Assessing the Influence of Power Paradox on Driving Behavior and Traffic Safety in The State of Qatar.

Abstract

Aggressive driving is a significant contributor to traffic accidents. There's both anecdotal and scientific evidence suggesting that a vehicle's size and price might influence the behavior of its driver. This study examined whether larger or pricier vehicles made drivers feel more powerful than others, therefore affecting their driving behaviors. The influence of power on driving behavior has not been investigated in previous literature even though various studies have shown that driver behavior is the main reason for most traffic accidents. Using surveys and video recordings, this study compared the self-reported to the actual driving behaviors. Results revealed that luxury SUV drivers had a 130.5% higher chance of violations than regular sedan drivers, followed by luxury sedan drivers at 87.4%, with all other vehicle categories being significantly more likely than regular sedans. Interestingly, luxury and regular SUV drivers perceived themselves as less likely to commit the behaviors being studied, indicating a bias in their self-awareness due to their increased power causing them to be unable to identify their own shortcomings. Moreover, heavy drivers were extremely conservative in their self-reports while professionals and regular sedans were overly critical of themselves. These findings can guide stakeholders into which specific vehicle groups are to be focused on in future traffic safety campaigns, and also guide licensing entities into providing extra safety training for specific driver groups.