Personality predictors of speeding: Anger-Aggression and Impulsive-Sensation Seeking. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Personalizing driver safety interfaces via driver cognitive factors inference

Recent advances in AI and intelligent vehicle technology hold the promise of revolutionizing mobility and transportation through advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Certain cognitive factors, such as impulsivity and inhibitory control have been shown to relate to risky driving behavior and on-road risk-taking. However, existing systems fail to leverage such factors in assistive driving technologies adequately. Varying the levels of these cognitive factors could influence the effectiveness and acceptance of ADAS interfaces. We demonstrate an approach for personalizing driver interaction via driver safety interfaces that are are triggered based on the inference of the driver's latent cognitive states from their driving behavior. To accomplish this, we adopt a data-driven approach and train a recurrent neural network to infer impulsivity and inhibitory control from recent driving behavior. The network is trained on a population of human drivers to infer impulsivity and inhibitory control from recent driving behavior. Using data collected from a high-fidelity vehicle motion simulator experiment, we demonstrate the ability to deduce these factors from driver behavior. We then use these inferred factors to determine instantly whether or not to engage a driver safety interface. This approach was evaluated using leave-one-out cross validation using actual human data. Our evaluations reveal that our personalized driver safety interface that captures the cognitive profile of the driver is more effective in influencing driver behavior in yellow light zones by reducing their inclination to run through them.

Analyzing the factors influencing speeding behavior based on quasi-induced exposure and random parameter logit model with heterogeneity in means

INTRODUCTION

Speeding behavior is a major threat to road traffic safety, which can increase crash risks and result in severe injury outcomes. Although several studies have been conducted to analyze speeding crashes and relevant influential factors, the heterogeneity of variables has not been fully explored. Based on the traffic crash data extracted from the Crash Report Sampling System, the study aims to identify the factors that influence speeding driving with the consideration of variable heterogeneity.

METHOD

Quasi-induced exposure technique is adopted to identify the disparities in the propensities of speeding for various driving cohorts. The random parameter logit model with heterogeneity in means is employed to examine the factors impacting speeding behavior.

RESULTS

Results indicate that: (a) driving cohorts such as young drivers, male drivers, passenger cars, and pickups appear to have higher propensities of engaging in speeding driving; (b) the propensity of speeding is higher when the driver is drinking, distracted, changing lanes, negotiating a curve, driving in lighted condition, and on curved roads; and (c) the random parameter logit model with heterogeneity in means has better performance as opposed to that without heterogeneity in means.

CONCLUSIONS

Speeding behavior can be influenced by various factors in terms of driver-vehicle characteristics, physical condition, driving actions, and environmental conditions.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The findings could serve to develop effective countermeasures to reduce speeding behavior and improve traffic safety.

Speeding behavior and associated factors in Buenos Aires, Argentina

OBJECTIVE

Excessive speed is a major risk factor for serious injuries and death. However, speeding remains a pervasive problem around the world. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with speeding behavior in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

METHODS

A sample of vehicles (n = 34,967) from ten locations in the city was observed in two waves during 2021. Measurements were made at different times and days of the week. Observation sites were free of intersections, traffic lights, speed bumps and cameras, allowing drivers to speed freely. Data on speed, drivers and vehicle types were collected. Factors associated with speeding were identified through logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

15.3% of vehicles were observed to be speeding. Roads with posted speed limits of 40 km/h showed higher speeding compared to 60 km/h roads. 77% of vehicles traveled above 30 km/h on local roads, and 30% above 50 km/h on avenues. Motorcycles, both commercial and private, showed a higher percentage of speeding compared to all other vehicles. Speeding was lower among women, among adults over 60 years of age, and among those using cell phones.

CONCLUSION

It is crucial to strengthen strategies for increased compliance with speed limits. Actions targeting motorcyclists must be a priority.

