The Role of Personality in Predicting the Effect of a Road-Safety Education Program on the Decrease of Reported Violations

This paper examines the roles of a road safety intervention and three personality traits in predicting drivers' self-reported aberrant behaviours. Ninety-nine individuals recruited during their driver licence attendance are randomized in the experimental or control group. The intervention aimed at modifies knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Six months later participants received the Manchester Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) designed to assess the differentiation between deliberate deviations from safe driving practices and mistakes due to misjudgements or lapses in attention. Compared with control group, participants in the intervention group reported significantly higher scores in learning questionnaire. Statistical analysis on DBQ data showed participants in the experimental condition reporting significantly lower errors and violations compared to controls. No personality trait predicted risky driving and no interactive effect emerged in measures of self-reported driving violations. Practical implications of the study are development of relevant instruments to establish effective components of educational program in order to perform a road safety education.