Young male taxi drivers and private car users on driving simulator for their self-reported driving skills and behaviors

Abstract

This study investigated (1) the associations between young male drivers’ self-assessed driving skills and their driver behaviors on driving simulator, (2) the associations between their self-reported driver behaviors and their driver behaviors on driving simulator, and (3) the similarities and the differences between young male taxi drivers and private car users based on these associations. 38 male taxi drivers and 40 male private car users, between 18 and 25 years old, were provided a demographic information form, two self-reports for measurement of their driving skills and behaviors, and 9 km driving simulator scenario in the laboratory. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that safety skills and perceptual motor skills are in opposite associations with young male drivers’ speeds, overtaking behaviors, and their behaviors at traffic lights on driving simulator. Moreover, ordinary violations were found to be in positive association with young male drivers’ speeding, running a red light, and overtaking behaviors on driving simulator. Lastly, differing from each other based on the associations between their overtaking behaviors on driving simulator and types of self-reported violations, the results indicated that young male taxi drivers and private car users share a number of similarities in terms of their negative attitudes towards safety and aberrant driver behaviors in traffic.