Comparison and characteristics of motor vehicle accident (MVA) and non-MVAdriving fears

Prior research has revealed the diagnostic complexity among people who repo rt driving fears. However, the focus on survivors of motor vehicle accident s (MVAs) and diagnostic samples may have inadvertently led to a relative ne glect of the broader driving-fearful population. No studies could be locate d that compared MVA survivors with those who had not experienced an MVA. Th e aim of the present study was to address these deficits by comparing the c haracteristics of MVA and non-MVA driving-fearfuls and also exploring a ran ge of characteristics associated with driving fears. One hundred and ninety media-recruited driving-fearfuls completed a questionnaire that assessed s everity of anxiety and avoidance associated with a variety of driving situa tions. It was found that fear levels were similar to samples of driving pho bics and MVA victims. There were no significant differences between MVA and non-MVA respondents on various measures of fear severity. In addition. the sample rated a high level of anxiety when driving with someone who critici zes their driving. Implications of the findings are discussed, along with s uggestions for assessment and treatment of those with driving-related fears . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.