Failing to Assess Risks on the Road

“How We Drive” is a real interesting blog that more about roads users and transportation than just driving.

A recent entry is very relevant to bicyclists.  It discusses how many drivers do not accurately assess the risks of their driving behavior.  They take chances that most of the time don’t result in a crash or injury.  Examples could include passing cyclists too closely on the road , crossing a double-yellow line to pass cyclists, or pulling through a crosswalk without looking for pedestrians.

Whether from personal on-road experience, or from reading studies, or from examining in-car footage of crashes and near-crashes, I am often struck by how often people seem to put themselves, and others, at great risk. Following closely at high speed on the interstate, or driving fast through a neighborhood street, they act in a way that suggests they believe that nothing could go wrong, or that they would be in control if it did. Over time, this behavior is typically rewarded, perhaps through sheer luck, until the ‘black swan’ event that they never expected actually happens. Then, as is often the case, begins a process of denial, an attempt to assuage the cognitive dissonance that has come between the image of themselves as a good and cautious driver and an event that was ‘beyond their control.’

Certainly there are some bicyclists that don’t accurately assess their risk.  The difference being that the negative impacts of risky cycling behavior is generally limited to the cyclist.  Motorist bad behavior around cyclists negatively impacts the cyclist.

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2 Responses to “Failing to Assess Risks on the Road”

  1. Mother Natures vs. Careless Driving | m-bike.org Says:

    […] How We Drive blog had an excellent article on this topic which we covered back in October.  Though we’ve already posted this quote from Vanderbilt, it’s so good that it’s […]

  2. Lame Road Safety Videos | m-bike.org Says:

    […] don’t just “speak up” about reckless driving, they graphically display those Black Swan moments when taking risks adds up to a horrific result.?They’re graphic.?They’re […]

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