Work

Emotion regulation abilities as a protective factor in the relationship between anger-inducing road events and dangerous behavior behind the wheel

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Drivers are exposed to a multitude of road events that elicit emotions, which significantly impact driving behavior. The literature has primarily highlighted the role of anger, as it is closely linked to dangerous behaviors and maladaptive driving styles. The present study aimed to determine the role of emotion regulation ability as a moderating factor between the levels of anger elicited by road events and the tendency to engage in aggressive and risky driving behaviors. The study sample consisted of 678 drivers (mean age = 36.87 years; 46.17% men), who were administered the Driving Anger Scale (DAS), the Dula Dangerous Driving Index (DDDI), and the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). First, our results revealed that higher levels of anger experienced during driving were associated with a greater likelihood of engaging in aggressive and risky behaviors, while better emotional regulation abilities reduced the tendency to perform such dangerous driving behaviors. Addressing the second and main objective of the research, we found that the propensity to drive riskily and aggressively among drivers reporting higher levels of anger was moderated by the ability to regulate emotions. Our findings suggest that drivers with greater emotion regulation abilities are less likely to engage in dangerous driving due to better management of the anger often elicited by certain road events. We also explored and controlled for the influence of socio-demographic variables, including age, gender, and driving experience. These findings underscore the importance of emotion regulation in promoting safer driving practices. Tailored interventions to enhance emotion regulation abilities could effectively reduce road accidents and improve road safety.

Source: Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2025.03.025

Authors: María Ángeles Ramos-Moreno, Pablo Fernández-Berrocal, Alberto Megías-Robles

Institution: Universidad de Málaga

Language: English

Topic: Traffic and Road Safety

Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,780