In an effort to examine the driving behaviors of military personnel, the present study surveyed 469 Marines. These military personnel were stationed in California, and over half reported recently returning from deployment overseas. The Marines were given a survey during base stand-downs that asked them to report on various previous driving behaviors, perceptions ofaggressive or risky driving actions, and perceived stress. Those participants who reported recent deployment to a fighting zone (Iraq) reported significantly higher scores on items such as being a risk taker, losing their temper while driving, and the right to retaliatory action against aggressive actions from other drivers. The results of this study indicate a needfor further examination of the driving habits of military personnel, as well as a closer exploration of risk taking behaviors of personnel recentlyreturned from combat zones.
Abstract