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Driver expectancy is a predisposition of drivers to anticipate that traffic flow will occur in a predictable manner based on rules of the road, traffic laws, and uniform traffic control devices. Driver expectancy is further reinforced with driver training and experience. When driving expectancies are met over and over, day after day, the driver’s experience and expectancies are further reinforced. Therefore, driver expectancy relates to a driver’s readiness to respond to common situations in predictable ways that have been successful under previously similar circumstances.

When expectancies are violated, perception-response time may be increased, primarily because of the need to suppress the expectancy in conjunction with the need to detect and identify the expectancy violation. An expectancy violation could cause any of the following: additional situations to be processed; difficulty in recognizing and discriminating situations; suppression of expectation; difficulty in deciding upon an appropriate response; and dissociation, disorientation, and disbelief in the discernment of position, patterns, and shapes. Expectancy influences the speed and accuracy at which a driver processes information.

Furthermore, there are multiple sources of information associated with the process of recognition. Some of the sources include contrast, lighting, anticipation, pattern, and size, otherwise known as CLAPS. These sources of information will be detailed further in a future blog, but the Accident Reconstructionist and Human Factors Expert should be familiar with each of them as it pertains to driver recognition of a roadway/environmental stimulus.

If you have a driver expectancy matter you would like to speak to one of our LISKE Team Experts about, contact us today!

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