This paper presents a synthesis of different converging theoretical lines, in search of psychological pacing mechanisms in everyday driving and of explanations for the so called risk compensation or behavioural adaptation phenomenon. One line cones from the concepts of emotional tension, risk monitor, target risk, and target feelings, as well as of task difficulty and mental load as proposed control variables. Another line starts from the concept of safety zone and safety margins, in terms of space and time, which drivers maintain in order to survive and to avoid running into objects. Based on these two lines combined, a "multiple comfort model" is proposed, defining a set of factors that drivers tend to keep within a certain range, in a comfort zone. They include safety margins, progress of travel, rule following, vehicle/road system and, as an extensive category incorporating many so called extra motives, and pleasure of driving. This multifactorial satisficing model provides drivers with a feasible "optimisation strategy" even in complex dynamic environments, and results in an optimal state or "best feeling". (Author/publisher)
Abstract