The Method for Evaluation of Driver’s Risky Traffic Behaviour: Validation in the Russian Sample

Abstract

Objectives. The purpose of the article is approbation the method for evaluation of drivers’ risky traffic behaviour, its structure and main patterns. Background. Psychological research of risky traffic behaviour of drivers is especially acute. It is a very important to measure and identify the features of the traffic behaviour of drivers as high-risk behaviour. In this context, the study of risky traffic behaviour is of particular interest. Study design. The structure and patterns of risky traffic behavior of three groups of Russian drivers with different driving experience were studied. It was using a special questionnaire for evaluation of patterns of risky traffic behaviour of drivers, which has been implemented in Traffic Offenders Prevention Program in Estonia. The data analysis used comparative, correlation and exploratory factor analysis. Participants. 398 drivers with various driving experience, including: 114 — novice drivers; 80 — taxi drivers; 204 — drivers of commercial transportation. Measurements. The structure of drivers’ risky traffic behaviour was studied using a special questionnaire “Traffic Risk Evaluation Model” (Meinhard G., 2018), that includes AUDIT (Babor T., Hig¬gins-Biddle J., Saunders J., Monteiro, 2010). Results. Data on the structure of drivers risky traffic behaviour was obtained. It was found that this structure includes three main patterns: “Attitudes towards alcohol and drunk driving”, “Proneness to violations of law” and “Evaluation of risks and threats in the course of driving”. Correlations were found between patterns of risky traffic behaviour and road accident rates. Conclusions. The research has shown that the consideration of drivers’ risky traffic behaviour structure can become a promising area of research required in the psychological practice of road crash prevention.