Mileage matters. From a recent study of English motorists (N = 791) it was found that active crash involvement rises above 5 thousand miles pa, and passive crash involvement above 10 thousand miles pa. Medium and high mileage drivers (>8/10 thousand miles pa) nominate higher normal and preferred speeds, return higher scores for aggressive Violations and lower scores for safety-mindedness, and would prefer to be going even faster on motorways. High mileage drivers (>20 thousand) are more likely to have been recently penalised for speeding offences, score highest on thrill-seeking and highway code Violations, and rate telematic constraints on their driving as less acceptable and less useful. There are also demographic differences. Higher mileage drivers are more likely to be aged between 21 and 59, male, from higher social class and income groups, to live outside town, and to drive as part of their work. They drive more frequently on motorways, report less stress from driving, and enjoy driving more. Those driving above 10 thousand miles pa rate the car as more vital to their lifestyle. While measures to reduce car use may ameliorate the dangers of driving a high annual mileage, will the additional road-space be consumed as performance benefits by those who remain on the road? For the covering abstract see ITRD E113725 (C 22328 CD-ROM).
Abstract