Managing conditional speed. A preliminary research among police motorcyclists

Abstract

Powered two-wheelers (PTWs) are considered one of the riskiest means of transport and their riders belong to the category of vulnerable road users. Police motorcyclists are at greater risk because they ride a motorcycle in the context of a risky professional activity. In the field of social psychology, the theory of conditionality studies the relationship between legal norms and social norms demonstrating the importance of the latter which are conditional, legitimate in the representation and reflecting "calculated risk-taking". Although the conditionality of motorcyclists has been already studied, there is no published data on police motorcyclists, who represents a specific group. This preliminary research analyzes the behavior of 25 California Highway Patrol motorcyclists. They completed a Conditional Scripts Questionnaire (CSQ) based on a speed scenario and 25 circumstantial situations. The results illustrate for the first time the management of conditionality among law enforcement. The analysis shows the importance of conditional transgressions in the professional context. On the other hand, weak conditionality in unsafe driving-contexts highlights that police motorcyclists cope proactively with risky situations.