Contribution of Driving Anger and Aggression in the Prediction of Driving Behavior

Traffic violations and aggression are often regarded as social phenomena with important social and economic consequences. The present study investigated the potential contribution of demographic variables, driving anger and aggression on predicting aggressive driving behavior. The sample population consisted of 168 male drivers with an age range of 19–30 years old and the average driving experience of 9 years. All participants filled out the self-reported scales that assess driving anger, aggression dimension, and driving behaviors. Based on the participants' responses to the trait-anger dimensions in Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, they were re-categorized in three driving anger categories of high-trait-anger, medium-trait-anger, and low-trait-anger. All of the participants had a driving certificate. The main results of this research indicate that: (1) for almost all variables, the effect of anger was significant; (2) anger situation had a contribution in the prediction of lapse, errors, and violations; (3) demographic variables, driving anger, and aggression were all involved in predicting driving behavior in a complementary manner; and (4) aggression was the best predictor of violations. Future research is recommended to continue to investigate the effect of various environmental, social, psychological, and personality factors on risky driving behaviors in order to identify treatment and prevention strategies for this societal concern.