To Be a Better Driver, Modify Hazardous Attitudes

Airplane pilots are taught ways to determine the best course of action in response to a given set of circumstances. These techniques, including the management of "hazardous attitudes," are described in a pilot advisory publication issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (AC No. 60-22). Knowing how to manage hazardous attitudes is a useful skill on the highway, as well as in the sky.

An "attitude" is a personal predisposition to respond to persons, situations or events a certain way.¹ A dangerous or hazardous attitude can be modified with a little practice, however.

Here are five hazardous attitudes that, once you recognize them, can be modified by thinking a positive alternative or "antidote thought."

Invulnerability

"Invulnerability" is the attitude that nothing bad will happen to you. You know accidents happen, but you believe accidents only happen to other people. For example, if you have this hazardous attitude, when it is raining and you see that the road ahead is covered by fast-moving water flowing into a river, you will think: "Other people might get swept away, but it won't happen to me."

The antidote to this hazardous attitude is to remind yourself "it could happen to me." As a U.S. Department of Transportation slogan advises, "Turn around, don't drown." Pick another route!

Macho

"Macho" is an attitude of "I can do it," and you believe you will impress everyone with your prowess in a situation. It often seems to accompany an attitude of Invulnerability. This is an equal opportunity attitude, and it can be found in women as well as men. For example, you decide that by driving more aggressively, cutting in front of other drivers and weaving back-and-forth between two lanes of rush-hour traffic, you will reduce your trip time by 10 minutes. How impressive! You might also leave behind a trail of road rage and cause a multi-vehicle accident. Think of the antidote to this hazardous attitude instead, and remind yourself that "taking chances is foolish."

Impulsivity

"Impulsivity" is the need to do something---anything--- quickly, to "do it now." Instead of stopping to think about what may be the best course of action, you do the first thing that comes to mind. For example, if the right front and back wheels of the car you are driving suddenly drop several inches over the edge of the pavement on a shoulderless, rural two-lane road, your first thought might be to immediately jerk the steering wheel to the left (in the United States) to bring the car back onto the pavement. Suddenly jerking the steering wheel in this situation could, however, cause the car to skid across the roadway and possibly flip over. It would be better to summon the antidote thought: "Not so fast. Think first." It might be safer to slow down and pick a spot where the pavement edge is nearly level with the ground before you try to return the right-side wheels to the road.

Anti-Authority

An "Anti-Authority" attitude means you don't want anyone else telling you what to do. Maybe you just resent having someone tell you what to do, or you think rules and regulations are silly. For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that as of 2008, 10% of the occupants of vehicles on expressways do not wear seat belts², although the proper use of lap and shoulder belts has been shown to reduce the risk of fatal injury in an accident by 40- to-50%.³

Of course, there are times you should question a rule. When roads are covered with ice it might be safer to continue moving slowly into and though an intersection without pausing at a stop sign if there is no conflicting traffic, rather than stopping and becoming stuck. But otherwise, keep the antidote thought in mind: "Follow the rules, they are usually right."

Resignation

"Resignation" is the hopeless attitude of "what's the use?" You don't see yourself as being able to make a great deal of difference in what happens. When you are driving a car, this attitude may not be a factor unless the vehicle accidentally leaves the roadway. At other times, this attitude may pose a greater danger to others than it does to you. It is not uncommon to hear of several people calling 9-1-1 when they see an accident, yet no one will stop to render assistance. In June of 2008, a streetlight surveillance camera recorded a hit-and-run event and its aftermath. Nine cars passed by the 78-year-old hit-and-run victim and a few people stared from the sidewalk, but no one approached closer than a couple of yards or tried to divert the oncoming traffic. Fortunately, a police cruiser responding to an unrelated call arrived a minute-and-a-half later. The victim, a retired forklift operator walking home from a trip to the grocery, survived although he was paralyzed from the neck down.⁴

You can decide to do nothing but stare if you are the first person to come upon an accident scene, or you might remember the antidote thought to "Resignation": "I'm not helpless. I can make a difference."

You Control Your Attitudes

In addition to being aware of other traffic and your surroundings as you drive, monitor your attitudes. You can decide to be a safer driver.

Sources:

¹FAA,"Aeronautical Decision Making," 12/31/91, AC 60-22.

²NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Research Note, "Seat Belt Use in 2008---Overall Results," DOT HS 811036, September 2008.

³Derig, Segui-Gomez and Abtahi, "The Effect of Seat Belt Usage Rates on the Number of Motor Vehicle-Related Fatalities," Automobile Insurers Bureau of Massachusetts, et.al., March 17, 2001.

⁴Martha Neil, "No One Stops to Help Connecticut Hit-and-Run Victim, 78," http://abajournal.com/news 6-6-08.