Risk-taking behaviour

We accept risk at a personal level because we believe that risk management is entirely within our personal control. It is this sense of personal control that cements a belief that most victims of road crashes are not victims at all, but are to blame for the crashes in which they are injured. Jiggins, in his analysis of the way crashes are portrayed in the media, talks about a villain alongside a victim.  

Much has been written about risk compensation—the dance of the risk thermostats. Man does not seek zero risk. Society places a premium on risk taking in many aspects of our lives, especially in business and in sport. The risk homeostasis theory posits that man operates at a level of personally acceptable risk, and that if interventions are applied to reduce risk in a given situation, individuals will change their behaviour to restore their personal risk to its comfortable level. For example, if seat belt wearing is seen to reduce the risk of injury, a driver will likely increase his 

Eliminating Serious Injury and Death from Road Transport 

Media reporting of road trauma doesn t help matters, as only deaths are routinely reported, and deaths are merely the tip of the iceberg. There are well over 10 serious injuries for every death, and injuries, as we saw in Chapter 2, have impacts weU beyond the injured person. Occasionally we read of the financial burden of the road toll, but this number—currently in the billions of dollars per annum in Australia— does not resonate with the public, as lobby groups and politicians are continuously quoting big numbers for every cause they want to promote, and most folk have little concept of what billions means. 

In effect, we drive the way we do because we see it as our right, not because we have some notion about a communal responsibility. Why, then, do most people comply with laws and road rules For the most part, it is because it s in our self-interest to do so motorists are deterred through fear of detection and the penalties that they would incur otherwise. There is also a strong element in most Western societies of obeying the laws because it is the right thing to do, much less so that people think it is the safe thing to do. 

---

Creating a further set of cards with other risk-taking behaviours. 

Creating a set of cards that contain reasons for young people to become involved in risk-taking behaviour. 

Steffen T, Christen S, Blattler R and Gutzwiller F (2001). Infectious diseases and public health Risk taking behaviour during participation in the Swiss Programme for a Medical Prescription of Narcotics (PROVE). Journal of Substance Use and Misuse, 36, 71-89. 

Atkinson, J. W., Motivational determinants of risk-taking behaviour. Psychological Review, 64, 359-372 (1957)... 

Visible management commitment Safety communication Productivity versus safety Learning organisation Health and safety resources Participation in safety Risk-taking behaviour... 

Risk-taking behaviour and some contributory influences. 

A range of unsafe and risk taking behaviours were noted by the panel of experts and Train Drivers with differences noted between the groups, between urban or regional settings and by the types of protection systems the road user is exposed to. 

A number of risk taking behaviours were reported as the behavioirrs of other truck drivers. The most common of these behaviours was trying to beat the train . The suggested reasons given for this behaviour provided an insight into a number of concerns, including time pressures. Time pressirre comments included ... 

Wagenaar, W.A. 1992. Risk taking and accident causation. In J.F. Yates, (Ed.), Risk-Taking Behaviour. Englewood Cliffs, NJ Prentice-Hall. 

As there is arguably no human action with total certainty of outcome, all behaviours have an element of risk in them, and may thus be viewed as risk-taking behaviours. It is, therefore, of interest to identify the factors and mechanisms that determine people s perception of risk, their acceptance of risk, and the actions they take to keep risk in check. No countermeasure against accidents or Ufestyle-dependent disease can be expected to have much effect unless it is based on a valid understanding of how people behave in the face of a threat. 

Turner, C. and McClure, R. 2003. Age and gender differences in risk-taking behaviour as an explanation for high incidence of motor vehicle crashes as a driver in young males. Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 10, 123-131. 

Loss of the desire to oommunioate with others horeased use of tobaooo and aloohol Substanoe abuse Risk-taking behaviour... 

At one extreme, these problems include emotional outbursts, anger, argumentativeness and an inability to settle. At the other extreme, victims may exhibit withdrawal and the loss of the desire to communicate with others. There may also be a reduction in, or loss of, appetite and a reduced or lost libido. Occasionally appetite is increased as a means of coping. Increased use of tobacco and alcohol may also occur, as may the abuse of other substances. Increased risk-taking behaviour is well recognised. This group of symptoms is very similar to that seen in depression. 

Impairment of the individual s ability to carry on his or her normal social, personal and working life may occur. This may arise due to an increase in substance use, risk-taking behaviour and deliberate self harm. 

---