Assessing the effectiveness of psychoeducational interventions on driving behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This review aimed to quantitatively summarize the evidence concerning the effectiveness of psychoeducational interventions on driving behavior. A final pool of 138 studies, totaling approximately 97,000 participants, was included in the analyses and covered all types of driving behavior targeted by the interventions. Using a random effects model, significant results were found for almost all driving outcomes, both post-intervention and long-term. The strongest effect was for reducing distracted driving at post-intervention (d = 1.87 [1.12, 2.60], Z = 4.94, p < 0.001). The only non-significant effects were for reducing errors in the long term (d = 0.50 [-0.87, 1.86], Z = 0.71, p = 0.48) and driving under the influence at post-intervention (d = 0.35 [0.00, 0.71], Z = 1.96, p = 0.05). Concerning which type of intervention was more effective, feedback, training and motivational ones appear to work best. Educational interventions show only weak effects, while awareness interventions seem mostly ineffective. Overall, our results show that most interventions can reduce different types of driving behaviors, but there are specific aspects to be considered based on the targeted behavior.

Better understanding female and male driving offenders' behavior: Psychological resources and vulnerabilities matter!

Although driving risk taking appears to be mainly male, an increase in driving violations has been observed in recent years among French female drivers. The main objective of the present study was to explore the driving behaviors, psychological resources, and vulnerabilities of female and male driving offenders participating in a French driver rehabilitation program. The second aim was to examine to what extent females' and males' resources and vulnerabilities predicted their violations, engagement in distracting activities while driving, and prosocial driving behaviors. In the course of 110 rehabilitation programs, 1686 driving offenders (22.4% females) completed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. Compared to male offenders, females were more likely to have received a higher education, be divorced, or separated, and drive fewer annual kilometers. They also had had fewer demerit points than males in the last three years. They were more empathetic but also more impulsive than their male counterparts and less self-compassionate and mindful. Regression and moderation analyses revealed that, across genders, certain psychological resources such as mindfulness can be considered as protective factors for driving offenders as they tend to decrease dangerous behaviors and increase prosocial ones, while vulnerabilities such as aggressive driving anger expression seem to have the opposite effect. Our results provide a better understanding of driving offenders' behavior and the influence of personal dispositions. They also open new interesting research avenues in the prevention of dangerous behaviors among this high-risk population.

Effects of hazards and sensation-seeking on intermediate swimming college students' hazard perceptions

BACKGROUND

According to the Global Report on Drowning: Preventing a Leading Killer and Preventing Drowning: An Implementation Guide, two documents released by the World Health Organization in 2014 and 2017, respectively, 372,000 people drown each year globally (approximately 42 per hour), half of whom are below 25 years old. Chinese adolescents aged 18-24 years are the main victim group. Intermediate swimming college students are more susceptible to risk-taking behavior and drowning while swimming. In particular, college students with high-sensation-seeking levels have greater confidence in their swimming ability. Consequently, they tend to overestimate their skills and pursue exciting experiences while underestimating or ignoring the risk factors in the situation. The scores of college students in sensation-seeking show a significant positive correlation with highly risky swimming behavior. However, the correlation with the reaction time to hazards is unclear. In this study, using previous theories, the sensation-seeking scale, and the measurement of the reaction time to hazards, we clearly explain why "college students with higher levels of sensation-seeking have a higher risk of drowning." We examined the reaction time to hazards and eye movement data of intermediate swimming college students with different sensation-seeking levels, while controlling the obviousness of hazards in the videos for the experiment.

METHODS

We utilized 16 videos of students swimming as experimental stimuli and employed a mixed experimental design of 2 (sensation-seeking: high, low) × 2 (hazard type: obvious hazard, hidden hazard). Sensation-seeking, the between-subjects variable, was categorized into two levels (high and low). The hazard type, the within-subjects variable, was also divided into two categories (obvious and hidden). We analyzed the disparities in reaction time to hazards and eye-movement data between intermediate swimming college students with high (N = 28) or low (N = 28) levels of sensation-seeking.

RESULTS

Intermediate swimming college students with high levels of sensation-seeking exhibited significantly longer reaction times to both obvious (F = 6.251, p = .000 < .001) and hidden (F = 49.438, p = .000 < .001) hazards compared to their low-sensation-seeking counterparts. The first fixation duration of intermediate swimming college students on obvious hazards was shorter than that on hidden hazards (F = 13.596, p = .000 < .001), and the average fixation duration of intermediate swimming college students with high levels of sensation-seeking on hidden hazards proved to be significantly shorter (F = 5.498, p = .000 < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

High-sensation-seeking intermediate swimming college students exhibited longer reaction times to hidden hazards compared to their low-sensation-seeking peers. These findings indicate that a high-sensation-seeking tendency can result in delayed reaction times and a disregard for response measures among intermediate swimming college students.

