Citation

Andrey J, Knapper C. Proc. Assoc. Adv. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1993; 37: 422-423.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

This presentation reports on the design and findings of a survey of driver perceptions and self-reported adjustments to a variety of weather conditions. The research focuses on whether various driver groups differ in their perceptions and adjustments to weather hazards. The study is based on a driver survey that was conducted by telephone in April, 1992 in Hamilton and Ottawa, two medium-sized cities of Southern Ontario, Canada. The survey consisted of 22 closed-ended questions that solicited information on driver characteristics, driver perceptions and driving behavior. In total, 400 interviews were completed - 200 in Hamilton and 200 in Ottawa. The average length of interview was 15 minutes. Survey results suggest that most drivers recognize the seriousness of the traffic safety problem and in fact have a fairly accurate impression of the relative risk associated with various driving conditions. Despite this, the range of driver adjustments invoked during inclement weather generally does not reflect the magnitude of the weather hazard. Furthermore, socio-demographic and driving background factors were found to have little bearing on either perceptions or adjustments. These results suggest that related countermeasure programs should be of relevance to all driver groups and need to focus on either improved skills training or on ways of inducing greater caution during inclement conditions.