A utility maximization model of driver traffic safety behavior.
A simple utility maximization model is presented to illustrate that risk compensation is a natural part of human behavior when individuals pursue multiple goals with limited resources. In this positive economic model driver safety effort is determined by a balance between reduced risk and increased disutility cost. Changes which affect the balance induce drivers to change their own safety efforts. Under plausible conditions a change in exogenous safety, which is beyond driver control, causes a compensatory change in driver effort in the opposite direction. A sample of special seat belt use studies illustratively indicates the usefulness of the model.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012107:Research Design; D012306:Risk; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States