Cross-national traffic safety survey; Driver distraction; ESRA; Mobile phone use while driving; Socio-cognitive constructs; Theory of planned behaviour (TPB); Traffic safety culture; Cross-national; Driver distractions; Mobile phone use; Socio-cognitive construct; Sociocognitive; Theory of planned behavior; Traffic safety; Traffic safety cultures; Transportation; Engineering (all); Safety Research; Urban Studies
Abstract :
[en] This study investigates cross-national differences in Traffic Safety Culture (TSC) by examining self-reported mobile phone use while driving across 31 countries. Using data from the third edition of the E-Survey of Road Users' Attitudes (ESRA3), collected in 2023, this research explores how socio-cognitive constructs, including norms, perceived behavioural control (PBC), attitude, and intention, influence drivers' mobile phone use while driving. Linear regression models are applied at both cross-national and national levels to understand the predictive strength of these constructs. Results indicate that socio-cognitive beliefs significantly explain variations in self-reported mobile phone use while driving, accounting for 37–63 % of the observed variance. Norms emerge as the strongest predictor, followed by PBC, attitude, and intention, with substantial differences in effect size across countries. These findings underscore the role of cultural and psychological factors in shaping unsafe driving behaviours, offering insights for tailored interventions that address specific socio-cognitive aspects of high-risk drivers, which can be used to design road safety campaigns or education programs more effectively.
Disciplines :
Sociology & social sciences
Author, co-author :
Meesmann, Uta ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Urban and Environmental Engineering ; Vias institute, Brussels, Belgium
Pires, Carlos; Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Wardenier, Naomi; Vias institute, Brussels, Belgium
Cools, Mario ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > Transports et mobilité ; Hasselt University, Faculty of Business Economics, Diepenbeek, Belgium ; KULeuven Campus Brussels, Educational Centre for Mathematics, Education, Econometrics and Statistics, Brussels, Belgium
Language :
English
Title :
Exploring cross-national variations in traffic safety culture: Insights into mobile phone use and shared beliefs across 31 countries
Université Gustave Eiffel NTUA - National Technical University of Athens BASt - Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen DTU - Danmarks Tekniske Universitet TIRF - The International Research Foundation for English Language Education
Funding text :
The authors would like to thank all 28 ESRA3 partners for supporting and funding the ESRA3 data collection across 39 countries in 2023. Special thanks go to all ESRA3 steering group partners \u2013 BASt (Germany), DTU (Denmark), IATSS (Japan), University Gustave Eiffel (France), ITS (Poland), KFV (Austria), NTUA (Greece), PRP (Portugal), SWOV (the Netherlands), and TIRF (Canada) - for their contributions to the development and conduction of the ESRA3 survey, as well as to Vias institute for coordinating the ESRA3 survey and the overall ESRA initiative. ESRA is funded through the contributions of the partner organisations, either from their own resources or from sponsors. Part of the funding for Vias institute, which is coordinating the ESRA initiative, is provided by the Belgian Federal Public Service Mobility & Transport.
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