Introduction: Preliminary research has indicated that numerous drivers perceive their risk of traffic crash to be less than other drivers, while perceiving their driving ability to be better. This phenomenon is referred to as ‘comparative optimism’ (CO) and may prove to inhibit the safe adoption of driving behaviors and/or dilute perceptions of negative outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate comparative judgments regarding crash risk and driving ability, and how these judgments relate to self-reported speeding. Method: There were 760 Queensland motorists comprised of 51.6% males and 48.2% females, aged 16–85 (M = 39.60). Participants completed either a paper or online version of a survey. Judgments of crash risk and driving ability were compared to two referents: the average same-age, same-sex driver, and the average same-age, same-sex V8 supercar champion. Results: Drivers displayed greater optimism when comparing their crash risk and driving ability to the average same-age, same- sex driver (respectively, 72%, 72.4%), than when comparing to a V8 supercar champion (respectively, 60%, 32.9%). When comparing judgements of crash risk and driving ability to a similar driver, it appears that participants in the present study are just about as optimistic about their risk of crash (i.e. 72%) as they are optimistic about their driving ability (i.e. 74.2%).

简介：初步研究表明，许多司机认为自己发生交通事故的风险低于其他司机，同时认为自己的驾驶能力更好。这种现象被称为“比较乐观”（CO），可能会抑制驾驶行为的安全采用和/或淡化对负面结果的看法。本研究的目的是调查关于碰撞风险和驾驶能力的比较判断，以及这些判断如何与自我报告的超速相关。方法：昆士兰州有 760 名驾驶者，其中男性占 51.6%，女性占 48.2%，年龄在 16-85 岁（M = 39.60)。参与者完成了纸质版或在线版的调查。将碰撞风险和驾驶能力的判断与两个参照物进行比较：平均同龄、同性司机和平均同龄、同性 V8 超级跑车冠军。结果：与平均年龄、同性司机（分别为 72%、72.4%）相比，与 V8 超级跑车冠军（分别为 60%、32.9 %）。在将碰撞风险和驾驶能力的判断与类似驾驶员进行比较时，本研究的参与者似乎对他们的碰撞风险（即 72%）与他们对自己的驾驶能力（即 74.2%）一样乐观.