Analysis of driver characteristics, self-reported psychology measures and driving performance measures associated with aggressive driving

Abstract

Whereas aggressive driving mainly causes speed-related crashes, aggressive driving may be reduced to improve road safety by identifying aggressive driving behaviour, aggressive drivers’ characteristics, and their underlying motivational and psychological processes. Previous studies show that both driving performance and self-reported measures of aggressive driving are effective means to identify aggressive drivers. However, these studies assessed aggressive driving patterns across only a limited number of events, did not relate driver characteristics to aggressive driving in each event, and used chiefly vehicle kinematics variables (e.g., mean speed), but not vehicle dynamics variables (e.g., brake pedal force) which better capture driver reaction and decision-making. To address these limitations, this study assessed driver characteristics, self-reported psychological measures, and driving performance measures associated with aggressive driving among 55 drivers’ behaviours in 9driving events using a driving simulator and survey responses. The results of structural equation models showed that unique aggressive driving patterns and driver characteristics related to aggressive driving vary among different driving events. As such, we recommend road safety policies to reduce aggressive driving based on the findings in this study.