Car drivers attitudes to motorcyclists: a survey

Motorcyclists are over-represented in UK traffic accident statistics. Many car–motorcycle accidents are, however, due to the inappropriate actions of car drivers. It is predicted that car drivers at risk of collision with motorcycles have divergent attitudes and beliefs about motorcyclists compared to safer drivers, which may lead to a deficient mental model guiding their interactions with motorcyclists.

This survey was undertaken to assess car drivers’ attitudes towards motorcyclists. Respondents filled in 26 general and motorcycle-related items and the 24 items of the reduced Driver Behaviour Questionnaire.

Compared to an experienced dual driver group (who both drive cars and ride motorcycles), all other drivers showed divergent beliefs and attitudes. Four factors were extracted from the motorcycle items: negative attitudes, empathic attitudes, awareness of perceptual problems, and spatial understanding.

Car drivers with a moderate amount of experience (between two and 10 years’ driving) held the most negative views and reported the most violations.

The results have lead to several suggestions for interventions aimed at decreasing the divergence between drivers’ perceptions of motorcyclists, and the perceptions of experienced dual drivers.