Cross-cultural differences in driver aggression, aberrant, and positive driver behaviors

Abstract

The present study investigated differences in driver aggression for self and others within countries and cultural differences between driver aggression, aberrant, and positive driver behaviors across five countries (Estonia, Greece, Kosovo, Russia, and Turkey). It was pre-dicted that drivers from these five countries differ significantly in terms of driver aggres-sion for self and others, aberrant, and positive driver behaviors. In the study, 743 participants completed the questionnaire package, including the Driver Aggression Indicators Scale (DAIS), the short version of the Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) with items from the Positive Driver Behavior Scale, and the Demographic Information Form. Paired samples T-tests were conducted to examine the differences in driving aggression between self and others in the five countries. The results indicated that, except for Russian drivers, drivers reported that other drivers had higher driver aggression than themselves. To examine the cross-cultural differences, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tests were conducted for the two dimensions of the DAIS (hostile aggression and revenge, and aggressive warnings) and the three dimensions of the DBQ with items from the Positive Driver Behavior Scale (errors, violations, and positive driver behaviors). Cross-country item-based comparisons were then made for the DAIS and the DBQ. The ANCOVA results showed significant differences in both item-based and subscale compar-isons. Russian drivers were significantly different from other drivers in terms of hostile aggression and the revenge subscales of the DAIS and positive driver behaviors. Turkish drivers were significantly different from other drivers in several items of the DBQ, includ-ing errors and violations. The findings suggest that culturespecific strategies might be con-ducted for traffic-related anger management. Furthermore, differences in errors and violations among the five countries may be due to cultural differences. Positive driver behaviors might be better promoted in countries by drawing on their distinct cultural road safety strategies.

Investigating Young Male and Female Road Users’ Behaviour as Pedestrians and Drivers

“…For instance, Turkish pedestrians showed more transgression, lapses and aggressive behaviours compared to Estonian and Russian pedestrians. Moreover, Turkish pedestrians showed more positive behaviours than Kosovar pedestrians (Solmazer et al, 2020). Moreover, Deb et al (2017) confirmed that the PBS is a reliable measure of pedestrian accident involvement and found that violations were related to higher involvement in accidents with injuries.…”

“…The scale was based on the framework that has been used to measure aberrant driver behaviours (Lawton, Parker, Manstead, & Stradling, 1997;Reason, Manstead, Stradling, Baxter, & Campbell, 1990), and positive driver behaviours (Özkan & Lajunen, 2005). The PBS was used as a reliable and valid instrument for the investigation of pedestrian behavi-ours in different countries such as France (Granié et al, 2013), China (Qu, Zhang, Zhao, Zhang, & Ge, 2016;Xu, Ge, Qu, Sun, & Zhang, 2018), and Turkey (Demir, 2017;Solmazer et al, 2020).…”

“…Psychological predictors of pedestrian behaviours were studied by Demir (2017), and it was found that intention and willingness were related to pedestrian behaviours in Turkey. In another study, Solmazer et al (2020) investigated the pedestrian behaviours across five countries (Estonia, Greece, Kosovo, Russia, and Turkey) and also found significant differences in the display of different types of behaviours between countries. For instance, Turkish pedestrians showed more transgression, lapses and aggressive behaviours compared to Estonian and Russian pedestrians.…”

Effect of Culture on Gender Differences in Risky Driver Behavior through Comparative Analysis of 32 Countries

“…Sometimes researchers analyze only the effect of culture on attitudes and behavior, controlling for the effect of gender (44,52,53). Only one study to date analyzes gender differences in several countries, but only on young driver behaviors and attitudes (22).…”

“…Studies sometimes include an analysis of gender differences, but only on a country-by-country basis, or on the overall sample ( 48 – 51 ). Sometimes researchers analyze only the effect of culture on attitudes and behavior, controlling for the effect of gender ( 44 , 52 , 53 ). Only one study to date analyzes gender differences in several countries, but only on young driver behaviors and attitudes ( 22 ).…”