Investigating the driving skills-attitudes nexus for safer roads

Abstract

While current research extensively delves into the importance of driving skills and attitudes concerning traffic safety, a conspicuous gap remains in substantiating a meaningful correlation between self-reported driving skills and attitudes toward traffic safety. This underscores the need for more in-depth investigation and empirical evidence to better elucidate the nature of the relationship between self-perceived driving skills and attitudes in the context of traffic safety. This study investigates the relationship between drivers' skills and their attitudes toward traffic safety. Data from 664 drivers were collected through self-report questionnaires covering driving skills, attitudes, and demographic information. Factor analysis revealed three distinct factors for both driving skills (perceptual-motor skills, safety skills, and decisional skills) and driving attitudes (attitudes toward rule violations and speeding, attitudes toward careless driving of others, and attitudes toward drinking and driving). Structural equation models unveiled a significant connection between drivers' attitudes and safety skills, as well as decisional skills. Improved safety skills correlated with less favorable attitudes toward rule violations, speeding, careless driving of others, and drinking and driving. Similarly, enhanced decisional skills were associated with a rise in attitudes toward rule violations, speeding, and disregarding careless driving of others. Demographic analysis indicated an inverse correlation between age and attitude factors/decisional skills, coupled with a positive correlation with safety skills. Older individuals had less favorable attitudes toward rule violation, speeding, careless driving of others, the combination of drinking and driving, and their decisional skills were lower. Gender analysis revealed that men had a lower favorable viewpoint toward all three attitude dimensions and reported higher perceptual-motor and decisional skills compared to safety skills. The findings underscore the significance of safety and decisional skills in shaping attitudes toward traffic safety. Demographic factors, particularly age and gender, play a role in influencing these skills and attitudes, offering valuable insights for interventions and policy considerations.