Predicting motor vehicle crash involvement from a personality measure and a driving knowledge test

2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. Typically, safety-related driver education programs are aimed at changing knowledge of vehicle operation rules and regulations. However, vehicle crashes are as likcly to be rclated to driver personality variables as they are to the knowledge of vehicle operation and rules and regulations. In a study with 48 licensed drivers, crashes were found to be significantly correlated with conscientiousness, a five-factor model personality dimension, but not with scores on a driving knowledge test. It would appear that prevention efforts should also be directed at changing conscientiousness-related behaviors, including an emphasis on goal-setting, and following rules and regulations.

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