Drivers’ Irrationality in Evaluating Risks on Two-Lane Highways

Head-on collisions on two-lane rural highways might result from failed passing maneuvers. This article investigates the hypothesis that drivers do not always estimate the required passing gap correctly, and their decision to overtake is made under a particular, even if small, probability that a crash will occur; this is the associated risk. The research investigates drivers’ irrationality in evaluating the risks of different passing gaps and develops a risk-taking measure. This measure provides a tool for classifying drivers into different groups: risky, partially cautious, and cautious drivers. A comparison of the sociodemographic averages, driving style, and crash history parameters for these groups showed significant differences. The measure developed can be used for risk evaluation and as a measure of safety. It further provides a tool for classifying drivers into groups based on their risk-taking characteristics. This is particularly useful for safety education programs.