Traffic and Driving Psychologist
Road rage, traffic accidents, driving behaviors and vehicle construction and design are just some of the things that traffic and driving psychologists study. They look at how and why people behave the way they do when they’re driving and how that affects accidents. They develop courses to teach people how to be better drivers. They also counsel people who have road rage and people that break a lot of road rules to help them become better drivers and not put other drivers at risk of an accident.
The road safety commercials you see on T.V. and the billboards you see on the side of the road are examples of the work of traffic and driving psychologists. They identify a problem that is causing accidents or making them worse (like texting and driving, not wearing seatbelts, or speeding) and they develop ways to get people to stop doing them. Those ideas are then made into commercials or put on billboards.
Here’s an example of a road safety video
To become a traffic and driving psychologist you will need to complete bachelor’s (4 year) degree in psychology, then a PhD (3-5 years) degree in psychology specializing in traffic and driving research. You will also have to become licensed as a psychologist so you can work with clients.
Learn More about Traffic and Driving Psychology
Watch the video below to learn about more about people’s driving behavior and how traffic and driving psychologists monitor those behaviors.
