Moral Reasoning in Driving Behavior

Abstract

Driving has become stressful, dangerous, and demeaning. Drivers report being stressed out, threatened by each other, exhibit bad moods, terrorize their passengers, and often fantasize violent acts against other motorists or bicyclists.1-3 These serious issues indicate that there is a strong need for driving psychology and education that can help reverse this trend and change people’s driving habits. Drivers need to be taught the moral dimension of driving, which indicates the character we have as a driver.4,5 Research is needed to assess how drivers can be taught to assess their own driving personality as supportive or hostile, rational or impatient, calm or frustrated, error-free or making mistakes, and cooperative or opportunistic. There is a need for motorists to acknowledge that driving is a social activity that requires coordinated interactions.