AN EMPIRICAL-ANALYSIS OF ROCK CLIMBERS RESPONSE TO HAZARD WARNINGS

This paper reports the results of a field test of the hazard warning s ystem used in rock climbing. The system is succinct; it differentiates between magnitudes of hazard; and it establishes a ''warnings vocabul ary.'' The empirical hazard response models include an ''individuating factor,'' which influences the likelihood of injury, and the severity of injury as independent variables. The models indicate that climbers do assess a ''personal'' probability of injury and incorporate the ha zard warning message when choosing climbing routes. Climbers of greate r technical ability are more likely to climb hazardous routes, but the y mitigate the likelihood of the hazardous outcome by reducing the tec hnical difficulty of the hazardous route chosen. The response increase s with the degree of hazard involved.