
     • unsafe act and/or mechanical or physical hazard
     • accident
     • injury
     
     2. Removal of central factor (unsafe or hazardous condition) negates the action of the proceeding factors; an in doing so, prevents accidents and injury

Question 5

Other random points to remember re: length of driving time, time of day, ageing, public health approach

Answer 5

• likelihood of accidents decreases the longer you have your license and develop the hazard reduction skills
• driving at night a risk factor due to the change on circadian rhythm and reduced ability to perceive hazards
• concerns about our ageing driver population
• transition from blame the driver to a safe systems approach