Appendix A: Interview Schedule

CONTEXT

Q1. For context, please can you begin by telling me roughly how many miles you drive in a year, and what are the main types of journeys that you make?

PART A: Last Incident Narratives - Free Recall

Q2a. Looking at this list, which of these types of driving behaviours would you say you do quite often? And, which have you done in the last 6 months? SHOW CARD A.

Q2b. Do you ever do more than one of these things at the same time? For example, using a mobile phone at the same time as speeding?

[INTERVIEWER TO DECIDE WHICH BEHAVIOUR(S) TO FOCUS ON FOR REMAINDER OF PART A]

Q3. Can you tell me the last time that you made a journey where you did [INSERT BEHAVIOURS] when driving? In your own words, can you say exactly what you did?

Q4. And, roughly when was that journey? For example, last week, last month, earlier in the year.

Q5. Thinking back to that occasion, can I ask you to talk me through the journey you were making when you [INSERT BEHAVIOURS], from beginning to end? Prompt if necessary:

where did you start? (prompt: home, work, other)
where were you going?
who else was with you, if anyone?
what was the purpose of your trip? (prompt: business, personal, other)
what time of day or night was it?
roughly how long did the journey last?

Q6. Can you remember, at the time, were you aware that you were doing something that might be illegal, or did you only realise it/think about it later?

Q7a. Can you talk me through what you were thinking when (interviewer to modify as appropriate based on earlier responses):

you first realised you were well over the speed limit? [if speeding]
you were driving and the phone rang/you dialled the phone? [if using mobile phone]
you got into the car and started it running [if seatbelt offence]
you started the engine knowing that you could be 'over the limit' [if drink driving]
you started the engine knowing that you had taken drugs [if using drugs]

Q7b. And, at the time, what did you think about:

the risks to you
the risks to others
the risk of being caught

Q7c. Did you think about not doing [INSERT BEHAVIOUR]? For example:

sticking to the speed limit?
not answering the phone?
asking someone else to drive?
not making the journey?
stopping the journey, etc.?

Q8a. Thinking back, what would you say was the main reason that you drove that way?

Q8b. And, which of the following best sums up why you drove that way? SHOW INDIVIDUAL STATEMENT CARDS WITH DIFFERENT STATEMENTS

I am a good driver who is always in control
I didn't feel it was unsafe
I was still able to concentrate just fine
I had no choice
I was in a hurry
I had to take the call
It seemed like a good idea at the time
I was just having fun
I felt under pressure from others
I didn't think I would get caught or have an accident
I didn't really think about it
It just happened

Q9a. Thinking about the journey we have just discussed, did anything happen as a result of your driving? If so, how did that make you feel? Prompt:

caught by police/caught by speed camera
accident
near miss (i.e. came close to having an accident but avoided doing so)
other
nothing

Q9b. If not, have any of these things happened to you on another, previous occasion that you drove in this way? If so, how did that make you feel?

Q10a. Thinking back, do you think you would do the same thing again, in the same situation? Can you tell me a little more about your reasons for this?

Q10b. And, if a similar situation occurred in the future, do you think you would drive in this way again or differently? Can you tell me a little more about your reasons for this?

ASK Q10c ONLY IF RESPONDENT SHOWS NO INCLINATION TO CHANGE AND IS WILLING TO DISCUSS; OTHERWISE ASK Q10d

Q10c. Imagine next time, how do you think you would you feel if … [INTERVIEWER TO CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE EXAMPLE FOR DRIVING BEHAVIOUR DISCUSSED AND MODIFY IF NECESSARY. IDEALLY USE ONE OF THE 3 IMPROVISED SCENARIOS DEPENDENT UPON RESPONDENT ATTITUDE]

[If respondent gives impression of confidence about their driving control] … a child ran out in front of the car when it was too late for you to stop in time?
[If respondent gives impression of complacency about risk to them] … delayed reactions by you contributed to a near fatal crash involving you, and you woke up with your worried family at your hospital bed-side?
[If respondent gives impression of complacency about risk to others] … bad driving by another driver led to a near-fatal crash involving you, with the police on the scene blaming you because there were signs that you were [INSERT BEHAVIOURS]?

OTHERS CONCERNED WITH BEHAVIOUR:

[If respondent gives impression of complacency about speeding] … a child ran out in front of the car when it was too late for you to stop in time?
[If respondent gives impression of complacency about wearing a seat belt]… you had to break suddenly because someone pulled out in front of you when you weren't wearing a seatbelt?
[If respondent gives impression of complacency about being on a phone when driving] … you hit someone stepping out from behind a car because you didn't spot them because you were on the phone?
[If respondent gives impression of complacency about drink & driving] … a learner driver took the wrong lane at the roundabout but your reactions were delayed because of the drink and you couldn't avoid their path?
[If respondent gives impression of complacency about drugs & driving] … a motorcyclist was overtaking you when you chose to move out to overtake a cyclist, and you didn't spot them because you were slightly 'foggy' as a result of the drugs you had taken?

