1Technological Speed Humps and Having the Hump with Technology

This research addressed differences between drivers putting driver attitudes and behaviour at the centre of the research, with an overarching aim to critically examine the role of individual differences, in terms of background characteristics and perceptions, on engineering speed management strategies (specifically addressing speed humps, Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Black Box Technology) and their subsequent effect on driving behaviour. To address this aim a two-part methodology was adopted. First, a total of 57 in-depth interviews were carried out using a semi-structured emergent design and then from the results of the interviews, questionnaires were developed. A total of 1557 individuals completed the questionnaires and their background characteristics showed that generalisations to the UK driving population could take place. Furthermore, a degree of validity and reliability was also found. It was found that although most drivers took risks, through speeding and other risky driving behaviours, there were different motivations for this. Four groups were identified based on these motivations; those that took risk unintentionally formed the largest group. Three smaller groups were also found, a reactive risk taking group who took risks when reacting to stress or being in a hurry, a calculated risk taking group who took risks when they felt it was safe to do so, such as late at night or on well-known roads, and a continuous risk taking group who often took risks for their own sake. Each of these groups would approach engineering speed management strategies differently. Speed humps and perceived use of ISA decreased overall safety of drivers in all groups except those in the unintentional risk taking group. Perceived use of ACC increased overall safety for all drivers except continuous risk takers. Perceived use of Black Box Technology increased overall safety for all drivers except reactive risk takers