NCJ Number
206411
Date Published
2004
Length
224 pages
Annotation
This textbook relies on traffic research, psychology research, and criminological research to examine why some drivers are antisocial drivers and what can be done to persuade them to become prosocial drivers.
Abstract
Chapter 1 examines the problem of antisocial drivers on America’s roads. These drivers are reckless, performing high-risk moves that endanger themselves and others. Antisocial driving is linked to the deterioration of social values and driving skills are linked to social skills. Chapter 2 clarifies the meaning of antisocial driving, which includes a myriad of illegal and dangerous driving behaviors, such as driving while under the influence of drugs and tailgating. Chapter 3 identifies the types of individuals who engage in antisocial driving behaviors, while chapter 4 reviews the research findings concerning the relationship between antisocial driving and antisocial behavior. Recent research has indicated that collision risk and driving violations are related to social deviance. Chapter 5 examines the dangers posed by drinking drivers; research has indicated that drinking drivers not only have alcohol abuse problems, but also have a higher tendency to violate rules and norms than drivers who do not drink. Chapter 6 reviews the types of cognitive skills needed for driving, while chapter 7 examines the cognitive skills at work in antisocial driving. Chapter 8 moves on to an examination of the social cognitive skills needed for driving and those exhibited in antisocial driving. Chapter 9 explores how alcohol and other substances impair cognitive skills and suggests that social-cognitive skills training may help alcohol users improve thinking, driving, and curb drinking behavior. Chapter 10 probes the relationship between age and risky driving behavior, citing that young drivers are disproportionately in collision statistics. Chapter 11 presents research findings on a study from the United Arab Emirates on the relationship between social cognitive factors and driving behavior. Chapter 12 examines the effectiveness of deterrence programs in preventing and reducing antisocial driving, while chapter 13 suggests that a better approach to preventing and curbing antisocial driving is through the identification of problem drivers so they can be targeted for prosocial driving training. Chapter 14 examines the findings of evaluation studies on the effectiveness of driver examinations in the identification of antisocial drivers and the effectiveness of driver training. Chapter 15 describes the development and evaluation of the Reasoning and Rehabilitation Program and chapter 16 describes the Prosocial Driver Training Program. References