Citation

Reinhardt-rutland A. Transp. Traffic Theory 1999; 14: 213-233.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Publisher varies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The continuing value of seat belts is diminished if driving deteriorates following the switch to seat-belt use. UK statistics suggest that driving speeds have increased over the years since seat-belt legislation to the extent of more than nullifying the effectiveness of seat belts. In this paper, Fuller's learning model of road behavior is developed in conjunction with the perceptual phenomenon of "looming" as an alternative to risk formulations of behavioral adaptation. Looming acts as negative reinforcement for unbelted drivers, but not for belted drivers. Because it represents threat to life, negative reinforcement persists in its effectiveness; it will take some years for the loss of looming to affect fully the new seat-belt user's behavior. In addition, behavioral adaptation in motorists inevitably militates against the encouragement of environmentally-sustainable - but vulnerable - modes of travel, such as walking and cycling. If safety-related interventions are to be properly assessed, there must be adequate empirical data - obtained over a time-span which permits a full assessment of behavioral adaptation - in conjunction with a plausible theoretical framework in which the data can be interpreted.