Personality traits as predictors of driver behaviour: a comprehensive profiling study of Portuguese drivers

Joana Félix Dourado; Sara Ferreira; Ana Telma Pereira; Ana Bastos Silva; Álvaro da Maia Seco

doi:10.55329/chby5534

Authors

Joana Félix Dourado University of Coimbra, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6344-8078
Sara Ferreira University of Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7469-3186
Ana Telma Pereira University of Coimbra, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9980-441X
Ana Bastos Silva University of Coimbra, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8696-5705
Álvaro da Maia Seco University of Coimbra, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55329/chby5534

Keywords:

cluster analysis, driver behaviour, Driver Behaviour Profile (DBP), Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ), personality, regression analysis, Southern Europe

Abstract

Human factors substantially contribute to road crashes. However, assessing their effects is complex due to the influence of individual characteristics such as personality. Therefore, studies examining the relationship between personality traits and driving behaviour are essential. This study aimed to construct driver behaviour profiles based on these relationships within a large sample of Portuguese drivers. A community sample of 747 licensed drivers, aged under 75 and with at least three years of driving experience, completed an online survey. Instruments included the NEO-Five Factor Inventory-20, the Impulsivity and Sensation Seeking Scale, and the 24-item Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ). Firstly, multiple linear regressions were conducted considering the three driving behaviour dimensions of the DBQ to support the construction of the profiles. Results indicated that neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, impulsivity, and sensation seeking predicted infractions and aggressive driving. Neuroticism, conscientiousness, and impulsivity predicted non-intentional errors, while neuroticism, openness, conscientiousness, and impulsivity were associated with lapses. Even after controlling for age and gender, personality traits remained significant predictors. Secondly, four driver behaviour profiles were constructed using two alternative methodologies: an empirical approach and cluster analysis with k-means. Profiles built using the empirical approach resulted in four groups of drivers characterised by more easily identifiable driving behaviours: prudent, regular, distracted/forgetful, and aggressive drivers. The distracted/forgetful group showed a positive relationship to crash involvement. Overall, the study shows that the complex driver behaviour needs to be carefully grouped.

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Author Biographies

Joana Félix Dourado, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Joana Félix Dourado is a researcher with a Master's degree in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra and is currently a PhD candidate in Transport Systems at the university's Department of Civil Engineering. Her main research interests include road safety, transportation planning, mobility, and traffic engineering, particularly the study of driver behaviour, risk factors, and urban mobility systems.

CRediT contribution: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

Sara Ferreira, University of Porto, Portugal

Sara Ferreira is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) and an integrated member of CITTA- Institute of R&D in Territory and Transport Planning. Sara has a Degree in Civil Engineering from FEUP (1998), Master in Roads from FEUP (2003) and PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Porto (2010). Main research interests/skills are transport systems, road safety, transport data modelling, human factor on road safety, human-machine interaction, autonomous and automated vehicles.

CRediT contribution: Formal analysis, Methodology, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

Ana Telma Pereira, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Ana Telma Pereira is a Psychologist with certified expertise in Clinical and Health Psychology and Psychotherapy. She holds a Master in Psychological Assessment (2005) from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra (UC) and PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Faculty of Medicine (FMUC). She is a tenured Principal Investigator at the FMUC and a member of the CIBIT – Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research,collaborating in the area of Clinical Neuroscience. Her research focuses on the role of personality—particularly perfectionism—in emotional regulation and psychological distress, with an emphasis on women’s mental health, affective (including perinatal) disorders, eating disorders, and other OC spectrum disorders.

CRediT contribution: Formal analysis, Methodology, Supervision.

Ana Bastos Silva, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Ana Bastos Silva has been an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, since 2004. She holds a Degree, Master's and PhD in Civil Engineering, specialising in urban engineering, design, planning and transport. Her research focuses on geometric design consistency, traffic modelling, calibration of microscopic simulation models, and performance analysis of urban intersections. She also studies capacity, safety and emissions at roundabouts and turbo-roundabouts, as well as driver behaviour and behavioural parameters at road intersections.

CRediT contribution: Supervision.

Álvaro da Maia Seco, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Álvaro da Maia Seco is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, recently retired. He holds a Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Coimbra, a Master's in Building Construction from the University of Porto, and a PhD in Transport Engineering from the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds, UK. His main research interests are traffic engineering, road traffic management, and transportation systems, with particular emphasis on urban mobility and transport infrastructure.

CRediT contribution: Supervision.

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