Q10d. In your view, what would be the worst thing that could go wrong when you are [INSERT BEHAVIOURS]?

Q10e. Would you say that the thoughts and feelings you have described in relation to the journey we have just discussed are 'typical' of what you think and feel when you do [INSERT BEHAVIOURS]?

Q10f. You have said that you do these things quite often. Would you consider yourself to be a repeat or prolific illegal driver? Why do you say that? If not, how would you describe a prolific illegal driver?

PART B: General Driving Attitudes and Behaviours - Semi-structured Interview

Okay, thank you. I would now like to ask you some very specific questions about the types of things you may think and do when you drive in general. These questions don't relate to any specific incident, but you can use examples of your previous behaviour if it helps you to describe what you did or thought.

The emotional side of risk taking

Q11. Generally speaking, when you [INSERT BEHAVIOUR TYPE], how does it make you feel? Prompt after free recall for an emotional response:

guilty
excited
rebellious
in control
no real emotion

Q12. And, generally speaking, what would you say motivates you to drive this way? Prompt if necessary:

need to get things done on time
pressure from others
anger/frustration
enjoyment of risks
perceived lack of serious risks to self or others
perceived lack of risks of being caught
lack of concentration
don't agree with the rules
just don't think
perceived lack of alternative

Perceptions of Risk: Drivers' experiences of getting caught/ being penalised

Q13a. When you are in the car doing [INSERT BEHAVIOURS], do you think about the risks of getting stopped by the police? If so, how likely do you think it is that you will get caught? Prompt: Why do you say that?

Q13b. And, would you say that your attitude changes at all when you are behind the wheel?

Q14a. Have you ever been stopped and spoken to by the police for [INSERT BEHAVIOURS]? Prompt: If so, please can you explain briefly how many times, what it was for, and what was the penalty?

Q14b. How do you feel you were been treated by the police on those occasions?

Q14c. When you have been stopped and spoken to by the police in the past, has it changed the way you drove, if only for a short time? If so:

What things did you change?
In what ways did you change exactly?
How long did that change/those changes last for?
(if not long, what changed this? What made you go back to driving the old way?)

Perceptions of Risk: Drivers' experiences of being in an accident etc.

Q15. Have you or any of your close family/friends ever been involved in a Road Traffic Accident(s) as a result of the behaviours we have been discussing today? For example, because you, they or someone else was doing [INSERT BEHAVIOURS]? If so, and if you feel comfortable, please can you tell me more about that?

Were you hurt?
Was anyone else hurt?
Was there any damage to your car?
Damage to anyone else's car?
Any other kind of damage/injury?

Q16. After you/they had been involved in that accident, did it change the way you drove? If so:

What things did you change?
In what ways did you change exactly?
How long did that change/those changes last for?
(if not long, what changed this? What made you go back to driving the old way?)

Q17. And, when you are in the car doing [INSERT BEHAVIOURS] nowadays, how likely do you think it is that you will have an accident or cause harm to yourself or others? Prompt: Why do you say that? And, would you say you feel the same when you are not actually in the car?

Behaviour Change

Q18a. When you [INSERT BEHAVIOURS], what do you think is the most likely outcome/possible consequence of:

Speeding?
Using a mobile phone when driving?
Not using your seatbelt?
Drink driving?
Drug driving?

Q18b. And, for each of those, what is the worst thing that you think could happen?

Q19. Thinking about all of the different types of behaviours we have discussed today, is there anything that might encourage you to change the way you drive? For example:

Being caught by the police and given a fine
Being caught by the police and having your licence taken away
Having your car taken away
Being sent to prison
You seriously damaging your car in an accident
You being seriously hurt in an accident
You hurting someone else in a car accident
A friend of yours being killed in a car accident
A friend of yours killing another person in a car accident

Q20. Specifically, for each type of behaviour we have discussed today, are there things that might encourage you to:

Drive to the speed limit?
Stop using your mobile phone while driving?
Always use your seatbelts?
Not drink over the limit before driving?
Not take drugs before driving?

How you and others might feel about different types of driving behaviours

Q21. Going back to this list, [SHOW CARD A], how acceptable do you think each of these behaviours are? Prompt:

Are some of these behaviours more acceptable than others?
If so, which ones. And why do you say that?

Q22. Do you think that others think about [INSERT BEHAVIOURS] in the same way? That is, are they 'socially acceptable'?

Media Campaigns

Q23. Can you remember any TV, cinema or radio advertisements that you have seen about safe driving? If so, please can you describe them? And, where did you see/hear them?

Q24. Did any of those advertisements make you change your own driving at all? If so:

Which ones?
Why do you think that made you change?

Q25. And finally, what kind of media advertisements do you think work best in reducing illegal behaviours? For example:

Ones that try to scare you by showing you that you might hurt others?
Ones that try to scare you by showing you that you might hurt yourself?
Ones that threaten you? For example, with the prospect of prison?
Ones that make you think about what you have to lose? For example, your car, job or family and friends.

Thank you.