Driver Attitudes Toward Traffic Safety Could Impact Traffic Violations: Report

New research suggests that cultural and societal differences among drivers play a critical role in behaviors that lead to traffic violations, which are responsible for the majority of fatal car accidents every year.

According to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries have become the eighth-leading cause of death worldwide, with about 1.35 million people killed annually in motor vehicle crashes.

In a report posted earlier this month on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN), researchers in Asia conducted an international survey to understand driver behaviors that could help reduce the increasing number of traffic fatalities each year. The findings suggest that there is a strong correlation between drivers’ attitudes and the likelihood of committing traffic violations, which cause many of the accidents.

In the study, a team of researchers led by Keshuang Tang of Tongji University in China conducted an international survey between 2017 and 2018, of drivers in China, Egypt, Italy, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The survey consisted of five sections, including self-reported driving conditions, demographic information, perceptions of traffic situations, attitudes toward risky traffic behaviors and support for traffic safety policies.

The researchers identified two distinct groups, which included a High Risk Driving Group (HRDG) and a Low Risk Driving Group (LRDG). The high risk group included drivers more accepting of risky behaviors and less supportive of traffic safety policies, while the low risk group consisted of drivers who are less tolerant of risky behaviors and more supportive of safety measures.

For members of the high risk driving group, attitudes toward traffic safety policies significantly influenced behavior and were less affected by others’ attitudes. In contrast, the behavior of the low risk driving group was significantly influenced by social norms and the attitudes of others.

The report also found differences in attitudes and behaviors across countries, highlighting that cultural and societal norms play critical roles in shaping drivers’ attitudes. In some countries, higher tolerance and inadequate enforcement or public awareness of behaviors such as not wearing seatbelts or using cellphones while driving led to worse attitudes regarding traffic safety.

Overall, the study suggests that targeted interventions are necessary to change drivers’ attitudes and behaviors. Specifically, stricter enforcement of traffic laws may be more effective for high risk drivers, while fostering a supportive environment where safe driving is modeled and encouraged could help reduce traffic violations among the low risk driving group.

“These results underscore the critical link between attitudes and behaviors, suggesting that traffic violations are not just individual actions but also manifestations of broader, collective psychological and behavioral patterns,” Tang said. “This nuanced understanding highlights the importance of addressing both individual and group-level tendencies in efforts to improve traffic safety.”