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5. DRIVER BEHAVIOUR
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5.1 Perception and Decision in Transport-Systems with Particular Reference to Accident Causation" (Brown, Copeman) (Project No. 6)
An attempt is being made by Brown and Copeman to produce a taxonomy of road accident causation, defined in psychological terms relating to antecedent behaviour (attention, perception, decision, etc.), rather than in terms of mortality, morbidity, or factors associated with the apportioning of blame, as used in official statistics.
Field studies have been conducted in connection with TRRL (Transport and Road Research Laboratory) on an experimental paradigm using matching of directly viewed and mirrored targets, to investigate the potential contribution to road accidents of misperception of speed and distance by visually-impaired drivers.
5.2 Drivers' Attitudes and Behaviour in Relation to Road Traffic Offences (Brown, Copeman, Colbourn, Laidlaw)(Project No. 24)
Our research has established that the high-risk group of younger male drivers are not substantially different from older and female groups in their knowledge and application of rules and procedures. However, they are deviant in their misperception of distant traffic hazards and in their perception of the serious consequences attached to traffic offences (31). Studies of younger drivers' control movements supported eye-movement investigations by other laboratories, in suggesting that younger male drivers overconcentrate on vehicle-control skills at the expense of decision-making ir. relation to the traffic environment.
The current TRRL contract specifies work on a follow-up study of younger drivers' perceptions of 'overt' and 'covert' traffic offences. Laboratory studies are in progress to establish the viability of a postal questionnaire, to collect data from large representative groups of the UK driving population.