Behind bars: using perspective-taking to improve behavior of motorists towards cyclists

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2013-06-19

Department

Towson University. Department of Psychology

Program

Citation of Original Publication

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Copyright protected, all rights reserved.
There are no restrictions on access to this document. An internet release form signed by the author to display this document online is on file with Towson University Special Collections and Archives.

Subjects

Abstract

This study's purpose was to test two possible interventions framed within the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) that may improve motorists' attitudes towards cyclists, as well as motorists' intentions to improve their on-road behavior around cyclists. A 2x2 factorial design was used, with participants randomly assigned to either read commercial vehicle laws or bicycle laws, and either watch a traffic camera video, or a first-person bicyclist crash video. Participants then completed a measure of their attitudes and intentions during the lab session and again approximately two weeks later. It was expected that participants who read the bicycle legislation information and also watched the crash video would show the most improved attitudes and intentions to behave after the lab session relative to control; however, no significant effect of either manipulation was found. Further refinements would include a more multi-faceted approach to the Theory of Planned Behavior.