Driving while irritated, upset or shaken will
substantially alter one's judgment when behind the wheel. The angry driver is
the aggressive offensive driver, and as a result, the dangerous driver.
Stressful conditions involving personal or business life will affect safe
driving and should be recognized and addressed as negative influences on driving
habits. The driver should evaluate his or her state of mind before attempting
the operation of a motor vehicle and should not drive when heightened stress,
anger, emotions, or fatigue are realized.1
The operation of a motor vehicle takes a clear and focused mind, uncluttered
by thoughts of aggravation and distress. The driver with a wandering mind caused
by any one of the aforementioned effects has a decreased awareness of the road,
a slower reaction time, and an overall lack of safe driving habits. This driver
is more apt to make more unsafe lane changes, speed and take chances on the
road. The ability to anticipate and determine upcoming driving hazards and
conditions is also adversely affected.2
Do we need stress in our life?
Yes,
you need stress in your life!! Does that surprise you? Perhaps, but it is quite
true. Without stress, life would be dull and unexciting. Stress adds flavor,
challenge, and opportunity to life. Too much stress, however, can seriously
affect your physical and mental well-being3.
A major challenge in this stress filled world of today is to make the stress
in your life work for you instead of against you.
What three stages does the body respond to when it is stressed?
To use stress in a positive way and prevent it from becoming distress, you
should become aware of your own reactions to stressful events. The body responds
to stress by going through three stages:
(1) alarm, (2) resistance, and (3) exhaustion.
As an example, assume that a car pulls out abruptly into traffic in front of
you. Your initial reaction would be an alarm reaction, which may include fear of
a collision or anger at the driver who pulled out in front of you. Your body
physically reacts by releasing hormones (adrenaline) into your blood stream,
your face gets flushed, you perspire, your arms and legs tighten up preparing
you to fight or flee from the situation. The resistance stage is where your body
repairs the damage caused by the alarm stage. The exhaustion stage comes about
when the alarm resistance cycle is repeated too often and the body does not have
sufficient time to repair any damage. Exhaustion may be manifested in such
things as migraine headaches, high blood pressure, backaches or
insomnia.4
How does one deal with stress?
There are as many ways to deal with stress as there are individuals. We all
respond differently to different situations. However, here are some guidelines
to use.
Try physical activity. When you are nervous, angry, or upset, release the
pressure through exercise or physical activity.
Share your stress. It helps to talk to someone about your concerns and
worries.
Must you always be right? Do other people upset you, particularly when
they don't do things your way? Try cooperation instead of confrontation; it's
better than fighting and always being "right".
Know your limits. If a problem is beyond your control and cannot be
changed at the moment, don't fight the situation5.
RESOURCES: American Automobile Association, Responsible Driving, Chapter
2, number 1 American Automobile Association, Responsible Driving, Chapter 3,
number 2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service,
DHHS Publication no. (ADM) 91-502, 1991, number 3, 4, 5.
THE HUMAN FACTORS MODULE 2: PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
SUBJECT 2: Dealing With Fatigue
Drivers should be aware that fighting tiredness while at the wheel is
not advisable. The actual extent to which fatigue contributes to the
traffic crash picture is probably much higher than statistics indicate,
because long before a driver actually becomes drowsy, fatigue can
seriously impair driving ability, often referred to as "inattention". The
onset of fatigue frequently coincides with the onset of darkness when
visibility is greatly reduced and the risk of traffic crashes is high,
even for the alert driver.
What drivers are at greater risk of having a collision?
Drivers that are sleep deprived.
Drivers who drive long distances without rest breaks.
Drivers who drive through the night or at other times when they are
normally asleep.
Drivers who are taking medication (that increases sleepiness) or
drinking alcohol.
Drivers who are driving alone.
Drivers that drive on long, rural, boring roads and become
hypnotized by the road.
Frequent travelers (e.g., business travelers1).
How many have driven from home to work or work to home and don't remember
the last few miles they drove?
Fatigue has affected all of us at some time or another on the road.
Which drivers are especially susceptible to fatigue-related
crashes?
Truck drivers are especially susceptible to
fatigue-related crashes. In addition to the high number of miles driven each
year, many truckers may drive during the night when the body is sleepiest.
Truckers may also have a high prevalence of a sleep and breathing disorder
called sleep apnea2.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that
approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes annually (about 1.5% of all
crashes) involve drowsiness/fatigue as a principal casual factor.
Drowsiness/fatigue may play a role in crashes attributed to other causes. About
1 million crashes annually - 1/6 of all crashes - are thought to be produced by
driver inattention/lapses3.
How do you prevent fatigue from affecting your driving?
To prevent fatigue from affecting your driving, here are some tips you should
consider:
Get a good night's sleep. This varies from individual to individual
but is somewhere around eight hours per night.
