How many times does a pupil say, I can't multi-task or I have no coordination skills at all. Well if they do say this then they are likely to be more in touch with their own personal limitations than the majority are according to a new study.
Most of us believe we can do more than one thing at a time, this is particularly true when it comes to driving a vehicle, yet this study suggests it is our own personal belief that gets us into trouble when faced with a dangerous situation, because we believe we can continue to go through the motions of driving and add another complication to the mix and cope. The study suggests that road fatalities are falling year on year across the World for many reasons, but the least likely is increased skill.
Top of the list as always is finance, the cost of crude oil and the Government taxes, but road safety campaigners who are fighting for more training and post test skills, along with improved tutoring and the dreaded words driver centred learning could be barking up the wrong tree.
The study backs up some previous research that says we believe we are better than we actually are at all things, including driving of course, it confirms the fact we learn by example, so people are going to be more careful in a room that is spotlessly clean than one that isn't so. On the roads we copy other drivers, but with 38 million live driving licences in the UK changing the habits of all these people is an unrealistic task.
In the first third of the 1900's roads were very basic, with little road sign information or obvious rules, the fatality statistics were very high compared to today, as engineering and speed enforcement improved so has that figure. On a road that has clear road markings, preferably with reflective coating, it is less likely that someone will disobey the rules, however if one person steps out of the line it is more likely that someone who had not considered breaking a rule will do so.
Is this learned behaviour? Well yes and no, some have a desire to copy and others carry a risk gene which affects all of their behaviour, so within coaching we talk about limiting beliefs, yet the research suggests we stretch those self limiting beliefs depending on the environment we are currently in. One person stops on a double yellow line and walks away from their vehicle ignoring the stares and obvious displeasure from others, will within a few moments see someone else copy this behaviour, although if they had not previously seen someone park there they would be unlikely to 'take a chance'.
When a driver displays risky behaviour, other drivers are quick to criticise, yet the driver sees it as not being risky behaviour as they feel in control of their vehicle and actions, so self justification. When we view our physical appearance we see above average to well above average, in terms of driving it is the same, a driver considers their driving to be above average. In a classroom environment if you ask a group of experienced drivers they will rate their driving a minimum of 6 out of ten with majority choosing 8 or 9, research tells us that they often rate themselves higher than that maybe 9 or 10, but may be uncomfortable doing so in a large group.
The study is quite indepth as it challenges the merits of post test training, conforming to rules plays a strong part, we do operate in a sheep style when driving because we view ourselves as a community on the roads, hence the thank you when someone gives way similar to the back slapping of a goal scorer. One person runs a red light, the majority will not and stay in the confines because boundaries and rules promote fairness. The lone few will push the boundary but that group will grow if the behaviour remains unchallenged, giving weight to the prosecution theory as the right way to reduce road fatality. Increased Police presence creates a halo effect and reduces crime and rule breaking, good clear road rules and markings create a similar scenario, education is a powerful tool and the cheapest route but the process is lengthy in comparison. So to reduce fatalities which will actually be cost effective long term requires a clear socially acceptable plan.
In the UK it would be unlikely that we will take the hard line suggested, purely from a financial aspect, so education, reaching the most amount of people for the least amount of money but with the longest time span for success, will still be the way forward, but as the study says we think too highly of our own skill, correctly or not to be led completely in the direction campaigners desire.
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