47th CIECA Congress 2015 Personal resources for safe driving on May 8th, 2015 Berlin TRAFFIC PSYCHOLOGY:

Transcription

1 TRAFFIC PSYCHOLOGY: The importance of psychological assessment, risk behavior and driver s perception FÁTIMA PEREIRA DA SILVA Traffic Psychology International (TPI) InOutCister, Lda* Higher School of Education- Polytechnic Institute Coimbra- Portugal Institute of Coimbra

2 CONTENTS: 1. Traffic Psychology 2. Psychological Assessment of Drivers 3.The Portuguese Context of Psychological Assessment of drivers 4. Study Presentation 5. Results 6. Conclusion.

3 1-TRAFFIC PSYCHOLOGY 47th CIECA Congress 2015 The interest in driving behaviour started in 1866 when, in Germany, the first car was built, generating the perception that it was necessary to build tools to evaluate driving capacity. Thus, right in 1880, aptitude exams were required for driver candidates (Soler & Tortosa, 1987 cit. in Bianchi, 2011). The main research studies on the type of assessment were undertaken by Germany and France. Moede and Piorkowski (Germany) were responsible for the first driving simulators.

4 1-TRAFFIC PSYCHOLOGY 47th CIECA Congress 2015 In 1900, Patrizi showed that psychology might be relevant in traffic related questions and that a psychological drivers examination might be pertinent (Dorsch, 1963 cit. in Bianchi, 2011). This phenomenon quickly gained expression and, in 1915, many countries had introduced an obligatory psychological evaluation for professional drivers and rail machinists (Caparros, 1985 cit. in Bianchi, 2011).

5 1-TRAFFIC PSYCHOLOGY 47th CIECA Congress 2015 In 1988, Rozestraten defined Traffic Psychology as "an area of psychology that studies, by valid scientific methods, human behavior in traffic and the factors and external and internal processes, conscious and unconscious that cause or alter. In short: is the study of behavior-shifts in traffic and its causes " (Thielen, 2011, p.9). Traffic Psychology refers to the study of driver s behaviour and other users of the road scenario, as well as, phenomena/ behaviours and the underlying psychossocial processes (Hoffman, 2005).

6 1-TRAFFIC PSYCHOLOGY 47th CIECA Congress 2015 Despite this long path in which the traffic psychology has evolved and obtained recognition, at present, there is an increasing need for psychological evaluation for the right to drive. These questions are primarily based on the validity of psychological tests used and the psychologist's ability to assess the candidate's profile. Despite some uncertainties, the community at large knows that the psychological evaluation is essential to select drivers, as it ensures the existence of specific parameters to assess and measure (Gouveia, Silva, Andrade, Son and Costa, 2002). Silva, M.F.P.(2015)

7 2-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF DRIVERS 47th CIECA Congress 2015 In general, the population considers that Psychological Assessment is effective, although some consider it unnecessary perhaps because it makes the process of getting license more time consuming and expensive ( Gouveia, 2002). Lamounier and Rueda (2005) found that most of their sample considered the psychological assessment relevant and moreover that people believe that this kind of assessment alows to identify risk factors that can reduce the high accident rates.

8 2-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF DRIVERS 47th CIECA Congress 2015 Lamounier and Rueda (2005) aimed to compare the perceived importance of psychological evaluation between those who were obtaining the driving license and those who were renewing it. The authors concluded that the candidates have a more positive perspective than drivers who are renewing driving license. Many authors wonder if psychological assessment effectively influences the reduction of accidents and risk behaviors. Others argue that there is little research on the predictive validity of the tests used, and others still call into question the model of performance of psychologists in this area (Silva & Archieri, 2008).

9 2-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF DRIVERS 47th CIECA Congress 2015 Soares (2013) states that most drivers have already heard about psychological assessment in road traffic context.however, drivers did not show a clear and unambiguous knowledge about the reasons why psychological assessment is performed, as well as they do not know what is assessed. The reason given to undergo an assessment is that it is a required process. According to Groeger (2003, cit in Sampaio & Nakano, 2011) information retrieved from offenders is quite important because it allows us to know how many drivers and how many vehicles were involved in traffic accidents.

10 3- Psychological Assessment of the Drivers Drivers and/or learner drivers of G2 Drivers in categories B and BE - Ambulances; - Fire engines - Taxi - School Transport Who obtain their license or renew it from 50 years old onwards - Materials considered dangerous, - Equivalence to the Portuguese Driving License (outside Europe) - Military License Exchange

11 3-Psychological assessment of drivers: the current framework. Decree-Law nº 138/2012 of 5 July 47th CIECA Congress 2015 Fields Abilities and skills Applicants of Group 1 and drivers of G1& G2 Applicants of G 2 Perceptualcognitive 1-Intelligence Required: Group 1 candidates Optional: drivers of Group 1 and 2 Required 2-Attention and concentration Required Required 3-Movement estimation Required Required Psychomotor 4-Bimanual Coordination Required Required 5-Choice Reactions Required Required 6-Multiple and discriminative reactions Required Required 7-Personality factors: Psychosocial Required: psychological interview Psychological maturity and responsibility Emotional stability Psychopathological screening Attitudes and risk behaviors in relation to traffic safety Social abilities Optional: survey or projective test Required: interview and survey or projective test

