This paper presents a study whose aim is to predict driver's self-reporting levels of their own traffic violations and driving errors. The data used in the study was taken from the large national driver sample using a panel maintained by the Transport Research Laboratory. A total of 1656 respondents, (809 female and 847 male drivers) were used. Their ages ranged from 18-70 years. The Manchester Driver Behaviour Questionnaire was used. Drivers were asked how often they did a number of aberrant driving behaviours, and to indicate their answers on a 6 point scale from 0 (never) to 6 (nearly all the time). They were also asked how likely they were to commit these aberrant driving behaviours when they were in a) a good mood; or b) a bad mood, and to indicate whether they would feel sorry if they had done so, and whether they thought such behaviour was either likely to give offence to other drivers, or to cause an accident. The effect of passengers or the likelihood of being caught upon driving behaviour was also questioned. Behaviours ranged from serious traffic offences such as running red lights and drinking and driving, to errors of judgement such as braking too quickly or misjudging overtaking gap. The results indicate that up to 92% of the UK driving population admit to technically criminal behaviour on the roads.
Abstract