Driving: A subject for sociological research?

Car driving has received little attention from sociologists. Existing analy ses highlight the irrationality of drivers, victims of an 'illusion of cont rol', a 'bias of optimism' or influenced by social and cultural factors. Us ing qualitative and quantitative information this article suggests a new pe rspective, in which driving is regarded as a 'social activity' (in the Webe rian sense) and it is presumed that drivers operate on a cognitive rational ity.