Comparative optimism among drivers: an intergenerational portrait.

We describe a large cross-sectional study examining comparative optimism (CO) regarding the risk of car crash in three age cohorts (17-26, 27-64, 65 and older). The participants completed a questionnaire in which they were asked to indicate their personal risk of being in an at-fault crash over nine driving related events in comparison to young drivers, mid-aged drivers, and older drivers. The results indicated that all three age groups exhibited CO, but that the level varied according to the age group on which they had to base their comparative judgment. Interestingly, greater CO was constantly observed when the three age groups compared themselves to older drivers. Also, young males exhibited greater CO than female of the same age group. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.