Experts and bias: the impact on sustainable transport

Managing the transport system involves complex decision-making processes. Human judgement guides this process, yet human reasoning is in turn guided by a predictable set of biases – mental shortcuts called ‘heuristics’ that help us make decisions quickly. This chapter provides an overview of common heuristics and biases that can influence our judgements and decisions as we seek to improve the sustainability of the transport system. It discusses how our own personal experience influences how we think about the transport system, argues for the importance of seeking and understanding the perspective of other groups, and discusses the potential biases of powerful decision-makers, especially when proposing new technological solutions to transport problems. Understanding when and how these biases work is an important first step in counteracting their negative impacts.