Increasing support for the relationship between road traffic violations and accident liability has led to research focusing on the motivational factors that promote these behaviours. In Study 1, a large sample of young (17-40 years) drivers were asked to complete the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ; Parker, Reason, Manstead, & Stradling, 1995). Factor analysis revealed 3 factors: errors, highway code violations, and more interpersonally aggressive violations. In Study 2, a smaller sample of drivers was recruited (17-70 years) to investigate further this distinction between different types of violation and also the role of affect in predicting behaviour. Factor analysis of a modified DBQ revealed 3 types of violation. Measures of positive affect were found to be good predictors of all 3 violation types. Discussion focuses on social psychological and applied implications. (A)
Abstract