This driving simulator study, which focused on supporting drivers through feedback rather than automating the driving task, examined the effect of real-time feedback based on different stages of information processing on driving behaviour. The stages investigated included providing information alone, assessment of that information, and a decision based on that assessment, following Parasuraman, Sheridan, and Wickens’s (2000) model of information-processing automation. The acceptability and effectiveness of the different stages of feedback were assessed on two key driving behaviours: speed and distance from the vehicle ahead. The results indicated that feedback had a limited effect on driving behaviour. However, the stage of information processing in the feedback did affect a number of outcomes, with decision-oriented feedback leading to improved behaviours but less favourable attitudinal results. Future safety interventions should consider altering risk perception and beliefs, or providing external motivation for behavioural change.

Despite extensive prevention, speeding remains a major contributor to traffic casualties. Understanding drivers’ perceived awareness and the subjective reasons for their speed behaviour could improve intervention strategies, and specifically inform the potential of speed feedback. A self-confrontation study was conducted in which 25 regular drivers recorded one of their drives using GoPro cameras, capturing both the road view and their speed, and selected video excerpts were later discussed with these participants. The study explored participants’ awareness and reasons for their speed behaviour, as well as general attitudes towards speeding, perceptions of its problematic nature, the acceptability of exceeding speed limits, and decision-making in speed choice. This study design aimed to provide an objective basis for the interviews and reduce recall biases. The results revealed that drivers show a latent awareness of their speeding behaviour, which they most often justified as usual, normal and safe. This general tolerance towards speeding suggests the normalisation of speed violations. As a result, individual safety interventions, such as feedback on driving behaviour, may not be effective. Prevention efforts should focus on changing norms, common beliefs and systemic factors regarding speeding.

Recent technological advancements allow monitoring of drivers’ behaviour and offer the opportunity for providing feedback. While this approach has been shown to have a positive effect on driver behaviour, whether it is accepted by drivers has not yet been extensively investigated. This questionnaire study examined the opinions of a sample of 628 Dutch drivers on the potential use of a monitoring and feedback system. The focus was on (1) whether drivers would be interested in being assessed, (2) whether data collection (i.e., monitoring) could be used for this purpose, and (3) which features the potential system must have in order to get accepted. The results showed that participants were moderately enthusiastic about the prospect of receiving monitoring feedback: on average, their opinion was between neutral and positive. Professional drivers expressed slightly more positive opinions, but no demographic variable was strongly associated with acceptability. Many drivers rated themselves as good drivers already and had low sensitivity to data collection, i.e., participants indicated being used to data collection online. If they were to use a monitoring and feedback device, participants indicated a preference for data on speed and forward-facing video footage and a preference for personalisation. The use of a monitoring and feedback system can be considered as a trade-off between sharing personal data and receiving support to improve driving skills. Based on the participants’ reported online behaviour, it appears that the perceived costs associated with sharing data are small. The potential benefits of driver monitoring and feedback, however, are not salient to the participants, which may limit the use of such a system on the roads.