For a long time, the selection of suitable professional drivers was characterized by traditional personnel selection, with the aim of finding the most suitable people for the job. However, in view of the massive shortage of skilled workers in the transport industry, the focus has shifted.
The demands placed on professional drivers have increased considerably in recent years. While the task was previously often understood as pure driving performance, traffic psychology research shows that road safety depends far more on psychological factors than pure driving experience.
For a long time, the selection of suitable professional drivers was characterized by traditional personnel selection, with the aim of finding the most suitable people for the job. However, in view of the massive shortage of skilled workers in the transport industry, the focus has shifted. In order to counteract the shortage of professional drivers, the 4th European Driving Licence Directive even provides for the age limits for bus and truck drivers to be lowered to 21 and 18 respectively. Although this measure opens up new recruitment opportunities, it also poses considerable challenges.
Neuroscientific findings show that brain maturation – particularly those areas responsible for risk perception and impulse control – is only fully completed in young adulthood (e.g. Steinberg, 2008). This brings psychological diagnostics more into focus. This is because young age and lack of experience are proven risk factors for accidents (Federal Statistical Office, 2021).
Transport companies not only bear enormous economic burdens as a result of accidents – such as repair costs, downtime or insurance claims – but also a considerable reputational risk: in 2020, 22,420 accidents with personal injury were registered in which at least one goods road transport vehicle was involved. 616 people lost their lives, 5,469 were seriously injured and 23,797 were slightly injured. Particularly alarming: the risk of being killed in a truck accident is almost four times higher for other road users than for the truck occupants themselves. The main causes are distance errors (18.8%), incorrect behavior when turning or reversing (17.9%) and failing to give way (12.0%) (Federal Statistical Office, 2022).
In this context, it should be emphasized that 90% of all traffic accidents are due to human error (Smiley & Brookhuis, 1987; Gelau, Gasser & Seeck, 2012). In addition to technical safety standards and infrastructural measures, the cognitive performance and personality of drivers therefore play a key role in road safety. This is precisely where psychological aptitude testing comes in. It makes it possible to objectively assess the individual performance and reliability of professional drivers. A key aspect of this is the ability to gain an overview and control attention. In road traffic, a great deal of information has to be processed and decisions made in fractions of a second – from estimating distances and recognizing traffic signs to reacting to suddenly appearing obstacles.
Studies have shown that gaining an overview (ATAVT, ATAVT-2), reactive stress tolerance (DT) and logical thinking (e.g. INT or AMT) are particularly predictive of safe and efficient driving behavior, especially in professional drivers (Vetter et. al, 2017).
ATAVT and the new version ATAVT-2 from the Vienna Test System (VTS) measure the ability to quickly overview complex traffic situations and correctly process relevant information under time pressure – a key ability for safe driving behavior. Studies show that the test results of the ATAVT correlate in particular with driving tasks that require rapid perception and flexible reactions (Vetter et. al, 2017).
In the theoretical framework of the GDE matrix (Hatakka, Keskinen, Gregersen, Glad & Hernetkoski, 2002), this ability is assigned to the so-called tactical level – i.e. mastering traffic situations and adapting driving behavior to changing environments. Those who show deficits here are less able to assess risks in road traffic and tend to make mistakes in complex situations, such as at junctions or when changing lanes.
Psychological test procedures such as the ATAVT-2 therefore make a decisive contribution to road safety and support transport companies in identifying suitable drivers – not only in terms of suitability, but also in terms of prevention. Especially in times when young and inexperienced people are increasingly behind the wheel of large vehicles, the combination of targeted training and scientifically sound psychological diagnostics is the most effective way to ensure safety, efficiency and responsibility in road traffic in the long term.
