Predicting aberrant driving behaviour: The role of executive function

• Poor inhibition and sustained attention related to driving errors.
• Poor inhibition related to driving violations and motor vehicle crashes.
• Poor inhibition predicted driving violations and driving errors.
• Compared to driving violations, driving errors related more strongly to crashes.
• Findings suggest that impulsivity relates to aberrant driving behaviour and crashes.

The aim of the current study was to assess the relevance of three components of executive function: working memory, sustained attention and behavioural inhibition for explaining aberrant driving behaviour, driving errors, driving violations and crashes. A total of 107 participants (M age = 30.2; 62% male) with a valid driving license participated in the study. A battery of cognitive assessments were administered, including the Wechsler Digit Span Backward task, Continuous Performance Task (CPT), Go/No-go task, and the Driving Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ). Results indicated that aberrant driving behaviour and driving errors were significantly correlated to sustained attention and behavioural inhibition. Driving violations related to behavioural inhibition. Regression indicated that behavioural inhibition significantly predicted aberrant driving behaviour, driving errors and driving violations. Gender predicted driving violations and driving errors. Number of reported crashes during the last year was related to driving errors, behavioural inhibition and driving violations. In conclusion, inhibitory control related to different aspects of driving indicating that impulsivity may underlie various aberrant driving behaviour and crashes. It is discussed that poor inhibitory control could result in aberrant driving behaviour causing conflict and leading to crashes.