A psychological tendency to deviate from rational and logical thinking when assessing a situation and making decisions on the road, where personal perceptions, past experiences, and emotions influence the interpretation of road information and action. These distortions can increase risks or reduce road safety and are a key psychological factor in understanding driver and pedestrian behaviour, explaining why some drivers behave irrationally despite being aware of the risks.
The main cognitive biases in road traffic are:
1) Overconfidence – the tendency to overestimate one’s ability to drive a vehicle or cope with dangerous situations, which increases reckless and risky behavior.
2) Optimism bias – the belief that accidents or dangerous situations will happen to others and not to you, which reduces commitment to preventive behavior.
3) Confirmation bias – focusing on information that confirms previous beliefs, such as underestimating risks or ignoring warning signs, while neglecting evidence to the contrary.
4) Time propensity – focusing on immediate gains, such as reaching a destination quickly, while neglecting potential short- and long-term risks.
5) Tendency to social attitudes – susceptibility to the influence of the behavior of others on the road, for example, imitation of reckless drivers or giving in to social pressure in order to maintain high speeds.