Advances in Traffic Psychology

Traffic psychology is a rapidly expanding and broad field within applied psychology with a considerable volume of research activities and a growing network of academic strands of enquiry. The discipline primarily focuses on the behaviour of road users and the psychological processes underlying these behaviours, looking at issues such as cognition, distraction, fatigue, personality and social aspects, often delivering practical applications and educational interventions. Traffic psychology has been the focus of research for almost as long as the motor car has been in existence and was first recognised as a discipline in 1990 when the International Association of Applied Psychology formed Division 13: Traffic and Transportation Psychology. The benefits of understanding traffic psychology are being increasingly recognised by a whole host of organisations keen to improve road safety or minimise health and safety risks when travelling in vehicles. The objective of this volume is to describe and discuss recent advances in the study of traffic psychology, with a major focus on how the field contributes to the understanding of at-risk road-user behaviour. The intended readerships include road-safety researchers from a variety of different academic backgrounds, senior practitioners in the field including regulatory authorities, the private and public sector personnel, and vehicle manufacturers concerned with improving road safety.

Dr Mark Sullman is a Senior Lecturer at Cranfield University. He is European Representative of Division 13 (Traffic and Transportation Psychology) of the International Association of Applied Psychology and is on the Editorial Advisory Board for Traffic and Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. His current areas of interest include driving anger, driver distraction and safety culture. Dr Lisa Dorn is Director of the Driving Research Group at Cranfield University. She is President-Elect of the International Association of Applied Psychology: Traffic and Transportation Psychology Division and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Chartered Psychologist. Dr Dorn has published a number of journal papers on driver behaviour, driver stress and risk and is a regular contributor to the public debate at major conferences. Currently, Dr Dorn is working with global organisations to improve driver education and training.