University of Hertfordshire

Road safety

Crashes and road deaths are a perennial issue in most westernised countries. Recent research projects have included investigating why Spanish adolescents do not wear seat belts, the relationship(s) between aberrant driving behaviours and crash involvement, and an investigation into the illegal use of mobile phones while driving. These studies have mainly been in collaboration with researchers at the University of Girona in Spain.

Also, in collaboration with Helen Mann from Heriot-Watt University (Scotland), a longitudinal study is currently investigating whether adolescents’ non-driving risk-taking behaviour on the roads (prior to getting a license) predicts their latter engagement in risky driving behaviour

Recent Publications:

Sullman, M.J.M., & Mann, H.N. (Under Review). The road user behaviour of New Zealand adolescents. Transportation Research Part F.

Gras, M. E., Sullman, M.J.M., Cunill, M., Planes, M., Aymerich, M., & Font-Mayolas, S. (2007). Who uses a mobile phone when in Spain? Accident Analysis & Prevention, 39, 347-355.

Gras, M. E., Cunill, M., Sullman, M.J.M., Planes, M., & Font-Mayolas, S. (2007). Predictors of seat belt use amongst Spanish drivers. Transportation Research Part F, 10, 263-269.

Gras, M. E., Sullman, M. J. M., Cunill, M., Planes, M. & Aymerich, M. (2006). Spanish drivers and their aberrant driving behaviours. Transportation Research Part F, 9, 129-137.

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Driver Anger

Overseas research and media reports appear to indicate that the number of angry drivers and the incidents of road rage are becoming increasingly common. Although there are relatively few serious incidents of road rage, very little is known about the factors that cause drivers to become angry. The first research on this topic investigated how much of a problem driver anger was in New Zealand and Spain, along with the situations which cause drivers to experience anger. Furthermore, although the vast majority of drivers experience anger at least occasionally while driving, how they deal with this anger varies greatly. A second project has also investigated how New Zealanders deal with their anger whilst driving and an article is currently under review.

There are also several other studies in various stages of completion, including a study measuring driving anger over a five year period, comparing two measures of driving anger and investigating whether there is a relationship between an individual’s personality and driving anger.

Recent Publications:

Sullman, M.J.M., Gras, M.E., Cunill, M.O., Planes, M., & Font-Mayolas, S. (2007). Driving Anger in Spain. Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 701-713.

Sullman, M.J.M. (2006). Anger amongst New Zealand drivers. Transportation Research – Part F, 9, 173-184.

Sullman, M.J.M. (Under Review). The expression of anger by New Zealand drivers. Transportation Research Part F.

Sullman, M.J.M. (Under Review). Is driving anger increasing? Results of a repeated study. Journal of Safety Research.

Sullman, M.J.M. (Under Review). Driving anger, road rage and aggressive driving. Accident Analysis and Prevention.