Have you ever thought you were a better driver than most people on the road?

You're not alone — and that's exactly what Psychology Professor Ola Svenson set out to study in his seminal 1981 paper, “Are We All Less Risky and More Skillful than our Fellow Drivers?” The findings revealed a widespread phenomenon: most drivers rate themselves as more skilled than the average. This self-enhancement bias, replicated across multiple cultures and countries, shows our deep-rooted desire to maintain a positive self-image, even in the absence of real feedback.  

In driving, the problem is compounded by infrequent feedback. Minor mistakes rarely result in immediate consequences, which allows poor habits to persist. Attribution theory also plays a role — people tend to credit themselves for successes and blame others or external factors for failures. This creates a psychological blind spot that can negatively affect attitudes towards driver monitoring systems, and how people reconcile feedback from driver monitoring systems. After all — why should someone who deems themselves to be more skilled than the average driver pay much attention to information or feedback directed towards the general, average driver?   

To change behavior, both attitudes and habits must be addressed. Laws, like seatbelt mandates, can shape habits over time, which may in turn shift attitudes. But real change comes from recognizing our biases and questioning our behavior. By doing so, we can make the roads safer —  for everyone. 

Watch the video to discover Professor Ola Svenson's study findings.