Personality, dangerous driving, and involvement in accidents: Testing a contextual mediated model. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Monteiro, Renan P.; Coelho, Gabriel Lins de Holanda; Hanel, Paul H.P.; Pimentel, Carlos Eduardo; Gouveia, Valdiney V.
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 58(2018)
• Page Start: 106
• Page End: 114
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Traffic psychology -- Personality -- Psychopathy -- Sensation seeking; Automobile drivers -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Automobile driving -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 629.283019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2018.06.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8478

Abstract

Highlights: We tested the contextual mediated model of involvement in accidents. We included a range of personality traits as predictors (e.g., Big-5, Dark Triad). Risky driving was the only predictor of involvements in accidents. Psychopathy and sensation seeking had an indirect effect on involvements in accidents. Abstract: The present study tested the role of various personality traits in explaining dangerous driving and involvement in accidents, using a contextual mediated model ( N = 311). We initially found direct effects of personality traits on dangerous driving indicators (Big-5, Dark Triad, sensation seeking, aggression, and impulsivity). Subsequently, personality variables with predictive power were tested in the mediation model. Indirect effects of anger, psychopathy and sensation seeking on the history of involvement in traffic accidents were found, which was predicted directly by risky driving. The results are discussed based on the characteristics of each trait. Overall, our research replicates and extends previous findings and highlights the importance of psychological evaluations (e.g., personality test) when prospective drivers are applying for a driver license.