An exploration of the perceptions of the average driver's speed compared to perceived driver safety and driving skill.
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 Harré and Gillett (1994) was used to investigate the direction of the self-enhancement bias. The results support the Downward Comparison Theory (Wills, 1981) because drivers consider other drivers negatively, rather than exaggerating their self-perceptions.
Walton
D
D
Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, School of Psychology, Lower Hutt, New Zealand. waldar@topnz.ac.nz
Bathurst
J
J
D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009039:Motion Perception; D009520:New Zealand; D012449:Safety; D012649:Self Concept; D012938:Social Perception