INSURANCE POLICY, RISK TAKING AND SAFETY IN TRAFFIC

The report concerns the relationship between traffic behaviour, drivers' knowledge of their traffic accidents, and means of insurance policy. Information was collected among 253 drivers. Of these 120 drivers were chosen on the basis of their behaviour at traffic lights: 40 drove against red light, 34 against yellow, and 46 stopped in a controlled manner when the lights changed. The rest, 133 drivers, were chosen on the basis of their behaviour in slippery weather: 30 drivers left their vehicles at home, and 103 used their own car. On the basis of observation of the drivers' use of seat belts, and the condition of the vehicle, the drivers seat belt risk and the vehicles condition risk were determined. The results show that the taking of risks is only in a minor way related to owning the vehicle or to the means of insurance policy. The risk takers and the non-risk takers do not differ in their knowledge of traffic insurance policy. But they do differ on the basis of the drivers' knowledge of their own traffic accidents and violations: the non-risk takers avoid all kinds of risks but the risk-takers can be divided into two groups: those who take some risks but closely resemble the non-risk takers, and those who generally take risks, and have more accidents than the groups mentioned. The results based on control data indicate that risk-taking is related to an increasing number of traffic violations, and a lower bonus level. The results indicate that risk-taking is behind the variation of traffic accidents, violations and bonus level. Risk-taking seems to accumulate and this risk syndrome is related to an increasing number of violations and accidents, and to a lower bonus level. The results do not indicate effects of the means of insurance policy on the direction of traffic behaviour. (TRRL)