Attitudinal predictors of interpersonally aggressive violations on the road

Abstract

Aggressive driving behaviour was studied using a self-report questionnaire. Respondents were asked about their own behaviour on the road using a version of the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire which contained an extended set of driving violation items. Three violation factors were distinguished, providing support for the findings of Lawton, R., Parker, D., Manstead, A.S.R., and Stradling, S.G. (1997). The role of affect in predicting social behaviours: the case of road traffic violations. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 27, 1258–1276). Respondents’ beliefs and attitudes towards two aggressive driving scenarios were measured, using Ajzen’s (1988)theory of planned behaviour model (Ajzen, I. (1988). Attitudes, personality and behavior. Milton Keynes, UK: Open University Press) supplemented by a measure of affective beliefs. In one scenario the driver was described as initiating an aggressive driving episode, and in the other as retaliating to the aggressive driving of another. Beliefs and attitudes in relation to the scenarios were found to be significantly predictive of own self-reported aggressive driving behaviour. It was shown that aggressive driving behaviour was particularly associated with relatively positive (or less negative) beliefs and attitudes in relation to the initiation of an aggressive driving episode.