ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the evidence for stable and transitory individual factors as determinants of accident record, mainly regarding traffic accidents. Early in accident research, the theory of 'accident proneness' was suggested as an explanation of the observation that some people had more accidents than could be expected by 'chance'. The accident proneness concept states that some people are more prone to causing mishaps, that is, being culpable for what happen to them. The notion of accident proneness has been a matter of controversy within the safety research community for decades, but apparently, the critics have won out in the end, and precious few seem to defend, investigate or even care about this matter, in whatever guise it is presented. One of the problems concerning the lack of acceptance for the accident proneness concept would seem to be the very strong formulation of the concept by the opponents.
