Citation

Nagayama Y. IATSS Res. 1978; 2(1): 64-73.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1978, International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

There is no doubt that visual perception is vital to traffic safety. In this report, however, the author challenges the idea that traffic safety depends solely on proper or improper functioning of vision. Through an analysis of rear-end collision, he presents the existence of definite patterns in traffic accidents which have been caused by error in visual perception other than those arising from visual defects and demonstrates that those errors have greater significance than other causes in traffic safety. Visual perception is not independent by itself; it is closely related to the driver's judgement, motivation and attitude. In fact, it is these factors that play a role in making active information processing, if not passive information processing. The author argues that the main objective of safe driving education is an active development of the psychological process that lies between visual perception and action of a driver.