Personality and attitudes as predictors of risky driving among older drivers

• This is the first study that assessed a model of attitudes, personality and risky driving among older drivers aged over 65.
• Attitudes toward safe driving mediated the effects of personality on risky driving indicators.
• Sensation seeking and hostility directly predicted lapses and errors at wheel.
• Self-reported errors and traffic violations associated with the number of issued traffic tickets and involvement in a car crash in the preceding year.

Although there are several studies on the effects of personality and attitudes on risky driving among young drivers, related research in older drivers is scarce. The present study assessed a model of personality-attitudes-risky driving in a large sample of active older drivers. A cross-sectional design was used, and structured and anonymous questionnaires were completed by 485 older Italian drivers (Mean age = 68.1, SD = 6.2, 61.2% males). The measures included personality traits, attitudes toward traffic safety, risky driving (errors, lapses, and traffic violations), and self-reported crash involvement and number of issued traffic tickets in the last 12 months. Structural equation modeling showed that personality traits predicted both directly and indirectly traffic violations, errors, and lapses. More positive attitudes toward traffic safety negatively predicted risky driving. In turn, risky driving was positively related to self-reported crash involvement and higher number of issued traffic tickets. Our findings suggest that theoretical models developed to account for risky driving of younger drivers may also apply in the older drivers, and accordingly be used to inform safe driving interventions for this age group.