Relationships between young drivers' personality characteristics, risk perceptions, and driving behaviour

Machin, M. Anthony and Sankey, Kim S. (2008) Relationships between young drivers' personality characteristics, risk perceptions, and driving behaviour. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 40 (2). pp. 541-547. ISSN 0001-4575

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Abstract

Research has shown that inexperienced drivers underestimate the risks associated with a range of driving situations. In addition, personality factors are an important influence on both risk perceptions and driving behaviour. The study investigated the strength of relationship between personality factors, risk perceptions, and driving behaviour among young, mainly inexperienced drivers. One-hundred and fifty-nine students aged between 17 and 20 completed an online questionnaire assessing five facets of personality, four components of risk perceptions, and one measure of driving behaviour. Using structural equation modeling as a means of assessing the overall fit of each model, 39% of the variance in young drivers' speeding was accounted for by Excitement-Seeking, Altruism, their Aversion to Risk Taking, and their own likelihood of having an accident, with Altruism and Aversion to Risk Taking both showing moderate negative relationships. Road safety interventions should examine whether they strengthen young drivers' appreciation of the impact of their actions on others through positive reinforcement of altruistic norms.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Author's version deposited in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology
Date Deposited:	12 Jun 2009 00:11
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 23:19
Uncontrolled Keywords:	risk perceptions; altruism; excitement-seeking; speeding
Fields of Research :	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170109 Personality, Abilities and Assessment 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1702 Cognitive Sciences > 170202 Decision Making 16 Studies in Human Society > 1608 Sociology > 160806 Social Theory
Socio-Economic Objective:	C Society > 92 Health > 9299 Other Health > 929999 Health not elsewhere classified
Identification Number or DOI:	doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2007.08.010
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/5306

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