Compulsory daytime dipped headlights 39Clive George Well, isn't that simply a pavlovian kind of pay-off? Driver thinks the car is more capable, drives faster (but could still be well within the limits of the car...
Ok, I haven't mentioned the missing bit here - that there is a reward (percieved or otherwise) for this extra risk taking - could be a faster journey, could be a more enjoyable drive (*). Thus there is always a pressure to take more risks, which means if some are removed by eg a technological means (ABS, DRL, seatbelt, white lines), others will be put in their place, and the dividend is elsewhere. Ie the driver's subconscious desire for self-preservation does override the subconscious reckless driving desire - this overriding means that a person is happy with a given level of risk.
(*) although lots of people feel that driving is more enjoyable without all those 'risk-reducing' measures in place.
... ...
Aha. It's not so much that you don't understand it, more that you don't believe it exists. At this point I'm going to have to give up - you're obviously convinced by this, and I don't think I'm going to be able to persuade you otherwise. Even though it's now widely accepted as being true.
I would suggest reading John Adams book on the subject, Risk. But you'll probably dismiss it as a religious rather than scientific tome - which is a pity, since it is in fact the latter.
cheers, clive
