ABSTRACT
Among the various possible approaches to accident prevention, the use of incentive programmes for accident-free performance has become more prominent in recent years. An incentive program entails the extension of a pre-announced gratification or bonus to potential recipients-like workers or drivers-on the specific condition that they do not have an accident caused by their own fault within a specified period of time. Thus, incentives must be distinguished from unexpected rewards. Incentive programmes differ from safety engineering and safety education by attempting to strengthen the motivation to be safe. Safety engineering and ergonomics may offer an opportunity for greater safety and education, and a greater ability to be safe (and lead to a decrease in the accident rate per unit distance travelled or unit of productivity), but greater opportunity or greater ability are not likely to enhance actual safety performance per person-hour of performance unless there is a desire for increased safety.
