Road traffic safety beliefs and driver behaviors among personality subtypes of drivers in the Norwegian population.

OBJECTIVE

To identify personality clusters of drivers in a population-based sample and to examine differences in safety beliefs, driver behaviors, and demographics between these clusters.

METHODS

A mailed self-completion questionnaire survey was conducted in a random sample of Norwegian drivers obtained from the Norwegian Population Registry (n = 1731).

RESULTS

Cluster analysis reflected 4 personality subtypes of drivers. The first cluster consisted of drivers with low normlessness and sensation seeking but high anxiety. The second cluster reported elevated scores on all 3 measured traits, whereas the third cluster had low scores on all traits. The fourth cluster reported low anxiety but high normlessness and sensation seeking. People in the latter cluster reported unsafe road traffic safety beliefs and driver behaviors. These individuals were also more likely to be males and adolescents. People with low normlessness and sensation seeking coupled with high anxiety reported the safest beliefs and behaviors, and this cluster mainly contained females and older individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Countermeasures aimed to reduce the frequency of road traffic accidents should be targeted to specific personality risk groups. Personality traits may also be used in early identification and intervention among risky drivers.