Modeling Driver’s Hazard Perception using Driver's Personality Characteristics

Increasing vehicle popularity and, in the meantime, traffic accidents, is one of the most important death factors these days. Many policies have been implemented to decrease accident injuries and damages, and to increase safety. Between three effective factors in accidents, including human, vehicle, and road, human factor is known as the most important one. Human behavior during driving is derived from personality characteristics which cognition of them can lead to determine their effects. The ability to detect hazardous situations on roads is mentioned as “driver hazard perception” which can cause more caution and, consequently, less accidents. In previous studies to investigate the hazard perception according to their cognitive properties drivers, usually descriptive statistics were used. But in this study, for the first time assuming that there is a relationship between personality characteristics and people’s hazard perception, the relationship is surveyed. In this way, 380 persons, having driving license, are surveyed using five factor personality features questionnaire (NEO), Trail making test in order to measure attention and concentration, and hazard perception tests for the first time. The obtained information from questionnaire and tests is analyzed using STATA. Then, linear regression model, including hazard perception parameter (as dependent variable) and personality characteristics, attention, and concentration parameters (as independent variables), is presented. In linear regression model, coefficient of determination is equal to 0.704 and p-value of some Coefficients are in significant intervals. These show that chosen independent variables explain and predict driver's hazard perception in an acceptable level. Also results show that personality characteristics like: Expectation, Fear of the future, extraversion, flexibility, conscientiousness, attention and concentration have meaningful relations and can be used for driver hazard perception prediction. An important application of this research to add psychology factors and hazard perception test in the process of certification driving test.