Expressing Anger Is More Dangerous than Feeling Angry when Driving

Trait anger causes risky driving behavior by influencing executive function and hazard cognition

Drivers with a high level of trait anger feel more intensity of anger on road, contributing to more risky driving behavior and further increasing the probability of collisions. It seems that trait anger directly correlates with risky driving behavior, but how it works in detail remains unknown and previous research indicated executive function and hazard cognition may play a mediation role in it. Our research aims to explore the relationship among these variables and test if there is a multiple mediation model. We sampled 302 valid participants and used online questionnaires, containing trait anger scale (TAS), executive function index (EFI), hazard cognition scale (HCS; representing attitudes towards risky driving behavior), driver behavior questionnaire (DBQ), and self-reported traffic violations (e.g., accidents, penalty points, fines). Hierarchical multiple linear regression of DBQ results show trait anger is a medium but statistically significant predictor of risky driving behavior and drivers' attitude towards risky situations can significantly predict risky driving behavior at medium effect. But risky driving behavior cannot be predicted by executive function. Interestingly, opposing to prior research, zero-inflated Poisson regression analysis of self-reported traffic violations suggests trait anger negatively predicts accidents and fines in the zero-inflation model, and hazard cognition negatively predicts penalty points. Notably, the executive function negatively predicts penalty points and fines in the count model, which confirms our hypothetical direction. They all represent a small effect size in this nonlinear regression model. Path analysis suggested that trait anger influences risky driving behavior through executive function, and hazard cognition both separately and jointly. This study provides a theoretical framework for the transaction model of aggressive driving behavior and offers some possible interventions toward the effect of trait anger on risky driving behavior.

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

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this review was to identify the most influential personality predictors of speeding.

METHOD

Thus, this study analyzed the associations of Anger-Aggression and Impulsive-Sensation Seeking with Speeding. Research studies included in online databases and papers identified in previous reviews were considered for inclusion.

RESULTS

Using a random effects model, we found a small but significant effect for the relation between Anger-Aggression and Speeding (r = 0.12 [0.06-0.18],Z = 3.85,p < 0.001). We identified a significantly stronger effect for the relation between Impulsive-Sensation Seeking and Speeding, but still of low magnitude (r = 0.23 [0.16-0.29],Z = 6.54,p < 0.001). Moderator analysis revealed only one significant moderator: driver type. Namely, for professional drivers, the relation with Speeding was non-significant for both predictors (r = -0.004, p = 0.958 for Impulsive-Sensation Seeking and r = 0.02, p = 0.720 for Anger-Aggression, respectively) and significantly smaller than the associations for general population and young drivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our results confirm Speeding's associations with both hypothesized most important predictors, but at a low magnitude.

Links between observed and self-reported driving anger, observed and self-reported aggressive driving, and personality traits

Driving anger increases risk-taking in traffic and road traffic accident involvement. Herein, we examine the links between self-reported and observed driving anger, self-reported and observed aggressive driving, and personality traits. Specifically, sixty drivers drove in an anger-inducing simulated driving scenario. A video camera recorded their verbal and gestural expression during the simulator drive. Two weeks before the simulator drive, we assessed participants' basic personality traits, driving anger expression, and aberrant driving behaviour via an online survey. State anger was measured immediately before and after the simulator drive. From recorded simulator and video data, we obtained four measures: the number of accidents (simulator), an aggressive driving score (simulator), verbal expression of driving anger (video), and related gestures and headshakes (video). Verbal and gestural expression while driving were related to an increase in state anger in the simulator drive and different self-reported measures: While observed verbal expression was positively related to lapses and negatively related to constructive expression, gestural expression was positively related to both self-reported violations and self-reported aggressive expression. The traits Emotionality and Honesty-Humility were related to an increase in state anger and to verbal expression in the simulator drive, yet, age and gender modified the relation to personality traits. Results can support the development of personalised anger management interventions and anger mitigating in-vehicle devices.