NCJ Number
80985
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 5 Issue: 2/3 Dated: special issue (1981) Pages: 219-230
Date Published
1981
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The British study explored attitudes towards perceived seriousness of road traffic offenses as a function of the drivers' age and sex.
Abstract
It analyzed ratings of seriousness of 31 verbalized offenses using detection theory parameters to study sensitivity and bias effects in the discrimination of 'overt' and 'covert' offenses. Overt offenses were those immediately obvious to a casual observer, such as jumping red traffic lights. Covert offenses were those not so easily observable, such as driving a defective vehicle. The latter are inherently more hazardous because they do not allow other drivers' to adopt appropriate margins of safety. Results indicate that young male drivers were relatively insensitive in discriminating between overt and covert offenses compared with other subgroups of drivers tested. Instructions which directed drivers to judge the offenses from the standpoints of personal responsibility, or involvement in, or the social consequences of, any accidental outcome increased sensitivity relative to no such instructions being given. Analysis of the rating data showed that, overall, offensive driving was considered less serious than covertly offensive driving. This was particularly the case for male and younger drivers. Implications of these results for legal sanctioning and other accident countermeasures are discussed. Tables, a list of overt/covert actions, 2 notes, and over 20 references are provided. (Author abstract modified)