Biomedical subjects

U Tränkle

Publications and source records attributed to U Tränkle.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Risk perception and age-specific accidents of young drivers.

Accident risk involved in 100 slide-presented traffic situations was rated by 208 male and 100 female drivers in the age groups 18-21, 35-45, and 65-75 years. The main finding is that young male drivers rated the traffic situations as less risky than did older male drivers. This was especially the case for situations involving the following aspects: darkness, inclining/declining or curved roadways, and rural environment. No comparable age effect was present for females. These findings are in agreement with findings from accident studies, showing overinvolvement of young males in single-vehicle accidents that are characterized by the above mentioned aspects. The results show that educational measures for young drivers should emphasize different aspects for young men and young women and especially that young men's risk perception (as well as their risk tolerance) in those situations mentioned above must be made part of further efforts.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1989

Cross-cultural differences in driver risk-perception.

This study investigated differences in risk-perception among U.S., Spanish, West German, and Brazilian drivers. Subjects estimated the risk involved in slide-projected traffic scenes. The scenes, photographed in the United States and Spain, were rated for the amount of risk by using a seven-point scale. The subject groups in each country included younger, middle-aged, and older nonprofessional drivers, as well as middle-aged professional (bus, taxi, or truck) drivers. In the data analyses, the independent variables were subjects' country, age, professional driving experience, and sex, and 23 dichotomously coded characteristics of the traffic scenes. The following are the main findings: (1) Spanish drivers reported the highest risk, while U.S. drivers reported the lowest risk; (2) younger drivers tended to report lower risk than middle-aged and older drivers; (3) nineteen of the 23 analysed characteristics of traffic scenes contributed significantly to risk ratings, even after simultaneously controlling for the effects of all other scene characteristics; (4) ten scene characteristics had a differential effect on the risk ratings in the four tested countries; (5) two scene characteristics had a differential effect on the risk ratings in the four tested subject groups; (6) none of the variables affected differentially the risk ratings of professional vs. nonprofessional drivers and males vs. females. These findings provide information concerning the desirable country- and age-specific emphasis in driver education, driver licensing, and public information campaigns.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1989

Cross-cultural differences in driver risk-taking.

This study investigated differences in simulated driver risk-taking behavior among U.S., Spanish, and West German subjects. The task consisted of performing a simulated intersection crossing on a video display. Subjects were shown an intersection with moving traffic on a horizontal road, and they were asked to attempt (under time pressure) a fixed number of crossings with a car moving vertically. The subjects in all three countries included younger, middle-aged, and older persons of both sexes. The following are the main findings: (1) The performance of West German subjects tended to differ from those of U.S. and Spanish subjects. Specifically, West German subjects attempted fewer crossings, had a higher probability of success, and had greater safety margins. (2) Target risk-level of performance, measured by probability of successful crossings, was not affected by age or sex. (3) Probability of attempted crossings was greater for males and younger subjects than for females and older subjects. (4) Similarly, safety margins during attempted crossings were smaller for males and younger subjects than for females and older subjects. These results suggest that there are differences among countries in the target risk-level of performance. However, the present findings imply that within each country all subjects (regardless of age and sex) tended to have the same target risk-level. To attain this risk-level of performance, males and younger subjects (because of their presumed superior psychomotor skills and/or greater experience with video tasks) attempted to cross more gaps (and, consequently, smaller gaps), with resulting smaller safety margins.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Cross-cultural differences in driver self-assessment.

This study investigated differences in driver self-assessment among U.S., Spanish, and West German drivers. Subjects responded to 14 questions that used five-point semantic scales dealing with driver performance and abilities. Pairs of questions, concerning the same driving-related aspects, differed by requesting a self-assessment on an absolute basis and in relation to the average driver. The subjects in all three countries included younger, middle-aged, and older drivers of both sexes. The following are the main findings: (1) a majority of drivers in each country rated themselves positively on all driving-related scales studied; (2) significant effects of country, age group, and sex of the subjects were present for several of the scales; (3) some of these effects remained significant even after controlling for the differential driving experience. For example, U.S. drivers assessed themselves as safer than did West German and Spanish subjects, younger subjects less wise than middle-aged and older subjects, and males more relaxed than females.

Adult↗