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Drivers — have your say!

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02.11.2006

Psychologists in The University of Nottingham’s Accident Research Group are trying to build up a picture of the average driver on Britain’s roads, the way they think and how they behave — and would love to hear your views.

Their research, supported by the Department for Transport, will give them a unique insight into current road safety and identify areas where further studies or training is needed to reduce accidents on the roads.

The psychologists need a minimum of 2,000 people to log on to an online survey at www.psychology.nottingham.ac.uk/research/aru/
driverquestionnaire and answer two sets of questions that will quiz them on everything from their attitudes to motorcyclists to their own driving skills.

The survey will also ask people to answer questions about their own driving profile, for example, whether they are a professional driver, how many miles they drive per year and how many accidents they have had.

Those who take part will automatically be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win £250.

People wishing to be entered into the prize draw will be asked to supply their name and address, but this information will be held separately to ensure that the answers they give are entirely anonymous.

Copies of the questionnaire will also be available in public places local to The University of Nottingham’s University Park campus, for example at local petrol stations.

Dr David Crundall, leading the study, said: “We want to find out what people’s views are on road safety and what they think about different behaviour on Britain’s roads.

“People won’t be judged on the answers they supply, all opinions are valued — it’s very rare that drivers are given the chance to say what they think.”

The Accident Research Unit, based within the School of Psychology at The University of Nottingham, has now been operating for 30 years, carrying out research commissioned by the Department for Transport, BSM/RAC and other private companies on subjects including driver safety, driver skills, patterns and causes of accidents and driver training. The results of this latest research will be available later in the year.

Emma Thorne | Source: alphagalileo
Further information: www.nottingham.ac.uk

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