A new study out of Newcastle University in the UK finds that boredom behind the wheel may be associated with an increased risk of car accidents.
The research team, led by Dr. Joan Harvey of the University’s School of Psychology, analyzed 1,563 drivers and placed each participant into one of four groups.
31 percent of drivers fell into the category of “easily bored, nervous and dangerous”, the majority of which were female and younger drivers. These drivers were more likely to seek excitement by taking risks, making them one and a half times more likely to be involved in a car accident, TIME reports.
Dr. Harvey explains:
“When people who are highly likely to get bored feel understimulated, they do things in response to that, even behind the wheel…Their mind wanders, they daydream, and they lose concentration.”
According to the Daily Mail, 35 percent of the participants fell into the “enthusiastic” category. These group members found driving to be challenging and interesting and ultimately were less likely to be involved in an accident.
21 percent were categorized as “drive slowly and dislike driving”. These participants drive the least and were also the least likely to receive a speeding ticket. The final 13 percent fell into “safe and slow”. Interestingly, the researchers found these drivers had the most positive outlook on life, reports CarAdvice.
What does Dr. Harvey suggest as a solution for those bored drivers?
“Contrary to what you might expect when driving, hazards can actually increase our attention to the road so this may well be the way forward for planners.”
[...] Keep your mind on the road and your hand upon the wheel- via Stats Blog – A new study out of Newcastle University in the UK finds that boredom behind the wheel may be associated with an increased risk of car accidents.The research team, led by Dr. Joan Harvey of the University’s School of Psychology, analyzed 1,563 drivers and placed each participant into one of four groups. [...]
I’ve always known this to be true. This is the case for variable ‘over the [otherwise] speed limit zones’. In Australia the boredom of vast distance at 100km/h is a killer. It should be punctuated with safe areas where you can drive legally at say up to 140km/h, then come back down to 100 and then 60km/h when passing through populated areas. Vary the speed and the concentration will naturally increase. I remember de-restricted zones back in the 60′s before disc-brakes. Bureaucrat commissars making rules for the sake of their jobs and revenue raisng governments (that create chaos) is what’s it’s become and it’s designed to be counter-productive. They want you dead or dead broke. Crash on!