Highlights Lower traffic volume may reduce drivers’ ability to perceive and control their speed. Optical variables associated with speed perception are identified. Perceived risk, social norms, boredom, attitude functions may also affect speeding.

    Abstract During the COVID-19 stay-at-home period there were observed increases in both the percentage of cars engaged in extreme speeding, and the percentage of cars traveling below the speed limit. These changes have been attributed to unusually low traffic volume during the stay-at-home period. We develop a novel theoretical account, based on existing empirical research, of perceptual and psychological processes that may account for changes in speeding behavior under low traffic volume conditions. These include impaired ability to accurately perceive and control speed due to change in visual information, decreased salience of certain norms about socially appropriate speeds, lower perceived risk of speeding, and increased boredom leading to risk-taking behaviors. Further, we consider that individual attitude functions may account for the observed split in speeding behavior.


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    Title :

    Speeding through the pandemic: Perceptual and psychological factors associated with speeding during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period


    Contributors:
    Tucker, A. (author) / Marsh, K.L. (author)


    Publication date :

    2021-06-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




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