ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the first stage of the research, during which a taxonomy of dysfunctional driving behaviours (DDBs) was developed and members of the Victoria Police who had been involved in collisions were interviewed to validate the taxonomy. Aggressive-competitive behaviour and risk-taking behaviour are conscious, strongly affect-motivated behaviours. They may be exhibited as relatively transient responses to emotions activated by neural, sensorimotor, affective, or cognitive processes, or they may be manifestations of a driver’s core constructs – hence, they may be represented as characteristic driving styles. The interviews were in two parts. The first part was based on the critical incident technique. The second part of the interview consisted of completing a rank order repertory grid, in which both the elements and the constructs, including the contrast poles, were supplied. The interview protocols were analysed to determine whether the behaviours that appeared to be precursors to the collisions could be categorized according to the taxonomy of DDBs.
