Driver profiles based on values and traffic safety climate and their relationships with driver behaviors

Abstract

Drivers have an important place in the traffic system when the human factor is taken into consideration. Drivers from different cultures are exposed to different values, norms, and traffic systems, and these differences may form various driver behaviors. Thus, traffic climate and individual values can impact driver behaviors. In this study, the relationships between Schwartz's individual values and traffic climate dimensions were examined. Clusters were then created from the traffic climate dimensions and individual values, and the differences in driver behavior within these clusters were investigated. In order to examine similarities and differences between countries, the results from 5 countries (Estonia, Greece, Kosovo, Russia, and Turkey)are presented. Correlational analyses indicated that, while internal requirements and self-transcendence are positively related in all countries, external affective demands and conservation are positively related in Estonia, Kosovo, Russia, and Turkey. Additionally, external affective demands and self-transcendence are positively related in Greece, Kosovo, Russia, and Turkey. A three-cluster structure fitted the data well in all of the five countries. Within-country differences were observed in clusters of Russian and Turkish data in terms of driver behaviors. The detailed results are presented and discussed in relation to the literature.