The importance of resistance to peer influence and personality traits in drivers risky driving

Abstract

Risky driving remains the major prerequisite of young drivers’ injuries and fatalities in road traffic accidents all over the world. The present study investigates how personality trait differences and resistance to peer influence of young drivers interact and correlate to their risky driving behaviour. Data from 226 drivers (127 men and 99 women) were analysed using ordinal regression analyses. The results did not support the idea that resistance to peer influence might be more important factor in young drivers’ sample than personality traits. Contrary to expectations personality traits had more stable and larger contribution to risky driving behaviour, but their predictive value was different for males and females. Higher extraversion and lower agreeableness predicted more intentional driving violations among young men; lower agreeableness and lower conscientiousness predicted more intentional driving violations among young women. Thus, personality is important in understanding of risky driving among young adults and should be taken into consideration in prevention efforts.