Same Risk But Different Attribution: Locus of Control Moderates the Relationship Between Risk Perception and Driver Behaviors

Understanding the psychological mechanisms behind driver behaviors is critical to road safety. Drivers’ level of perceived risk and attribution of road traffic crashes may affect such behaviors. The current study investigated the role of traffic locus of control on the relationship between risk perception and driver behaviors and speed preferences. The sample consisted of 334 drivers (age M = 26.47, SD = 7.01). Moderation analysis showed significant moderating effects of all four dimensions of traffic locus of control on errors (i.e., self, others, vehicle and environment, and fate), all three dimensions of external traffic locus of control (i.e., others, vehicle and environment, and fate) on ordinary violations, and self and other drivers on intercity speed preference. The highest number of ordinary violations was reported for drivers with average and low levels of external traffic locus of control focus when their risk perception was also low. The results provide evidence for the interaction effects between risk perception and locus of control while determining driver behaviors. The findings are discussed in light of the related literature.