Compliance with speed limits : an application of the theory of planned behaviour, incorporating prior behaviour and personality

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Authors
Pratt, Laura
Issue Date
2006
Degree
BA in Psychology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate drivers' compliance with speed limits by applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB; Ajzen, 1991), while incorporating prior behaviour and personality as additional predictors. It was hypoFinal Year Projected that demographics, the TPB variables, prior behaviour and personality would be significant predictors of intentions and behaviour. Accident involvement and the acquirement of penalty points were hypoFinal Year Projected to have a significant correlation with demographics, length of driving experience and personality, while also having a significant impact on intentions and future behaviour. Ninety-three students (65 female and 28 male) of DBS School of Arts volunteered to take part. The age range was 19 to 53 years. Each participant completed a questionnaire that consisted of two elements; a section of questions based on measuring the TPB variables (Elliott et aI, 2003, 2005), and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-R; Eysenck & Eysenck, 1991). A follow up questionnaire designed to measure behaviour over time was administered two weeks later with a 72% response rate. The results showed support for the application of the TPB to driving behaviour. Prior behaviour was indicated as being a strong predictor of intentions and behaviour, while personality shoed no significance. Gender and length of driving experience were significantly correlated with accident involvement, while age and personality were not. Previous accident involvement was further found to have a significant impact on intentions and behaviour. In contrast, demographics, driving experience and personality showed no significant correlation to the acquirement of penalty points, while the previous allocation of points had no significant impact on intentions or behaviour.
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