The Psychology of Driving

by Hole, Graham J.

• ISBN13: 9780805844252
• ISBN10: 0805844252
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-09-08
• Publisher: Lawrence Erlbau

Summary

Road accidents are the major cause of death and injury among young people in the developing world, and the field of psychology can offer great insights into the many factors that are at play when we get behind the wheels of our cars. Based on data collected around the world on drivers of all age groups, Graham Hole provides an up to date picture of the realities of driving, including visual perception issues, cell phone distractions, fatigue, drugs, and the effects of aging. These insights can help explain why we crash, as well as how we achieve the amazing feat ofnotcrashing more often than we do. In this jargon-free and very accessible book, Hole applies psychological methods and insights to this every-day experience with two audiences in mind. First, he speaks to accident investigators, who frequently rely on well-developed understandings of engineering and forensics and less insight into the psychology of the driver. Second, of course, this book will be of value to anyone interested in the application of cognitive psychology to real-world behaviors, and to anyone who drives.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Methodological Issues in the Study of Driving	1	(19)
Perceptual Factors in Driving	20	(21)
Attentional Factors in Driving	41	(21)
Effect of In-Car Distractions on Driving	62	(23)
Driving and the Perception of Risk	85	(24)
Driving and Fatigue	109	(22)
Driving and Drugs	131	(23)
The Effects of Age on Driving	154	(21)
Driving and the Future	175	(22)
References	197	(20)
Author Index	217	(10)
Subject Index	227