Seat-belts and behavioural adaptation: the loss of looming as a negative reinforcer

Janssen has shown that drivers adopt slightly higher speeds and shorter fol lowing distances over the year after they switch from non-use to use of sea t-belts. Does such behavioural adaptation continue to grow, so that the ben efit for seat-belt users becomes dubious? One problem in answering this has been the weak theoretical basis of behavioural adaptation. In this paper, Fuller's learning model is developed as an alternative. The sharp braking a ssociated with near-misses and other circumstances pitches an unbelted moto rist towards the internal fittings of the automobile, thus eliciting rapidl y accelerating visual expansion leading to defensive and fear responses. Th is looming phenomenon acts as a negative reinforcer by which safer driving behaviours become learnt. Seat-belt use removes looming. Learning due to ne gative reinforcement is persistent, so those switching from non-use to use of seat-belts only lose their safer driving behaviours over a long time. Al so, in the years after seatbelt legislation is introduced increasing number s of new licence-holders will have always used seat-belts, so looming will never affect their learning. This analysis suggests that seat-belt use has dubious long-term effectiveness for motorists, while engendering a more dan gerous roadway environment for non-motorists. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.