AGE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PERCEIVED ACCIDENT LIKELIHOOD AND DRIVER COMPETENCES

Road traffic accident involvement rates show clear age and gender diff erences which may in part be accounted for by differences in risk perc eption and perceptions of driving competence. The present study extend s and replicates that of Matthews and Moran (1986). Young (18-30 years ) and older (45-60 years) male and female drivers responded to a quest ionnaire on perceived accident risk and driving competence (judgment a nd skill) with respect to themselves and four target groups, and also rated a series of videotaped driving sequences with respect to likelih ood of accident occurrence and perceived driving competence. Results s howed that effects of rater characteristics were generally confined to the questionnaire. Younger males were perceived as most likely to exp erience an accident and were judged to be lower than other groups in d riving competence. Younger groups showed little bias against older gro ups and vice versa, bur gender-related bias was apparent. The findings of Matthews and Moran were generally confirmed. The results are discu ssed with reference to four main issues: (1) demographic bias effects- which are generally weak; (2) stereotyping on the basis of gender and/ or age of driver; (3) group-specific bias; (4) self-appraisal bias.