How overconfidence among drivers is keeping our roads unsafe

Timothy Albrite

Road accidents continue to be a major concern globally. While reckless driving is often highlighted as a primary culprit, studies show that there’s another issue at play: many drivers are overconfident in their abilities.

This overconfidence, known as “self-enhancement bias,” can lead to risky behaviors and contribute to road fatalities.

Overconfident drivers often overestimate their skills and underestimate the risks of their actions. This leads to speeding, aggressive driving, and distracted driving, all of which significantly increase the risk of accidents.

Additionally, we’ve become so accustomed to traffic risks that we often see them as a normal part of driving. This can make us more tolerant of dangerous behaviors, even if we know they’re wrong.

Overconfidence can also lead to a disregard for traffic laws. Drivers may believe that they can break the rules without getting caught, or that they can do so safely. This is a dangerous misconception, as even the most experienced drivers can make mistakes.

These sorts of biases also influence driver attitudes and behaviour, including a tendency for most drivers to consider themselves to have above-average skill. This inflated confidence isn’t tied necessarily to increased skill or experience, as even novice drivers demonstrate this self-enhancement bias.

Overconfident drivers also underestimate their chances of being involved in a collision, due to their belief that they have increased skill. And each time a driver breaks the law without any apparent consequence, they confirm their view that they are above average and that laws can be “safely” broken. This is known as confirmation bias.

How often have you found yourself instinctively pressing your foot down as if you were braking in a matatu, due to the driver’s dangerous driving?

These biases help to explain why motorists show strong support for driving laws, despite breaking such laws themselves. They believe the rules should be enforced for other, less competent, drivers.

To effectively change driver behavior, we need a combination of education, policy, and enforcement. Education campaigns can address self-enhancement bias without damaging the drivers’ egos by simply acknowledging that even the best drivers can make mistakes.

Policy changes, such as stricter penalties for dangerous driving, can also help to deter risky behavior. Enforcement efforts, such as increased police presence and more stringent enforcement of traffic laws, can help to hold drivers accountable for their actions.

The recently launched National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028 outlines a strategic roadmap encompassing areas that will address some of these issues. The plan focuses on enforcement, targeting unsafe behavior through stricter enforcement of road traffic laws and promoting safe driving practices through targeted campaigns.

AA Kenya plays a vital role in promoting road safety across the country. Recognizing the importance of education and awareness, AA offers comprehensive driver training programs at its driving schools and training institute. Additionally, AA Kenya’s involvement in the Kenya Music Festivals this year underscores its commitment to Road Safety. By leveraging the power of music and poetry, AA Kenya aims to raise awareness about road safety among the public from a young age.

The AA Junior Membership program also plays a crucial role in promoting road safety among young generation. By training the young ones AA is helping to cultivate a new generation of safe drivers.

By implementing a balanced approach that addresses both the psychological factors and the external factors contributing to road accidents, we can make our roads safer for everyone.

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