Research highlights ▶ Male and teen drivers reported more risky driving than female and adult drivers. ▶ Positive affect and perceived risk mediated the age and gender effects. ▶ Positive affect predicted risky driving more strongly for teen than adult drivers. ▶ Positive affect also predicted risky driving more strongly for male than female drivers. ▶ Future research should investigate how to reduce positive affect toward driving.
Abstract A phone survey of 504 teen (age 16–20) and 409 adult (age 25–45) drivers in the US state of Alabama was conducted to examine the relationships among risk perception, positive affect and risky driving. Male drivers reported engaging in risky driving behaviors more frequently than female drivers and teen drivers reported engaging in risky driving behaviors more frequently than adult drivers. Positive affect (liking for risky driving behaviors) and perceived risk mediated the relationships of age and gender with risky driving. Affect and risk perception were independent predictors of risky driving behavior. Interactions of positive affect and perceived risk with gender and age showed that positive affect more strongly predicted risky driving for teen and male drivers than for adult and female drivers. These findings are interpreted in the context of dual process models of behavioral decision making. Future research into interventions designed to moderate the positive affect surrounding driving may have promise for reducing risky driving behavior.
Age and gender differences in risky driving: The roles of positive affect and risk perception
Accident Analysis and Prevention ; 43 , 3 ; 923-931
2010-11-24
9 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Age and gender differences in risky driving: The roles of positive affect and risk perception
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