Determinants of Risky Driving Behavior: Insights from Self-reported Experiences in Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) pose a significant public health problem. Multiple factors contribute to RTAs and can be categorized into four main groups: roads, vehicles, human factors, and the environment. A key human factor is risky driving behavior (RDB). Objectives: This study aimed to identify a broad range of factors that may influence driver behavior and examine their associations with RDB. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran. A comprehensive set of factors was identified through a literature review and expert input. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using self-reported measures. Personality traits and RDB were assessed using two standardized questionnaires. Participants also provided information on vehicle features, road conditions, and demographic characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression, preceded by cluster analysis, was performed to identify significant associations. Results: The results indicated that higher neuroticism was associated with increased RDB (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.44; 95% CI: 1.57 - 7.51; P = 0.002), whereas openness to experience was negatively associated with RDB (AOR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.17 - 0.78; P = 0.010). Normlessness, sensation seeking, and driving while tired were associated with increased risky driving. Encounters with traffic cameras alone (AOR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.05 - 0.64; P = 0.008) or with both cameras and police officers (AOR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.07 - 0.85; P = 0.027) were associated with reduced risky driving, compared with encounters with police officers alone. Rural roads were associated with a lower risk of RDB than urban roads (AOR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.07 - 0.52; P = 0.001). Other road features, vehicle comfort, and vehicle safety were not significantly associated with RDB. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of internal factors, such as personality traits and fatigue, as well as law enforcement encounters, in influencing RDB. By identifying key priorities, these findings provide valuable insights into developing targeted interventions to address risky driving behavior.