Theme 2: Driver and Rider Behaviour

Projects in this theme cover research on driver behaviour, driver training and testing and on the development of driver skills. They also cover research on motorcycle safety, including rider behaviour and training.

The objectives include to investigate the factors which contribute to the higher accident rates of riders and novice drivers, to review current training and testing practice and to make recommendations for change to driver and rider training and testing to ensure that new drivers/riders are prepared for driving/riding in today's conditions.

Research is also investigating unlawful driving behaviour and an evaluation of the effectiveness of driver improvement courses, and the factors that influence effectiveness, is also being undertaken.

Passion, Performance, Practicality: Motorcyclists' Motivations and Attitudes to Safety

Motorcyclists were segmented into seven groups based on their motivation for riding. Clear patterns were established in different segments’ understandings of risk, and their approaches to dealing with it. The study focused on patterns in self-reported decisions about motorcycles, helmets and safety gear, and approaches to avoiding fatigue. However, the segmentation has potential application across a wide range of safety issues. TRL Report PPR442.

Published:

29 October 2009

The conditions for inappropriate high speed: Road safety research report No.92 (544 kb)

This project (a review of the literature concerned with speed and speeding) is the first part of the Project HUSSAR which was concerned with High UnSafe Speed Accident Reduction. Three different methods were used, the aim has been to identify driver behaviour, experiences, perceptions, attitudes and values regarding speed choice and speeding behaviour, with a view to analysing the implications for the content of – and potential target groups for – speed-related media safety campaigns.

Published:

20 November 2008

Summary findings - Road Safety Research Report 92 (437 kb)

Summary findings of the conditions for inappropriate high speed: Road safety research report No. 92.

Published:

12 May 2009

Understanding inappropriate high speed: a quantitative analysis - research report 93 (402 kb)

This project is the second aspect or part of the Project HUSSAR which was concerned with High UnSafe Speed Accident Reduction. This report includes results of a national survey of just over 1,000 UK drivers’ attitudes, values, experiences and behaviour regarding speed choices.

Published:

20 November 2008

Summary findings - Road Safety Research Report 93 (519 kb)

Summary findings of the understanding inappropriate high speed: a quantitative analysis - research report No. 93.

Published:

12 May 2009

Understanding inappropriate high speed: a qualitative analysis - research report 94 (187 kb)

This project (a focus group study of drivers and riders) is the third aspect of the Project HUSSAR which was concerned with High UnSafe Speed Accident Reduction. This research report includes the results of qualitative research, using focus groups, to understand drivers’ experiences and perceptions regarding speed choice and speeding behaviour.

Published:

20 November 2008

The conditions for inappropriate high speed: Road safety research report No.92 (544 kb)

This project (a review of the literature concerned with speed and speeding) is the first part of the Project HUSSAR which was concerned with High UnSafe Speed Accident Reduction. Three different methods were used, the aim has been to identify driver behaviour, experiences, perceptions, attitudes and values regarding speed choice and speeding behaviour, with a view to analysing the implications for the content of – and potential target groups for – speed-related media safety campaigns.

Published:

20 November 2008

Scoping study of driver distraction - Road safety research report No.95 (339 kb)

This report was commissioned to understand the state of knowledge on driver distraction and lay some groundwork for future distraction research efforts, with the strategic aim of improving safety through policy interventions.

Published:

08 October 2008

Road Safety Research Report No. 96 - summary findings (91 kb)

In the last decade, the number of licence endorsements for speeding has increased very considerably, but disqualifications resulting from ‘totting-up’ have decreased. A study employing both quantitative and qualitative techniques, was carried out to investigate the extent to which the threat of disqualification acts as a deterrent to speeding for the benefit of road safety in general.

Published:

20 November 2008

Does the Threat of Disqualification Deter Drivers from Speeding? (no.96) (407 kb)

It has long been recognised that driving speeds that are excessive and inappropriate to the conditions are a major contributory factor in road accidents, and a major issue for road safety. Restraining driving speeds has proved to be a difficult task, given the improvements over the years in both vehicle performance and road design.

Published:

20 November 2008

Learning to drive: the evidence (476 kb)

Road Safety Research Report No. 87: This report complements the DSA Learning to Drive Consultation and sets out the evidence for why there is a need to transform driver training and testing. It explores issues on how people are learning to drive, gaps in what people learn during driver training and testing and the ability, attitudes and behaviours of new drivers.

Published:

07 May 2008

Feeling safe, itching to drive: pre-driver and learner perspectives on driving and learning

Research with pre- and learner drivers, parents and driving instructors on the origins and influences on attitudes and behaviours towards good driving and their expectation and/or experiences of the learning process.

Car drivers’ skills and attitudes to motorcycle safety: a review (369 kb)

Road safety research report No.85: This report proposes a framework for interpreting the literature and evidence on car drivers’ skills and attitudes towards motorcyclists. The framework relates attitudes, knowledge and skills/strategies to three behaviours: Does the driver look at the motorcyclist? Does the driver realise that it is a motorcyclist? Does the driver correctly decide whether the motorcyclist poses a hazard?

Published:

07 May 2008

Cohort II: A study of learner and new drivers

This is a major study of learner and new drivers in which 'cohorts' of candidates taking the practical driving test were invited to participate in a series of postal surveys. The study provides a picture of how people learn to drive and their attitudes and experiences as new drivers. It also explores the impact of introducing hazard perception testing.

