Date of Award

4-2013

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Ron Van Houten

Second Advisor

Dr. Heather McGee

Third Advisor

Dr. John Austin

Fourth Advisor

Dr. William Rantz

Keywords

Driving simulator, following headway, feedback, tailgating, self-monitor

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of a package intervention including prompts, goal setting, feedback, education and behavioral self-monitoring to increase following headway (decrease tailgating) of four young university student drivers in a simulated driving environment. Another purpose of the present study was to determine if the effects of the package intervention would maintain in the simulator and transfer to real world driving by installing a black box video camera in the participants’ vehicle. During intervention drivers were prompted to increase following headway and were provided a specific target for following headway. The participants were also asked to estimate following headway after each session and when the session ended were given feedback on actual following headway. The introduction of the treatment package in the simulator was associated with an increase in following headway for all participants. During the reversal phase, maintenance occurred for 3 of the 4 participants. There was some transfer of effects to real world driving situations. Teaching individuals to increase following headway may be one strategy to decrease the risk of accidents.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS