Problems of the Presence of Different Groups of Road Users in the Same Traffic Environment

Abstract

The article presents an overview of foreign studies of the road transport environment from the point of view of relations between different groups of its participants: drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists, users of electric scooters. It is shown how these relations are related to ideas about inequality in road traffic, marginality or even illegitimacy of some participants, with the problem of alienation and the emergence of intergroup effects (group favoritism, etc.). The consequence of ideas about groups as “road minorities” can lead to such percepts as “blindness of inattention”, affecting safety in this environment, and increased aggression towards “others”. A number of studies also help to understand the difference in attitudes towards familiar and new road users. Road sharing causes stress not only for those who are classified as vulnerable road traffic rules, but also for motorists. The tolerance of road users towards each other can be increased through the experience of using different vehicles. Such experiences develop reflexivity and, in general, should contribute to improving the safety of movement of different groups in mixed flow conditions.