The association between the Big Five personality traits and driving behaviors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Although a large number of studies have examined the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and driving behaviors, consistent evidence for their relationships is still lacking. The main purpose of this study was to systematically review the relationships between the Big Five personality traits and various driving behaviors with different intentions (including risky, aggressive, and positive driving behaviors) through a meta-analysis. A total of 34 articles met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The results showed that risky and aggressive driving behaviors were negatively associated with conscientiousness (r = -0.21; r = -0.26), agreeableness (r = -0.23; r = -0.37), and openness (r = -0.08; r = -0.07), positively associated with neuroticism (r = 0.11; r = 0.26), and nonsignificantly associated with extraversion (r = 0.06; r = -0.06). Positive driving behaviors were positively associated with conscientiousness (r = 0.30), agreeableness (r = 0.32) and openness (r = 0.20) but nonsignificantly associated with extraversion (r = 0.08) and neuroticism (r = -0.10). In addition, the association between the Big Five personality traits and driving behaviors could be moderated by age, gender and type of personality measure. In conclusion, this study contributes to the literature by quantitatively synthesizing existing findings and reconciling previous debates on the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and driving behaviors. From a practical perspective, our findings provide valuable insights into driver selection and screening, policy development, and safety intervention design.

Empathy, impulsiveness, and sensation seeking as mediators between primary psychopathic traits and driving behaviors in French driving offenders

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the links between primary psychopathic traits and driving behavior on the one hand, and driving anger expression on the other hand, through the specific contribution of empathy, impulsiveness, and sensation seeking, in a sample of French driving offenders.

METHODS

One thousand six hundred and eighty-six driving offenders completed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire during 110 drivers' rehabilitation programs.

RESULTS

Primary psychopathic traits were positively associated with violations and aggressive driving anger expression, and negatively associated with prosocial driving behaviors. These associations were partially mediated by empathy, impulsiveness, and sensation seeking. In addition, the negative relation between primary psychopathic traits and adaptive anger expression was fully mediated by these three personal dispositions.

CONCLUSION

Low empathy, high impulsiveness and sensation seeking are important characteristics of driving offenders with high psychopathic traits. Our results provide a better understanding of French driving offenders' risky behaviors and the role of primary psychopathic traits.

Association between Sensation-Seeking Behaviors and Concussion-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceived Norms, and Care-Seeking Behaviors among Collegiate Student-Athletes

There are limited data connecting personality and behavioral tendencies and traits related to concussion care-seeking/disclosure behaviors and minimal research exists surrounding the relationship between risky behaviors, sensation-seeking, and concussion-related outcomes. This study examined the association between sensation-seeking and a student-athlete's concussion-related knowledge, attitudes, perceived social norms, and concussion care-seeking/disclosure behaviors (intention to disclose concussion symptoms, perceived control over symptom disclosure, self-removal from play due to concussion symptoms, continued play with concussion symptoms, and disclosure of all concussions at the time of injury). The current study utilized a retrospective cohort of collegiate student-athletes at a single National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I institution. Separate multivariable linear regression models estimating mean differences (MD) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) estimated the association between sensation-seeking and concussion knowledge, concussion attitudes, and perceived social norms. Separate multivariable binomial regression models estimating adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95%CI estimated the association between sensation-seeking and intention to disclose concussion symptoms, perceived control over symptom disclosure, self-removal from play due to concussion symptoms, continued play with concussion symptoms, and disclosure of all concussions at the time of injury. All models were adjusted for sex, sport participation, and concussion history. Higher sensation-seeking was significantly associated with less favorable concussion attitudes (adjusted MD = -1.93; 95%CI = -3.04,-0.83), less favorable perceived social norms surrounding concussion (adjusted MD = -1.39; 95%CI = -2.06,-0.72), and continuing to play while experiencing concussion symptoms (adjusted PR = 1.50; 95%CI = 1.10, 2.06). Student-athletes with increased sensation-seeking could be at risk for failing to disclose a concussion, decreasing athlete safety and resulting in less optimal care post-injury. Results will inform future theory-based concussion education programs which consider behavioral tendencies and traits as well as sport culture to promote concussion care-seeking/disclosure and individualized interventions based on risky behavior engagement.