Normative Influences on Decisions to Offend

Tests took place in AIDE, an Animated Interactive driving Environment, which allows drivers' decision making and tendencies to violate the traffic law to be conveniently studied. Drivers 'drove' a predetermined route in the presence of other traffic, encountered on some occasions Variable Message Signs (VMS) which carried information about the percentage of drivers who were not speeding or tailgating. Such VMS information was found to be effective in reducing speeding and tailgating violations, but only where most other drivers were complying with the traffic law specified on the sign. (Original abstract-amended)