Abstract
In traffic research it is recognised that it is important to obtain a better understanding of human failure, and of the psychological mechanisms that cause people engaged in routine activity to make occasional errors. Driving a vehicle is used as an example of a routine task. Human error as a topic of research has become important for two main reasons: (1) with the use of increasing complex technology, errors can cause considerable damage; and (2) for the development of scientific models of human cognitive functioning. This report reviews the literature on human error analysis, gives a background to the theoretical models, and indicates the relationship of cognitive models with other fields of psychology.