This brief article describes the results of research which investigated the effects of drivers' attitudes upon their driving aptitude and behaviour. A group of 51 male drivers were selected by telephone interview according to whether they believed themselves to be better drivers than others or not. These subjects were then divided into two groups according to age and driving experience. Each person took part in two experiments: the first consisted of looking at a videotaped simulation of 25 road scenes each lasting one minute. The subjects had to select and identify from these scenes all the information that should be taken into account if they were driving along the routes shown. The second experiment consisted of filling in a questionnaire containing questions about driving attitudes and about the most pertinant criteria which must be taken into account when driving, for example moving objects such as other drivers or pedestrians. The differences between the attitudes and opinions of both novice and experienced drivers, and between drivers who thought themselves better than other driver is discussed. Those who believe themselves to be superior tend to pay more attention to moving objects at the expense of due attention to "fixed elements" such as the road curvature and road signs.
Abstract