Road-tunnel fires: Risk perception and management strategies among users

The present study was aimed M investigating road users' perceptions and behaviors in case of it fire in it tunnel. It is grounded on the idea that in order to effectively prevent accidents and fires in tunnels, it may be useful to take tunnel users' beliefs, representations, and coping strategies into account [Kouabenan, D.R., 1998. Beliefs and the perception of risks and accidents. Risk Analysis, all International Journal 18, 243-252; Kouabenan, D.R., 2001. Management de la securite: role des croyances et des perceptions. In : Levy-Leboyer, C., Huteau, M., Louche, C., Rolland, J.P. (Eds.), RH: Les apports de la psychologie du travail. Les Editions d'Organisation, Paris, pp. 453474; Kouabenan, D.R., Cadet, B., 2005. Risk evaluation and accident analysis. Advances in Psychology Research 36, 61-80; Kouabenan, D.R., Dubois, M., Scarnato, F., De Gaudemaris, R., Mallaret, M.R., 2007. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Risk Perception by Healthcare Personnel in it Public Hospital. Social Behavior and Personality, 35, 1] One hundred and fifty-one road users (firemen, truck drivers, regular drivers, and driving-school students) filled Out it questionnaire measuring their perceptions of risks and control in road tunnels, their awareness of safety and rescue devices, their level of anxiety, and their behavioral intentions in the event of a fire in it road tunnel. The results indicated it relationship between fire-risk perception, awareness of rescue and safety devices, and road-tunnel experience; it tendency toward comparative optimism (CO); ail effect of perceived control on optimism; and a relationship between CO and awareness of safety devices. A significant interaction Was found between tunnel users' anxiety level and their perceived control over the situation. The evacuation behaviors and coping strategies reported by the participants were far from reflecting the expected behaviors. Recommendations for it long-term prevention policy bearing jointly oil beliefs, behaviors, improved information and warning systems are suggested. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.