If you are taking a long trip, bring a passenger. The passenger can
share the driving task and stay awake to talk to the driver while being
alert for the signs of fatigue.
Schedule regular stops (about every two hours or 100 miles).
Avoid alcohol and other drugs that may impair driving performance.
If you feel that you have a sleep disorder, consult your physician
and seek help4.
RESOURCES: National Sleep Foundation, Drive Alert, Arrive Alive,
Washington, D. C. October 1988, number 1, 2, 3, 4
THE HUMAN FACTORS MODULE 2: PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
SUBJECT 3: Dealing With Emotional Distress
The emotionally distressed driver is more apt to be involved in a traffic
collision than is the rested, clear-headed motor vehicle operator. It should be
made clear that a tired driver, a disturbed driver, or one with a cluttered mind
has decreased ability to avoid collisions and is likely to be involved in an
altercation as well.1
How would you feel if you were at fault in a collision that turned a
20-year-old into a quadriplegic, or killed a family's only child? The answer
seems obvious, yet while the physical trauma caused by crashes has been the
subject of extensive research, psychological damage and suffering is less well
understood, particularly for crash survivors who do not sustain a physical
injury2.
At least once during their lifetime almost all drivers will be involved in a
serious crash where people are injured or killed. Even those lucky enough to
avoid a crash will know friends, family, or colleagues who have suffered the
effects of a serious crash3.
How is an emotionally disturbed driver more vulnerable to a
collision?
When disturbed by emotions, the driver is not concentrating on the driving
task, they are concentrating on what has them upset. This could manifest
itself in increased risk taking behavior, such as shorter following distances,
increased speed, erratic lane changes, etc. Unsafe behaviors like this
contribute to increased crash risk.
With severe emotional distress, the individual could turn to substance use
or abuse to hide the emotional pain. Combine this with driving and this would
contribute to increased crash risk.
With the increased risk-taking behavior, aggressive driving could result.
Aggressive driving as defined earlier is "at least one of these four driving
offenses, running a red light or stop sign, failure to yield the right-of-way
and reckless driving." Engaging in any or all of the listed behaviors could
result in a collision.
As mentioned earlier, unchecked emotions can lead to aggressive driving,
which in an extreme case, could result in "road rage". Your emotional distress
has now risen to the point of violence. Your mind is not capable of rational
function, your confusion and frustration level have risen to the point where
you blindly strike out.
What do I do when emotional distress has taken over?
Take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds and then let it out. Go for
a walk. Do anything non-violent. Do not get in your motor vehicle and drive
angry.
Try to displace yourself from what is upsetting you. Take a time out and
go sit in your room.
Take a moment and recognize your anger for what it is, some hurt, real or
imagined. Get some perspective, talk to someone you trust, do not drive when
emotionally distressed.
If you are unsuccessful in controlling your emotions and are in a crash,
what are the four emotional reactions to a car collision or ticket?
Crashes can trigger a powerful emotional reaction:
Shock
Anxiety
Guilt
Grief
All but the most hardened people who cause injury or death are emotionally
overwhelmed by the experience. Because driving puts them in control of their
car, drivers tend to blame themselves if others are injured or killed,
regardless of who was at fault4.
What are the four ways which drivers cope with emotional trauma?
The recovery process of a driver who has been involved in a collision follows
four basic phases. These phases are:
Shock, numbing, and sometimes denial. Why did this happen to me? That
can't be right.
Recoil and impact. Preoccupied with the event and realization of what
happened.
Attribution. This happened because; the person figures out the whys.
Resolution. The person has made their peace with the situation.
Many drivers naturally pass through these phases without outside assistance.
Some, however, seem unusually preoccupied with the event and do not appear to
get better. Coping can be particularly difficult during the recoil phase, when
drivers realize what they did or did not do. They may take all the blame for the
crash, disregarding the facts or analysis of others5.
RESOURCES: Recovery, Haunting Experience, Alberta, British Columbia,
October 1998, number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
THE HUMAN FACTORS MODULE 2: PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
SUBJECT 4: Appropriate Attitude
Traffic laws are instituted and established as safety mechanisms for
motor vehicle operators. Street design does not warrant speeds in excess
of posted limits, nor would certain turns be construed as safe operating
procedures on particular streets. Planning and research are heavily
involved in the establishment of traffic laws, as the objective is to make
driving safe for all individuals. Seatbelts, for example, have become
mandatory because it is statistically verifiable that they help save
lives. Traffic laws are not made on rash, hasty decisions, but are done
with the care of the driver in mind.1
As most people can attest, there is a genuine need for traffic control
on the roadways. Unsupervised and uncontrolled driving would lead to
chaos. Sound traffic control, both well organized and planned, is needed
to enhance the driving conditions on the road. Just the simple addition of
a traffic officer to an uncontrolled intersection where problems exist can
show the benefits visible law enforcement has towards traffic safety.
