Citation

Walton D, Bathurst J. Accid. Anal. Prev. 1998; 30(6): 821-830.

Affiliation

Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, School of Psychology, Lower Hutt, New Zealand. waldar@topnz.ac.nz

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9805525

Abstract

This study investigates the self-enhancement bias in driver attitudes, the finding that drivers rate themselves better than the average driver on safety and skill perceptions (Svenson, 1978, 1981; McCormick et al., 1986). A sample of 86 New Zealand drivers were asked their perceptions of their own and others' speeds in two conditions, 50 km/h and 100 km/h. The results established the self-enhancement bias for speed and safety, but not skill. Between 85% and 90% of drivers claimed to drive slower than the 'average driver.' A new methodological technique derived from Harras and Gillett was used to investigate the direction of the self-enhancement bias. The results support the Downward Comparison Theory because drivers consider other drivers negatively, rather than exaggerating their self-perceptions.