Driving is a common and hazardous activity that is a prominent cause of death worldwide. Driver behavior represents a predominant cause, contributing to over 90% of crashes. In this review, the author focuses on how driver behavior influences driving safety by describing the types of crashes and their general causes, the driving process, the perceptual and cognitive characteristics of drivers, and driver types and impairments. Evidence from each of these perspectives suggests that breakdowns of a multilevel control process are the fundamental factors that undermine driving safety. Drivers adapt and drive safely in a broad range of situations but fail when expectations are violated or when feedback is inadequate. The review concludes by considering driving safety from a societal risk management perspective. (Author/publisher)
Abstract