Occupational drivers are 'deliberate risk takers'

Gabrielle Jerzembek, of the School of Medicine at Swansea University and Dr Gerhard Manogg of Imagitech Ltd in Swansea, presented their research into predicting risk in occupational drivers at the British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference in Dublin today.

A total of 443 occupational drivers from four main groups - delivery drivers, HGV, occasional, and sales representatives - from a variety of organisations, took part in the study.

Findings indicated deliberate risk taking and inattention to be the most important causes of accidents. "Sensation seeking" and "venting" emerged to be the most important causes of a variety of self-reported traffic offences and violations.

Ultimately, the pair hope their study will help them build a "comprehensive risk profile" for individual drivers, to help inform training to reduce road risk in occupational drivers.