Impulsivity and self-regulation: A dual-process model of risky driving in young drivers in Iran

Memarian, Mohammaderfan; Lazuras, Lambros; Rowe, Richard; Karimipour, Mohammad · 2023 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2023.107055

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Summary

This study investigates the cross-cultural applicability of the dual-process model of risky driving, specifically testing its validity among young drivers in Iran. The research addresses the high rate of road traffic collisions in lower-middle-income countries like Iran, where mortality rates significantly exceed those in high-income nations. The dual-process model posits that regulatory (System 2) processes mediate the relationship between impulsive (System 1) traits and aberrant driving behaviors. While previously validated in Western contexts, the authors sought to determine if this framework holds in an Eastern cultural context, where regulatory mechanisms and attitudes toward risk may differ. The study aims to clarify how specific cognitive and self-regulatory capacities influence the link between impulsivity and distinct types of risky driving: errors (unintentional failures) and violations (deliberate rule-breaking). The researchers employed a cross-sectional survey design with 458 Iranian drivers aged 18 to 25. After excluding participants who failed attention checks, the final sample consisted of 424 individuals. Data were collected via an online survey measuring System 1 processes (impulsivity, sensation-seeking, normlessness) and System 2 processes (emotion regulation, trait self-regulation, executive functions, reflective functioning, driving self-regulation, and attitudes toward driving safety). Risky driving behaviors were assessed using the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire, which was adapted and factor-analyzed for the Iranian context to distinguish between driving errors and violations. The analysis utilized hierarchical regression and mediation models, controlling for gender, age, and driving experience, to test whether regulatory processes mediated the effects of impulsive traits on driving outcomes. The results confirmed the validity of the dual-process model in this population. Executive functions and driving self-regulation mediated the effect of attention impulsivity on driving errors. Similarly, executive functions, reflective functioning, and driving self-regulation mediated the relationship between motor impulsivity and driving errors. For driving violations, attitudes toward driving safety significantly mediated the relationships between both normlessness and sensation-seeking and the likelihood of committing violations. These findings indicate that cognitive and self-regulatory capacities play a crucial mediating role in connecting impulsive tendencies to specific risky driving behaviors. Driving errors were primarily linked to deficits in executive and reflective functioning, while violations were associated with negative attitudes toward safety and normlessness. The study demonstrates that the dual-process model of risky driving is generalizable to Iranian young drivers, supporting the theory that regulatory processes mitigate the impact of impulsive traits on driving behavior. The distinction between the mediators for errors versus violations suggests that interventions should be tailored to the specific psychological origins of these behaviors. Enhancing executive functions and driving-specific self-regulation may reduce unintentional errors, while fostering positive safety attitudes may curb deliberate violations. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for developing targeted educational programs and policy interventions in high-risk regions, emphasizing the importance of cultural context in understanding and preventing road traffic crashes.

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Topics

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• risk taking
• sensation seeking
• cultural cross national
• novice drivers
• sex gender
• human error taxonomy

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: behavioral performance data
• Theoretical Contribution: theory or model, computational model