Risk compensation

Risk compensation is a term used in traffic psychology and industrial psychology. Described is therefore a paradoxical phenomenon: Measures to improve road safety or workplace safety can be reversed completely or partially ineffective or even into its opposite, because the road users or workers feel more secure. They behave so sometimes riskier than previously or are riskier actions of other suspended because a possible accident is estimated to be less likely or less difficult. The psychological processes play often unconsciously.

Even in sports with a high risk of injury as well as in everyday behavior risk compensation was observed.

Examples

• After the introduction of anti -lock braking system (ABS ) in cars with undisputed objective merits of the number of accidents has not decreased at ABS - users and then even increased. Only later, when the systems have been widely used and less attention, was a Swedish study demonstrated a statistical increase in safety on snow, but not on asphalt.

• For a helmet law for cyclists is argued, among other things with the feared risk compensation. As studies showed helmet wearing cyclists are overtaken, for example, to a lesser distance by motorists. After the introduction of bicycle helmet use in Australia 1991, the injury rates did not decline, with even many cyclists umstiegen on motor vehicles, the risk for remaining cyclists therefore increased.

• In some alpine regions there is now a helmet mandatory on ski slopes. Even without a helmet law is characterized as a dangerous trend from that is selected instead of the visit a ski course to improve driving technique as a simpler alternative to the helmet: Participants share of adults decreased from about 50 to 20 percent. At constant number of accidents and a helmet wearing rate of one-third in the winter season 2008/2009 in Austria contributed half of the injuries a helmet.

• For wood workers in Finland, the injuries took after the introduction of safety boots, gloves, helmets and goggles from the eyes, head, hands and feet. The number of injuries to the unprotected parts of the body increased, however, because the workers were working faster and less carefully.

• In driver assistance systems in cars and trucks that hold a driver state detection, such systems can increase the willingness of the drivers, eg fatigue or other driving impairments continue.

• In Montana, at times the speed limit was lifted. During the free time limit passed fewer accidents, with reintroduction of limits the number of accidents rose again. A similar effect existed in Denmark: Increasing the speed limit of 110 km / h to 130 km / h reduced the number of accidents.