Gender effects in young road users on road safety attitudes, behaviours and risk perception
In the present study, we investigated gender-related effects on road safety attitudesin 2,681 young drivers (1,458 males, 54.4%; aged 18-22) who filled out several scales assessing attitudes towards road safety issues, driving behaviour in specific hypothetical situations, accident risk perception,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2016-09-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01412/full |
| _version_ | 1818318845874536448 |
|---|---|
| author | Pierluigi Cordellieri Francesca Baralla Fabio Ferlazzo Roberto Sgalla Laura Piccardi Laura Piccardi Anna Maria Giannini |
| author_facet | Pierluigi Cordellieri Francesca Baralla Fabio Ferlazzo Roberto Sgalla Laura Piccardi Laura Piccardi Anna Maria Giannini |
| author_sort | Pierluigi Cordellieri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the present study, we investigated gender-related effects on road safety attitudesin 2,681 young drivers (1,458 males, 54.4%; aged 18-22) who filled out several scales assessing attitudes towards road safety issues, driving behaviour in specific hypothetical situations, accident risk perception, and concerns about such a risk. We focused only on young drivers to better understand the role of gender in road safety attitudes in a period of life in which risky behaviours are widespread for males and females. Indeed, there is still no agreement as to the nature of these gender differences. According to some authors, the effects of gender on being involved in a crash due to driving skills are either non-existent or largely explained by differences in alcohol consumption. In our study, we found gender differences in road safety attitudes (i.e., negative attitude toward traffic rules and risky driving; negative attitude towards drugs and alcohol and tolerance toward speeding) and in driver behaviour (i.e., errors in inattentive driving and driving violations). This result is consistent in all drivers coming from nine different European countries. Our analyses yielded an important finding concerning risk perception. The results indicate that the level of risk perception during driving is the same for males and females. However, these two groups differ in the level of concern about this risk, with males being less concerned about the risk of a road accident. This suggests that the main difference between these two groups is not strictly related to judgment of the perceived risk probability but rather to the level of concern experienced about the consequences of the risk. This difference between risk perception and worry could explain differences in the frequency of car accidents in the two groups. The present findings may provide new insights for the development of gender-based prevention programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:59:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05354890937048a3a6f24f397afba8a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:59:42Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-05354890937048a3a6f24f397afba8a42022-12-21T23:51:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782016-09-01710.3389/fpsyg.2016.01412213861Gender effects in young road users on road safety attitudes, behaviours and risk perceptionPierluigi Cordellieri0Francesca Baralla1Fabio Ferlazzo2Roberto Sgalla3Laura Piccardi4Laura Piccardi5Anna Maria Giannini6Sapienza University of RomeSapienza University of RomeSapienza University of RomeMinistry of InteriorUniversity of L'AquilaIRCCS Fondazione Santa LuciaSapienza University of RomeIn the present study, we investigated gender-related effects on road safety attitudesin 2,681 young drivers (1,458 males, 54.4%; aged 18-22) who filled out several scales assessing attitudes towards road safety issues, driving behaviour in specific hypothetical situations, accident risk perception, and concerns about such a risk. We focused only on young drivers to better understand the role of gender in road safety attitudes in a period of life in which risky behaviours are widespread for males and females. Indeed, there is still no agreement as to the nature of these gender differences. According to some authors, the effects of gender on being involved in a crash due to driving skills are either non-existent or largely explained by differences in alcohol consumption. In our study, we found gender differences in road safety attitudes (i.e., negative attitude toward traffic rules and risky driving; negative attitude towards drugs and alcohol and tolerance toward speeding) and in driver behaviour (i.e., errors in inattentive driving and driving violations). This result is consistent in all drivers coming from nine different European countries. Our analyses yielded an important finding concerning risk perception. The results indicate that the level of risk perception during driving is the same for males and females. However, these two groups differ in the level of concern about this risk, with males being less concerned about the risk of a road accident. This suggests that the main difference between these two groups is not strictly related to judgment of the perceived risk probability but rather to the level of concern experienced about the consequences of the risk. This difference between risk perception and worry could explain differences in the frequency of car accidents in the two groups. The present findings may provide new insights for the development of gender-based prevention programs.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01412/fullworryRisk Perceptionsex differencesYoung driversDriving behaviour |
| spellingShingle | Pierluigi Cordellieri Francesca Baralla Fabio Ferlazzo Roberto Sgalla Laura Piccardi Laura Piccardi Anna Maria Giannini Gender effects in young road users on road safety attitudes, behaviours and risk perception Frontiers in Psychology worry Risk Perception sex differences Young drivers Driving behaviour |
| title | Gender effects in young road users on road safety attitudes, behaviours and risk perception |
| title_full | Gender effects in young road users on road safety attitudes, behaviours and risk perception |
| title_fullStr | Gender effects in young road users on road safety attitudes, behaviours and risk perception |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender effects in young road users on road safety attitudes, behaviours and risk perception |
| title_short | Gender effects in young road users on road safety attitudes, behaviours and risk perception |
| title_sort | gender effects in young road users on road safety attitudes behaviours and risk perception |
| topic | worry Risk Perception sex differences Young drivers Driving behaviour |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01412/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pierluigicordellieri gendereffectsinyoungroadusersonroadsafetyattitudesbehavioursandriskperception AT francescabaralla gendereffectsinyoungroadusersonroadsafetyattitudesbehavioursandriskperception AT fabioferlazzo gendereffectsinyoungroadusersonroadsafetyattitudesbehavioursandriskperception AT robertosgalla gendereffectsinyoungroadusersonroadsafetyattitudesbehavioursandriskperception AT laurapiccardi gendereffectsinyoungroadusersonroadsafetyattitudesbehavioursandriskperception AT laurapiccardi gendereffectsinyoungroadusersonroadsafetyattitudesbehavioursandriskperception AT annamariagiannini gendereffectsinyoungroadusersonroadsafetyattitudesbehavioursandriskperception |