title: Effect of a road safety training program on drivers' comparative optimism.
abstract: Reducing comparative optimism regarding risk perceptions in traffic accidents has been proven to be particularly difficult (Delhomme, 2000). This is unfortunate because comparative optimism is assumed to impede preventive action. The present study tested whether a road safety training course could reduce drivers' comparative optimism in high control situations. Results show that the training course efficiently reduced comparative optimism in high control, but not in low control situations. Mechanisms underlying this finding and implications for the design of road safety training courses are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Université Toulouse le Mirail, CLLE-LTC (Cognition Langues, Langage, & Ergonomie - Laboratoire Travail et Cognition, UMR 5263), 5 allée Antonio Machado, 31058 Toulouse Cedex 9, France. stephane.perrissol@univ-tlse2.fr
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perrissol
authors.forename: Annique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smeding
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laumond
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Le Floch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000193:education* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007600:Judgment; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011336:Probability; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012449:Safety; D017751:Safety Management; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires