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					Adjust risk-taking motivations Motivation influences the level of risk to which drivers are prepared to expose themselves. Driver training can improve drivers' skills, but it can also increase their risk-taking. The next few paragraphs describe some reasons why drivers choose to take risks and how training can influence risk-taking motivations. Motivation theories Motivation is a condition within the individual that energises that individual, and directs his or her behaviour. Of the many theories of motivation, most have one thing in common: they suggest that a person's behaviour at a particular time is driven by his or her needs. For instance, while driving, the same person may express a need to achieve a long-term goal, a need to fit into a group, a need to take risks and a need to avoid harm. Both immediate and long-term needs affect behaviour. Needs are prioritised Different needs may have different priorities attached to them, and they may even conflict with one another. For example, the need to take risks may conflict with the need to avoid harm. Several factors will influence which of these needs prevail over the others in a given situation. Ultimately, a point comes when a decision must be made, one that has to consider many variables. The costs and benefits of behaving one way must be weighed up against the costs and benefits of behaving another way. This cost and benefit analysis may be done in next to no time, and perhaps without any conscious thought. Motivation and safe driving What drivers are able to do, and what they choose to do, are not necessarily the same things. It is easy to teach and learn the skills of safe driving, but people will develop and maintain safer driving techniques only so long as they are satisfying a personal need while doing so. When it is reasonable to expect a possibility of being harmed or of causing harm to another road user, the need to avoid harm must predominate over other situational needs - safety must be the priority. Risk target There is some argument as to whether individuals actually seek risk when they drive or whether they are just tolerating risk - but in either case, a point comes when an individual's needs for safety outweighs the others. This cutoff point has been called a 'risk threshold', or a 'target level of risk'. Above the threshold, or target level, safety needs take over. Below this level, other needs direct behaviour. In driving situations when drivers are below their target level of risk, they will tend to take more risks. If the situation causes drivers to exceed their target level of risk, they will change what they are doing, usually by slowing down. Even as a passenger, you can feel this effect when the driver drives either too slowly or too fast for your comfort. Safe targets Safe driving requires that the driver's: risk target (for driving) is set in the 'low position', so they do not have a need for high levels of risk stimulation perception of driving risks is accurate - drivers will implement safe behaviours only if they perceive an event as risky Effective training To be effective - to have people adopt low-risk behaviours - training must help people learn to manage their risk target and perceive risk accurately. For some, managing their risk targets is not easy. Emergency service personnel can spend much time in states of low arousal (routine and non-emergency situations) and many enjoy the various rewards (social, psychological and physiological) that emergency driving can provide. This can cause them to adopt higher target levels of risk. Also, for those who do much emergency driving, familiarity can cause drivers to feel comfortable with risks; in order to maintain appropriate levels of arousal they raise their targets. Training advice There are four ways you can help participants calibrate their risk targets. The individual driver, the organisation, instructors and peers all play a role in this process. To lower target Reduce the perceived costs of appropriate behaviour. Applying low-risk driving principles can be hard work. Training should make it easier; drivers should feel comfortable doing it. To lower target Increase the perceived benefits of cautious behaviour. It sounds obvious, but training actually has to remind people of the benefits of being cautious; drivers need to be rewarded for applying low-risk principles. To lower target Increase the perceived costs of risky behaviour. People need reminding of the potential cost of taking driving risks. Many do not know the harm that could result from collisions or perceive it could happen to them. To lower target Reduce the benefit of risky behaviour. Drivers should not be rewarded for taking risks. Incentives for risk-taking must be weaker than the incentives for a safe arrival. Elements of the standard that are most relevant to this theme are: Cooperates with other road users Moderates driving when it is hard to see Moderates driving for adverse road surfaces Acts to ensure mentally and physically able to drive. Drives in a manner that reflects valuing of life and property, specifically: Provides reasons for risk-taking that demonstrates considered thought, and Exercises self-control when emotions and motivations could affect safety Maintains mental reserves Maintains mechanical and physical reserves Moderates the influence of competing needs or motivations
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