Often, just the sight of law enforcement officials will cause drivers to
slow and drive more carefully.
Far too often, motor vehicle operators look on traffic laws with
disdain. People stress the negative side of laws rather than the positive.
Traffic laws are tools that save lives. Drivers must understand that these
laws benefit them and should be supported and followed, not frowned upon.
Nobody enjoys receiving a traffic citation, yet this is no reason to
reject these life saving devices and tools. Drivers must understand that
laws promote safe driving and are truly beneficial and consequently should
have the support of the motor vehicle operators.2
Stress and hurriedness can adversely affect one's ability to drive.
Operators of a motor vehicle should have an attitude suited for operation
of a motor vehicle when behind the wheel and should not let other
circumstances distract their attention. Drivers should be aware that
circumstances and attitude changes could dramatically affect driving
habits. The conscientious driver is often times the defensive driver and
the least likely to be involved in a traffic collision3.
Research evidence shows that attitudes affect driving safety, but developing
appropriate attitudes is not simple. It depends on recognizing that attitudes
are important and making a personal commitment to change attitudes that are
unsafe. Drivers should strive to develop a positive attitude when driving.
What are some of the characteristics of a risk taking driver?
There is always some degree of risk associated with driving, but a driver's
attitude can greatly influence the risk involved. Attitudes that predispose you
to risk are:
Enjoying the thrill of danger.
Enjoying impressing passengers or other drivers.
Disregarding personal safety.
The illusion of control or overestimating your ability.
Justifying risks because they are taken in a noble cause.
Most drivers think they are both safer and more skillful than the
average driver is - but we cannot all be right. In more than 90% of
traffic collisions, human error is the cause. Collisions do not just
happen by chance; they are the consequence of unsafe driving practices.
Driving safety cannot be thought of as an add-on extra; it has to be built
into the way you drive4.
What are some of the traits of a good driver?
Good drivers have a quiet level of efficiency in their actions and this
derives from:
A good level of attention.
Accurate observation.
Matching the vehicle's speed and direction to the situation.
Awareness of the risks inherent in particular road and traffic
situations.
Having a realization that heavy traffic and the actions of others
are beyond our control.
Developing the ability to LET GO of the perceived insults to
yourself by the actions of other drivers.
Develop and have the understanding that there is nothing out on the
road worth dying over.
Having a positive attitude about driving and becoming and remaining
aware of the driving environment will help you become a more effective and
safe driver.
RESOURCES: American Automobile Association, Responsible Driving,
Chapter 5, number 1, 2. American Automobile Association, Responsible
Driving, Chapter 2, number 3. NHTSA, Understanding Youthful Risk Taking,
Washington, D. C., 1995 , number 4.
These questions are for practice only. You must only pass the
final exam. (REMEMBER: You must answer ALL questions
listed below correctly before you can move to the next module)
Good drivers have a quiet level of efficiency in their actions. This
derives from: a good level of attention accurate observation both neither
Your body reacts to an alarm reaction by releasing _______ into your
blood stream: salt glucose adrenaline water
With severe emotional pain, the driver could turn to substance ______
to hide emotional pain. use abuse neither both
Developing appropriate attitudes depends on recognizing that attitudes
are: not necessary a waste of time important
Approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes annually involve
drowsiness and fatigue as a principal casual factor. True False
Attitudes, which are predisposing you to risk, are for: the thrill of danger impressing passengers both neither
When you are experiencing heightened stress, emotions or fatigue, the
driver should: continue as normal not drive stomp on the gas
Exhaustion can manifest itself in your life in such things
as: (a) migraine headaches (b) insomnia (c) both (a) and (b) (d) neither (a) or (b)
Driving while irritated, upset or shaken will
substantially alter one's judgment when behind the wheel. The angry driver is
the aggressive offensive driver, and as a result, the dangerous driver.
Stressful conditions involving personal or business life will affect safe
driving and should be recognized and addressed as negative influences on driving
habits. The driver should evaluate his or her state of mind before attempting
the operation of a motor vehicle and should not drive when heightened stress,
anger, emotions, or fatigue are realized.1 
Yes,
you need stress in your life!! Does that surprise you? Perhaps, but it is quite
true. Without stress, life would be dull and unexciting. Stress adds flavor,
challenge, and opportunity to life. Too much stress, however, can seriously
affect your physical and mental well-being3.
Truck drivers are especially susceptible to
fatigue-related crashes. In addition to the high number of miles driven each
year, many truckers may drive during the night when the body is sleepiest.
Truckers may also have a high prevalence of a sleep and breathing disorder
called sleep apnea2. 
