Abstract

In driving motorised vehicles the amount of risk accepted varies between individuals. Traditional theories of risk have tended to focus on a lack of skill as a function of risk taking and have ignored social motivations and attitudes for engaging in risk. This study aims to categorise and contextualise risk taking behaviour in relation to car driving through studying the motivations and attitudes towards risk. The results were tested on a representative sample (n = 1655) of the UK driving population and four groups were identified based on motivations; those that took risk unintentionally formed the largest group. Three smaller groups who took deliberate risks were also found a reactive risk taking group who took risks when reacting to stress or being in a hurry a calculated risk taking group who took risks when they felt it was safe to do so such as late at night or on well-known roads and a continuous risk taking group who frequently took risks for their own sake.