How Consistently We Behave as Pedestrians or as Drivers: Do Traffic Accidents or Driving Experience Influence Our Behavior?

The current study aims to investigate the relationship between the reported pedestrian and driver behavior as well as whether this behavior differs regarding certain traffic related factors. A total number of 295 drivers (168 male and 127 female) with a mean age of 31.58 years completed the demographic information form, Pedestrian Behavior Scale, Driver Behavior Questionnaire and Positive Driver Behavior Scale. The results show that aberrant pedestrian behavior is positively related to aberrant driver behavior and positive pedestrian behavior is positively related to positive driver behavior. In addition, it is found that individuals with accident experience report to violate rules as both driver and pedestrian and to perform more aggressively as pedestrians compared to those without accident experience. Finally, drivers who drove daily reported less violation of rules as pedestrians and performed fewer lapses than either drivers who drove less or those who never drove. As for driver errors, they reported making less errors than either drivers who drove less or those who never drove. The results and the limitations of this study are discussed.