title: Exploring the Relationship between Speed Choice Behaviour, Hazard Perception and Individual Differences

authors: Janse van Vuuren, Stefann

subjects: Speed Choice

abstract: Young, and particularly male drivers aged between 15 and 25 years of age are over represented in the crash statistics worldwide. In New Zealand, young drivers (15-24 years) represent only 15% of the driver licensed population but typically contribute to more than 50% of all fatal and injury crashes. The current study was conducted to investigate factors that may explain the over-representation of young drivers in crash statistics.  For this research, a video based speed choice task was used to measure the chosen and estimated speeds on a selection of New Zealand road conditions of young inexperienced drivers and older experienced drivers. In addition, this study used a video based hazard perception dual task to compare the hazard perception skills of the same groups of drivers. Lastly, a number of self reported measures were used to examine if they could help characterise the drivers who consistently choose slower or higher speeds.

Results revealed that the young inexperienced male drivers were more accurate at estimating the vehicle speeds and chose slower speeds across all the road conditions compared to the other drivers. In addition, drivers tended to choose slower speeds during night time driving and wet road conditions compared to daytime driving and dry road conditions, respectively. The young inexperienced drivers were better at the secondary tracking task of the hazard perception dual task compared to the older experienced drivers but then detected fewer hazards than any of the other drivers. In addition, drivers who chose consistently higher speeds in the speed choice task reported being more likely to engage in speeding, drink driving and become angry at other drivers while driving. Interestingly, drivers who consistently chose higher speeds were less confident in their driving abilities. 
The current findings suggest that young inexperienced male drivers were better at estimating the vehicle speeds and therefore chose slower speeds. In addition, it seems that the young inexperienced drivers tend to focus more on the secondary tracking task then detecting hazards compared to the older experienced drivers. This could relate to the fact that young inexperienced drivers need to use more attentional resources for the steering task and as a result they miss hazards. Lastly, the driver attitude questionnaire and the driving anger scale seem to be valid self-report measures in order to help characterise the drivers who consistently chose higher speeds in the speed choice task. Implications of the current study and future research are also discussed.

text: Exploring the Relationship between Speed Choice Behaviour, Hazard Perception and Individual Differences Young, and particularly male drivers aged between 15 and 25 years of age are over represented in the crash statistics worldwide. In New Zealand, young drivers (15-24 years) represent only 15% of the driver licensed population but typically contribute to more than 50% of all fatal and injury crashes. The current study was conducted to investigate factors that may explain the over-representation of young drivers in crash statistics.  For this research, a video based speed choice task was used to measure the chosen and estimated speeds on a selection of New Zealand road conditions of young inexperienced drivers and older experienced drivers. In addition, this study used a video based hazard perception dual task to compare the hazard perception skills of the same groups of drivers. Lastly, a number of self reported measures were used to examine if they could help characterise the drivers who consistently choose slower or higher speeds.

Results revealed that the young inexperienced male drivers were more accurate at estimating the vehicle speeds and chose slower speeds across all the road conditions compared to the other drivers. In addition, drivers tended to choose slower speeds during night time driving and wet road conditions compared to daytime driving and dry road conditions, respectively. The young inexperienced drivers were better at the secondary tracking task of the hazard perception dual task compared to the older experienced drivers but then detected fewer hazards than any of the other drivers. In addition, drivers who chose consistently higher speeds in the speed choice task reported being more likely to engage in speeding, drink driving and become angry at other drivers while driving. Interestingly, drivers who consistently chose higher speeds were less confident in their driving abilities. 
The current findings suggest that young inexperienced male drivers were better at estimating the vehicle speeds and therefore chose slower speeds. In addition, it seems that the young inexperienced drivers tend to focus more on the secondary tracking task then detecting hazards compared to the older experienced drivers. This could relate to the fact that young inexperienced drivers need to use more attentional resources for the steering task and as a result they miss hazards. Lastly, the driver attitude questionnaire and the driving anger scale seem to be valid self-report measures in order to help characterise the drivers who consistently chose higher speeds in the speed choice task. Implications of the current study and future research are also discussed.

year: 2012

title: New Zealand newspapers 1840-1880: a sociological analysis of the political and organizational concerns

authors: Day, Patrick Adam

abstract: This study is of the New Zealand newspapers over the period 1840-1880. The years indicate, respectively, the first publication of newspapers in the country, and the formation of the United Press Association, an association whereby newspapers muted their competition in favour of a national cooperative interchange of news. It is argued that newspapers began and continued as partisan advocates for a developing ruling class; that newspaper controllers were influential in New Zealand politics; and that New Zealand newspapers are to be understood as the outcome of the ambivalent relationship between the organizational and political concerns of newspaper controllers. The various newspapers began under the influence of the Crown Colony Government or of the New Zealand Company and its offshoots. Prior to the gaining of self-government in 1853, newspapers became a major expression of the political opinion of the settlers. With the introduction of self-government newspaper controllers were disproportionately successful in winning elected political positions. During the early provincial period newspapers became recognized advocates for individual politicians. With later population growth a change towards daily journalism began. Consequent on this and the development of the telegraph, the New Zealand press began a process of nationalization. There arose an ideology that newspapers were not politically partisan. Newspapers, however, did not become politically neutral. Their advocacy changed from a loyal championing of individual politicians to an allegiance to more general political groupings.

text: New Zealand newspapers 1840-1880: a sociological analysis of the political and organizational concerns This study is of the New Zealand newspapers over the period 1840-1880. The years indicate, respectively, the first publication of newspapers in the country, and the formation of the United Press Association, an association whereby newspapers muted their competition in favour of a national cooperative interchange of news. It is argued that newspapers began and continued as partisan advocates for a developing ruling class; that newspaper controllers were influential in New Zealand politics; and that New Zealand newspapers are to be understood as the outcome of the ambivalent relationship between the organizational and political concerns of newspaper controllers. The various newspapers began under the influence of the Crown Colony Government or of the New Zealand Company and its offshoots. Prior to the gaining of self-government in 1853, newspapers became a major expression of the political opinion of the settlers. With the introduction of self-government newspaper controllers were disproportionately successful in winning elected political positions. During the early provincial period newspapers became recognized advocates for individual politicians. With later population growth a change towards daily journalism began. Consequent on this and the development of the telegraph, the New Zealand press began a process of nationalization. There arose an ideology that newspapers were not politically partisan. Newspapers, however, did not become politically neutral. Their advocacy changed from a loyal championing of individual politicians to an allegiance to more general political groupings.

year: 1985

title: Wairangi

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: Wairangi this composition was composed at the time Māori were in court with the Crown over the ownership of fresh water (water rights). It talks about Kīngi Tūheitia holding the Water Summit hui at Tūrangawaewae and proclaiming that the Water or Wai belongs to Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. Performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti at the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haa Competition 2013.

text: Wairangi Wairangi this composition was composed at the time Māori were in court with the Crown over the ownership of fresh water (water rights). It talks about Kīngi Tūheitia holding the Water Summit hui at Tūrangawaewae and proclaiming that the Water or Wai belongs to Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. Performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti at the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haa Competition 2013.

year: 2012-10-01