Motorcycle rider fatigue: A review (No.78) (335 kb)

This project's main objectives are to review the relevant literature and ongoing research on rider fatigue, to investigate the incidence of rider fatigue, to identify gaps in knowledge and to outline specifications for future research.

Published:

04 February 2008

Pre-driver Education: Survey of Pre-driver Education Provision (656 kb)

This report presents the detailed findings of a questionnaire and telephone survey to determine the level and nature of provision of pre-driver education in Great Britain.

Published:

14 May 2007

Intervention modalities to address psychosocial predictors of driving behaviour among adolescents

The report considers the theoretical knowledge of effective interventions, the specific aspects of behaviour that should be influenced and the most effective means of doing so (RSR 70).

Pre-driver education (423 kb)

A critical review of the literature on attitude change and development, good practice in pre-driver education and programme effectiveness.

Published:

14 May 2007

Pre-driver education (327 kb)

A critical review of the literature on attitude change and development, good practice in pre-driver education and programme effectiveness. Annex A: Evidence Statements Database (Excel spreadsheet).

Published:

14 May 2007

Road policing activity and accident reduction

Report on the development of a database to enable assessment of the effectiveness of road policing.

Post-court road safety interventions for convicted traffic offenders (244 kb)

This report provides an expert review of the scientific basis of setting up road safety educational interventions for more serious traffic offenders who attend court for their offence.

Published:

09 January 2007

The good, the bad and the talented - young drivers perspectives (206 kb)

This research report that looks at young drivers' perspectives on good driving and learning to drive. The report was written by consultancy firm SHM.

Published:

18 December 2006

The effects of hazard perception training (No.04)

A research report on the development of novice driver skills.

Published:

24 July 1998

The Attitudinal Determinants of Driving Violations (No. 13) (1 Mb)

This report looks at three large-scale studies that examined different forms of bad behaviour on the road carried out by car drivers and the consequences of the behaviour.

Published:

20 August 2004

Practice and instruction when learning to drive (No.14)

This report describes the main findings of an analysis of driving instructions given to 20 young learner drivers by one of four top grade Approved Driving Instructors.

Published:

20 April 2000

Raising the standards of approved driving instructors (No.15)

A report presenting the analysis behind a set of recommendations for raising the standards of Approved Driving Instructors.

Published:

18 September 2000

Trial of the learner driver logbook (No.16)

A report into the trial of the Learner Driver's Logbook prior to it being formally introduced nationally.

Published:

01 March 2001

Influencing driver attitudes and behaviour (No.17)

Research into the types of driver attitudes and behaviours shown to be linked to crash involvement, with suggestions on how to persuade drivers not to take unnecessary risks through effective road safety campaigns.

Published:

15 March 2001

Dangerous driving and the Law (No.26) (3 Mb)

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of the 1991 Road Traffic Act on the prosecution of dangerous drivers.

Published:

07 February 2002

Appendix B - Driving offences questionnaire (119 kb)

Transport Research Laboratory: driving offences questionnaire. Appendix B of Dangerous driving and the Law (No.26): The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of the 1991 Road Traffic Act on the prosecution of dangerous drivers.

Published:

07 February 2002

Scoping study on motorcycle training (No. 36) (300 kb)

This research undertook an extensive review of the content and practice of existing rider training courses to identify remaining gaps in knowledge and areas where further research would be needed. Published 15 December 2003.

Published:

15 December 2003

Research into Unlicensed Driving - Literature Review (No. 38) (185 kb)

Literature review carried out as part of the study reported in research report 48.

Published:

15 December 2003

The Differential effects of formal and informal driver training (No. 42) (459 kb)

This reports examines a sample of young learner drivers to compare professional driving instruction and practice with instruction carried out by friends and relations.

Published:

20 August 2004

Driving offences and penalties: what offenders and victims think of them (No 46) (538 kb)

This report describes the results of two surveys, one of drivers who have been convicted of careless or dangerous driving and one of victims of road crashes.

Published:

20 August 2004

Research into Unlicensed Driving - Final Report (No. 48) (934 kb)

This research sets out to estimate the extent of unlicensed driving, it's road safety implications and recommend measures to counter the problem.

Published:

17 December 2003

Safety Culture and Work-Related Road Accidents (No. 51) (1 Mb)

This report describes the study of the safety culture of a cross section of companies and the link between attitudes and accident risk.

Published:

13 July 2004

Safety Culture and Work-Related Road Accidents (No. 51) - Toolkit (228 kb)

This 'Toolkit' is a result of research carried out in Report 51 and is designed to help companies reduce their accident risk.

Published:

14 July 2004

The older motorcyclist (No 55) (943 kb)

The project collected information to provide a broad picture of the older motorcyclists' activities in terms of exposure, experience, vehicle characteristics, riding history and attitudes to risk.

Published:

12 February 2005

Review of the 'looked but failed to see' accident causation factor (No. 60)

This report estimates the size of the problem and investigates the road users and situations with which it is most associated.

Published:

02 February 2006

Effective interventions for speeding motorists (No. 66) (489 kb)

The aim of this research project is to investigate three main domains: A. The definition of a speeding driver, B. Speeding interventions format and content, C. Evaluation methodology.

Published:

15 March 2006