The research project described examined the motivation for dysfunctional driving behaviour (DDB). This chapter reports on the first stage of the research during which a taxonomy of DDBs was developed and members of the Victoria Police who had been involved in collisions were interviewed to validate the taxonomy. From a study of road behaviour six categories of behaviour involved in collisions were identified: a) aggressive-competitive behaviour, b) risk-taking behaviour, c) drowsiness, d) misattention, e) faulty schemata and f) carelessness. These are discussed and the interviews with police drivers analysed. The main conclusion was that high levels of emotional arousal and safe driving are incompatible. For the covering abstract see C 45915 (IRRD 876074).
Abstract