ABSTRACT
Inappropriate driving behaviour, aggression and distraction are types of risky driving behaviour that increase the risk of becoming involved in a motor vehicle crash, which in turn may have dramatic consequences for those involved. By definition, “risky driving refers to those patterns of driving behaviour that place drivers at risk for morbidity and mortality and that involve legal violations” (Jessor, Turbin and Costa, 1997, p. 4). Therefore, risky driving refers not only to reckless and aggressive driving, but also to inattentive, distracted driving and driving with excessive fatigue. Inattention, illness, or sleepiness, for example, are some of the most important causes of accidents (Minoiu, Netto, Mammar and Lusetti, 2009), and the negative effects of distraction on the driving task need not be elaborated here. Previous research has found there are many different manifestations of risky driving. The most frequently mentioned are speeding and tailgating (e.g., James and Nahl, 2000; Sarkar, Martineau, Emami, Khatib and Wallace, 2000; Tasca, 2000; Jessor et al., 1997). Other examples include such things as: cutting in front of another car, weaving in and out of traffic or running red lights (e.g., Shinar, 1998; Sarkar et al., 2000; Lajunen and Parker, 2001; Tasca, 2000). There are several approaches for preventing the negative consequences of such risky driving. Firstly, enforcement of the traffic laws can be increased, in order to stop risky driving in the first place. This is a wellestablished procedure for decreasing risky driving, although it will not stop risky driving completely.
