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    A study of the automobile driver and traffic accidents in relation to biographic, attitudinal and personality factors : submitted in partial fulfullment of the requirements for the degree of M.A., Psychology Department, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1977) Wheatley, Marianne Georgina
    'When you rise from your book, probe into what you have learned, to discover whether there is in it anything you can translate into reality.' Nahmanides 'These, gentlemen, are the opinions on which I base my facts.' The origin of this statement is uncertain but, without doubt, it should be repeated again and again in respect of any work which professes to be objective (Smith, 1968). Facts speak through an interpreter and are subject to his wishes. The facts of this research have been presented and interpretations made which are, of course, subject to further differing interpretations depending on the light and particular angle from which the facts have been viewed. Thus, any interpretations made of the facts are debatable and open to dispute. In this study an attempt has been made to blend science and art with a flourish of ingenious subtlety to create a unified and compatible entity in an effort to render this work in a form palatable and digestible not only for the esoteric already initiated into this area of traffic accident research but also that it may whet the appetite and have interest for those desiring to commence such an acquaintance. The general aim has been to captivate the reader's interest and enthusiasm not by detracting from the facts but rather by enhancing them with the infusion of lighter touches into the weighty, life and death issue of road traffic accidents being dealt with. [FROM PREFACE]
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    Personality and behavioral factors related to drink-driving among young males : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1999) McKillop, David
    The study aimed to replicate the findings of research which highlighted a number of personality and behavioural variables that effect an individuals drink-driving frequency, and intoxication level while driving. These variables are aggression, sensation seeking, self-rated driving style and skill, driving related anger, and alcohol consumption. The studies sample (N = 129) was made up entirely of 20 - 24 year old males. This group has been shown to drink-drive more frequently than any other age group in New Zealand, and males drink-drive significantly more than females. Results showed that physical aggression, verbal aggression, alcohol consumption and risky driving style were correlated with drink-driving intoxication level. However, once a regression analysis was employed it was discovered that only alcohol consumption level had significant predictive validity in relation to drink-driving intoxication level. The more a participant drank the more likely they were to drive when drunk. Overall, the results tend to question how much impact the personality variables studied really have on the frequency of drink-driving. Assumptions in relation to the findings, and implications future research on factors effecting drink-driving, are also discussed.
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    Driving reassessment following neurological damage : an integrated approach
    (Massey University, 1996) Wood, Karen Julie
    The impetus for the present study was a lack of guidelines for evaluating neuropsychologically-impaired drivers, and the need for relevant exploratory research within a New Zealand context. The overall aim was to provide an integrated approach describing the driving performance and behaviour of neuropsychologically-impaired drivers. The researcher anticipated that social and neuropsychological factors could be identified which were related to various measures of practical driving ability, including current New Zealand driving test measures. The present study involved a quasi-experimental analysis of four subject groups, each comprising ten subjects. Neuropsychologically-impaired subjects comprised two groups: (i) neuropsychologically-impaired presenters who were seeking driving reassessment; and (ii) neuropsychologically-impaired drivers who were driving again following a successful assessment outcome. The other two subject groups comprised: (i) control drivers who were similar for age, gender, and number of years driving experience to the neuropsychologically-impaired presenters, and (ii) professional drivers who provided a criterion for a high standard of driving. All subjects underwent extensive neuropsychological and driver testing, as well as supplying background sociodemographic and driving-related questionnaire data. Seven neuropsychological tests (Mini Mental State Examination, Benton Visual Retention Test - Revised, Standardised Money Road Map Test, Southern California Figure Ground Test, Stroop Colour Word Test, Trail Making A and B Test, and reaction time) were included on the basis of several criteria. Practical driving measures included the New Road Test, which is the standard test for driver licensing in New Zealand, and the Advanced Driver Assessment, which is used in circumstances where an independent driving evaluation is required. These practical driving measures were complemented by an informal global driver instructor rating, as well as subject's own comparative driver self-ratings. Questionnaire data gave some practical insight into the effects of neurological damage. Notably, all neuropsychologically-impaired subjects reported some reduction in driving frequency and a change in driving patterns. Post-injury driver self-report ratings for the two ueuropsychologically-impaired groups indicated some important perceived differences relating to stages in return to driving. Both the neuropsychologically-impaired groups performed less well on the neuropsychological and practical driving test measures. Across the neuropsychological tests, slowed response time and a difficulty with complex tasks were characteristic of many neuropsychologically-impaired subject's test performance. In particular, mean scores for the Mini Mental State Examination (Total Score), the Standardised Road Map Test of Direction Sense, and two of the reaction time conditions were significantly lower for neuropsychologically-impaired groups. For the practical driving test measures, type of driving errors made by the neuropsychologically-impaired subjects differed qualitatively from control and professional drivers. However, these differences were not necessarily reflected in overall driving test scores. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed on composite groups of neuropsychologically-impaired versus neuropsychologically-intact subjects. Of the neuropsychological tests, the Standardised Road Map Test of Direction Sense, and some of the reaction time measures were related to both the practical driving tests. Interestingly, reaction time measures suggested an important differential relationship between neuropsychologically-impaired and neuropsychologically-intact subjects. Here. faster reaction times were associated with fewer driving errors in neuropsychologically-intact subjects. By contrast, slower reaction time for the combined neuropsychologically-impaired subjects was associated with better driving performance. The present results demonstrated the importance of an integrated approach toward understanding the complexity of the driving process. An important theme to emerge from both qualitative and quantitative data was a relationship between subjects' perceived neurological deficit and the utilisation of compensatory driving strategies. Thus, the questionnaire data, and the driver self-rating scales suggested that the neuropsychologically-impaired subjects had some insight into their neurological deficit. Furthermore, the inverse relationship between some of the reaction time data and practical driving test outcome suggested the neuropsychologically-impaired subjects were compensating their driving, either by driving slower or by allowing a greater margin for error. The integrated approach also provided some insight into the process of return to driving through subject's reports of change, and comparison of retrospective and current driver self-ratings. Here, inclusion of the two neuropsychologically-impaired groups was an important feature of the research design, enabling further insight into different stages of this process. Overall, the present study provided an entry point for further research, and has practical and safety implications for the reassessment of drivers following neurological damage.