The Psychology of Driving

The Psychology of Everything

by Graham J. Hole

Do we become better or worse drivers as we age? Why do we indulge in risky behaviour when driving? Will technology remove the human role in driving forever?　

　

The Psychology of Driving is a fascinating introduction into the psychological factors at play when people get behind the wheel. Exploring the role of personality traits and cognitive functions such as attention in driving, the book considers why human error is most often to blame in road accidents, and how we can improve driver safety. The book debunks the myth that men are better drivers than women and considers why some people indulge in knowingly risky behaviour on the road, including using mobile phones and drink/drug-driving.

　

In a time when driverless cars are becoming a reality, The Psychology of Driving shows us how human behaviour and decisions can still affect our lives on the road.

112 pages, Paperback

Published October 9, 2018

Reviews

[Brian Cham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and short summary of driving related psychology. One part was about the sensory processing during the act of driving itself, especially how it relates to inattentional blindness. Another part was about why people engage in risky behaviour and how they estimate probabilities (i.e. badly). At the end is some scientifically-based advice about how we can address these issues. I enjoyed reading about all the dynamics at play when I was learning to drive, but I think the book was too short and could have used more content.