Predicting self-reported driving speed compliance with the bi-dimensional attitudes

Attitudes play a key role in predicting speeding behavior. This study aimed to test: a) whether the positive/negative attitudes towards speeding, and the positive/negative attitudes towards compliance with the speed limit can predict the speed limit compliance behavior; b) which of the positive and negative dimensions of the attitudes have a greater contribution; c) whether the positive/negative attitudes towards compliance with the speed limit can account for variance in the speed limit compliance behavior over and above that explained by the positive/negative attitudes towards speeding.

In  the present study conducted in September 2020 to March 2021, 202 people who drive daily in the city of Mashhad-Iran voluntarily completed self-report questionnaires measuring their driving experiences, positive and negative attitudes towards speeding and compliance with the speed limit, and past behavior of compliance with the speed limit. The data were analyzed by using multiple regression analysis and SPSS-25 software.

The positive-negative attitudes towards speeding independently accounted for a significant proportion of the variance of speed limit compliance behavior (R2= 0.32, P< 0.001), and the negative attitude towards speeding was the stronger predictor (β= 0.35, P< 0.001). The positive/negative attitudes towards compliance with the speed limit also accounted for a significant increment (3.6%, P< 0.01) to explain variance in speed limit compliance behavior.

The results provide more support for the bi-dimensional attitudes towards speeding in predicting speed limit compliance behavior. It demonstrates that the positive/negative attitudes towards compliance with the speed limit improve the prediction of the behavior independently of the positive/negative attitudes towards speeding. Also, negative attitude has a greater contribution in predicting speed limit compliance behavior.