12 3-Psychological assessment of drivers: the current framework. Decree-Law nº 138/2012 of 5 July Aptitudes and competences related to functions where doubts arise Fields Perceptual-cognitive Abilities and skills 1 Memory 2 Perceptive integration 3 Vigilant resistance to monotony 4- Gestual safety Psychomotor 5-Manual agility 6- Capacity to multi-task

13 Total Respondents: 574, 94.4% - MEN 4- Study Presentation November 2012 to December 2013 Know the participants opinion about Psychological Assessment (P.A.) process Assess the relationship between the importance attributed to P.A. and the behavior of respondents as offenders Check the relationships between the number of offences and the number of road accidents Assess the relationship between the importance attributed to P.A. and registered accidents

14 4.1.Research design Behaviour survey- BS1 COLLECTED INFORMATION 1- In the beginning of the process * Assessment s objective of P.A. * Age 2- DURING THE INTERVIEW * Number of offences: seriousness Type * Number of accidents; seriousness Type BEHAVIOUR SURVEY: - After the assessment conclusion and communication of results

15 4.2.Sample description: 47th CIECA Congress 2015 Most of respondents are between 46 and 55 years (n=267; 46,5%) The reason of P.A.: revalidate category C license (n=284; 49,5%) revalidate ADR license (n=70; 12,2%) revalidate Public Transport Children (n=67; 11,7%).

16 5-RESULTS: 2- a) Do you consider this assessment important? YES: n=554 (97,9%); NO: n=12 (2,1%); 8 did not respond 2- b) Did you know what you were coming to do here? YES: n=352 (66,2%) NO: n=180 (33,8%); 42 did not respond 2- c) Do you think you would have felt more comfortable if we had explained what you were going to do? NO: n=288 (56,8%); YES: n=219 (43,2%); 67 did not respond

17 3- We know that every day people die in the roads. Do you consider that the assessment that you just made is important to assess driving behavior? (Cf. Table 3) YES: n=478 (83,2%) NO: n=9 (1,568%) 87did not respond YES 4- Do you think this type of assessment should be carried out by all drivers? YES: n=468 (94,4%) NO: n=28 (5,6%) 78 did not respond NO - It s not related to driver behavior on the road (n= 7) - The tests have nothing to do with what goes on the road (n= 2)

18 RESULTS: 5. Accidents Register: Most participants (n = 349; 60.8%) said they never have had any kind of accident Total of road accidents: 339, with an average value corresponding to.59 (SD = 0.88) Accidents with property damage show the highest frequency (n= 291; 85.8%), with the average value of.51 (SD = 0.86), followed by accidents with minor injuries (n = 38; 11.2%) (cf. Table 4).

19 RESULTS: 47th CIECA Congress The majority of participants have already been the subject of penalties for driving offences (n = 376; 65.5%) penalties average value of 1.43 (SD = 2.08). The minimum and maximum values correspond in turn to 0 and 30, respectively

20 RESULTS: (by calculating the non-parametric correlation coefficient Cramer's V Field: 2013; Maroco, 2007), 7. Association between importance of psychological assessement of drivers and road accidents : is not statistically significant (V =.043, p =.302). 8. Evaluation of the association between importance about the psychological assessment of drivers and violations of road traffic : is not statistically significant (V =.043, p =.302) 9. The association between the variables importance of psychological assessment of drivers and opinion on the possibility that all drivers should make this type of assessment is : statistically significant and positive (V =.145, p <.01). Silva, M.F.P.(2015)

21 RESULTS: (by calculating the correlation coefficient R parametric Pearson Field: 2013; Maroco, 2007) 10. Association between total number of accidents and total number of offences is: statistically significant (r =.197, p <.001). 11. Association between fatal accidents and total number of offences The evaluation of the association between the total number of offences committed and specifically the fatal accidents, is: statistically significant (r =.104, p <.05). 12.The association between the total number of accidents and fatal accidents is not statistically significant in our sample (r =.072, p =.083). Silva, M.F.P.(2015)

22 RESULTS: 13. Comparison of age groups and total number of accidents: Given the cross between the age group variable and the total number of accidents (cf. table 6 ), it appears that there are statistically significant differences (F = 3.018, p <.05). Silva, M.F.P.(2015)

23 RESULTS: In a more detailed analysis by a post-hoc test (Games-Howell Test), it s noted that the total number of accidents group corresponding to the age from 26 to 35 years presents statistically significant higher average values compared to the age group from 18 to 25 years of age. Additionally, the age bracket of 66 shows average values statistically lower compared to the following classes: 26 to 35 years of age; 36 to 45 years of age; and 46 to 55 years of age. Silva, M.F.P.(2015)

24 6-Conclusion The data lead to the conclusion that respondents CONSIDER IMPORTANT Psychological Assessment of Drivers. Respondents mostly consider that the evaluation SHOULD BE MADE TO ALL DRIVERS, and the association between the importance of psychological assessment and application to all drivers is statistically significant. Our sample showed there is an association between the TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF offences. Our sample showed there is an association between the TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DEATHS AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF offences.

25 SO.. IN THE FUTURE. 6-Conclusion IMPORTANT TO OPTIMIZE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS A common requirement for psychological assessment (P.A) for drivers across Europe? Towards common methodologies for evaluation? Knowing better and better skills and abilities in THE DRIVING TASK

26 THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION Member of the Commission Order of Evaluation For Drivers Order of Portuguese Psychologists Member of International Traffic Psychology-TPI Member of the Traffic Psychology (DGVP) Professor at the School of Education of Coimbra Specialist in Human Factors and Road Safety