Guidance on Messaging to Avoid Reactance and Address Moral Disengagement
Not wearing a seat belt and speeding are two significant contributing factors to motor vehicle-related fatalities. Significant efforts, including messaging, have sought to increase seat belt use and decrease speeding. These efforts have been largely successful as the majority of adults wear a seat belt and do not speed. However, traditional messaging may not be as effective with the small minority of individuals still engaging in these risky behaviors because of two psychological phenomena: psychological reactance and moral disengagement. This project seeks to better understand if these two phenomena are more prevalent among individuals still engaging in these risky behaviors and how messaging might be adjusted to mitigate these phenomena. The objectives of this research project are to: • determine if the prevalence of psychological reactance and moral disengagement are higher among adult drivers who never or rarely wear their seat belts or who drive aggressively (i.e., speed, follow too closely, and pass excessively) compared to adults who do not engage in these risky behaviors; and • identify potential messaging to minimize reactance and overcome moral disengagement regarding seat belt use and aggressive driving.
- Record URL:
- Record URL:
-
Supplemental Notes:
- This project is being conducted under the Traffic Safety Culture Pooled Fund, Phase 1 (TPF-5(309), 8882-309).
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Completed
- Funding: $137,844
-
Contract Numbers:
08882-309-15
TPF-5(309)
-
Sponsor Organizations:
Montana Department of Transportation
2701 Prospect Avenue
P.O. Box 201001
Helena, MT United States 59620-1001California Department of Transportation
1227 O Street
Sacramento, CA United States 95843Connecticut Department of Transportation
2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT United States 06131Washington State Department of Transportation
Research Office
P.O. Box 47372
Olympia, WA United States 98504Vermont Agency of Transportation
219 North Main Street
Barre, VT United States 05641Utah Department of Transportation
4501 South 2700 West
Project Development
Salt Lake City, UT United States 84114-8380Texas Department of Transportation
11th and Brazos Streets
Austin, TX United States 78701 1263 South Stewart St
Carson City, Nevada United States 89712New Hampshire Department of Transportation
John O. Morton Building
P.O. Box 483
Concord, NH United States 03302-0483Louisiana Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 94245
1201 Capitol Access Road
Baton Rouge, LA United States 70804-9245Indiana Department of Transportation
1101 State Office Building
Indianapolis, IN United States 46204Idaho Transportation Department
P.O. Box 7129, 3311 West State Street
Boise, ID United States 83707-1129Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA United States 50010Illinois Department of Transportation
2300 S. Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL United States 62764 -
Managing Organizations:
Montana Department of Transportation
2701 Prospect Avenue
P.O. Box 201001
Helena, MT United States 59620-1001 -
Project Managers:
Sillick, Susan
-
Performing Organizations:
Montana State University, Western Transportation Institute
P.O. Box 174250
Bozeman, MT United States 59717 -
Principal Investigators:
Ward, Nicholas
- Start Date: 20190201
- Expected Completion Date: 20210731
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Evaluation and assessment; Reviews; Safety; Safety analysis; Safety campaigns; Safety culture
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01691791
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Montana Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: 08882-309-15, TPF-5(309)
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Jan 29 2019 9:12AM