title: Risk and threat factors in prior representations of driving situations among powered two-wheeler riders and car drivers.
abstract: Our research objective is to contribute to gaining a better understanding of the difficulties inherent to managing interactions between power two-wheeler riders and car drivers. 132 power two-wheeler riders and 94 car drivers have been asked what they perceive as being riskiest in driving situations for the representatives of their generic reference group. From all the answers produced, only those which provide information on risk factors related to the other and the occurrence of interferences due to the dynamic situation have been retained and analysed. The results provide a partial explanation of the difficulties related to the two types of users' taking each other into account. On the one hand, the frequency with which the other is mentioned as a source of risk is linked to the concept of conspicuity. This interpretation is related to the relative frequency of the interactions and the difference of real and perceived vulnerability between the users. On the other hand, the specific risk factors attributed to the other illustrates a mutual misunderstanding or ignorance of the driving situation's determinants. These include various practices among users which can be related to the physical and dynamic characteristics of their vehicle and their level of familiarity with other users. The potential road safety consequences of prior representations of risk factors among users are presented and suggestions for improving road user safety are proposed.
authors.affiliation: French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Development and Networks (IFSTTAR)--Accident Mechanisms Research Unit, Chemin de la croix blanche, 13300 Salon de Provence, France. isabelle.ragot-court@ifsttar.fr
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ragot-Court
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mundutéguy
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fournier
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D001336:Automobiles; D001364:Awareness; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires