The role of values in road safety culture: Examining the relationship between valuation of freedom to take risk and accident risk among motorcycle riders and car drivers

Nævestad, Tor‐Olav; Laiou, Alexandra; Yannis, George · 2022 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.55329/ggnj7534

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

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Summary

This study investigates the role of individual freedom values in road safety culture, specifically examining how the valuation of freedom to take risk correlates with accident risk among motorcycle riders and car drivers. The research is motivated by the tension between paternalistic safety measures and individual liberty, which varies across cultures and influences road safety outcomes. The authors compare Norway, which has Europe’s lowest road mortality rate, with Greece, which has a significantly higher rate, to determine if cultural differences in valuing freedom explain these disparities. Additionally, the study explores whether motorcycle riders, who face higher accident risks than car drivers, place a higher value on freedom to take risk. The researchers analyzed survey data from 882 car drivers and 330 motorcycle riders from Norway and Greece. The survey measured attitudes toward individual freedom to take risk, descriptive norms (perceptions of others’ behaviors), risky driving/riding behaviors, and accident involvement over the previous two years. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA and regression models, were used to test hypotheses regarding national and vehicle-type differences in values and their relationship to risky behaviors and accidents. Contrary to the hypothesis that Greek road users would value freedom to take risk more than Norwegians, the study found no statistically significant difference between the two countries. However, motorcycle riders in both nations significantly valued freedom to take risk more than car drivers, supporting the hypothesis that transport mode is a stronger determinant of these values than nationality. Regression analyses revealed that higher valuation of freedom to take risk, along with perceived descriptive norms of risky behavior, significantly predicted higher engagement in risky driving and riding. Furthermore, demographic factors such as male gender, younger age, and lower education levels were associated with higher valuations of freedom and riskier behaviors. The study also found that perceiving authorities as prioritizing road safety negatively correlated with valuing freedom to take risk. The findings indicate that values focusing on freedom to take risk play a crucial role in road safety culture by legitimizing and motivating risky behaviors. Since motorcycle riders consistently value this freedom more than car drivers, this cultural factor helps explain their higher accident risk, which is six times greater in Norway. The results suggest that interventions aimed at improving road safety, particularly for motorcycle riders, should address underlying values and attitudes toward risk and freedom rather than relying solely on regulatory measures. The study highlights the importance of considering cultural and vehicle-specific values in understanding and mitigating road safety risks.

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Topics

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• cultural cross national
• risk taking
• traffic safety culture
• motorcyclist skill