U. S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
DOT HS 808 705
April 1998

Introduction

Background

Method

Findings

Detailed Findings

General Discussion

Specific Issues

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX B

List of Tables
1 Composition of Beltway Driver Groups
2 How Participants Use the Beltway
3 Perceived Causes of Beltway Crashes
4 Perceived Causes of Beltway Crashes - Commercial Drivers
5 Responses to Aggressiveness Screening Questions

List of Figures
1 Questionnaire Responses - General vs. Aggressive Drivers

Possible Solutions

Each of the 1997 focus groups was asked to take a few minutes and discuss possible solutions for the one or two crash causes most members of the group had ranked among the three most serious causes. Three groups discussed solutions to speeding, two addressed aggressive driving, two discussed unsafe lane changing, and two discussed how to deal with bad weather. Inattentiveness, truck blind spots, and driver training also were topics of brief problem solving sessions.