Driver Behavior Questionnaire-Based Study in Malaysia: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis Approach

Abstract

Road safety is still one of the major concerns worldwide, with driving behavior being one of the important factors in the outcome of any road accident. This paper presents a study on driver behaviors and their classification as violations, errors, and lapses in relation to road safety in the Malaysian context, where special cultural and infrastructural challenges are different. This study used a quantitative approach by using the technique of Structural Equation Modeling and used data from 301 participants through an adapted Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ). The confirmatory analyses of reliability and validity assured the DBQ was robust, hence all Cronbach's Alpha values were above 0.8 for the various constructs. EFA suggested that factor loadings are high (>0.6), meaning each item represents its construct. Good fit indices such as an RMSEA less than 0.071 and incremental fit measures greater than 0.90 showed the good fit between the theoretical framework and the observed data. The results indicate that safety interventions on both aggressive and passive driving styles are very vital in road safety improvement. The risk factors identified that were important include violations-like speeding and distraction while driving, errors related to misjudgment and lapses due to temporary inattention. Though the structural link between lapses and errors showed a statistically insignificant path, all other structural relationships established indicated cultural interventions on unsafe acts. Therefore, for improved predictive accuracy in the DBQ, the advanced technologies of telematics and dashboard cameras should be combined with self-reported data. The present study therefore provides worthwhile insights into the driver's behavioral attributes in Malaysia, with several actionable strategies that policymakers may consider in efforts toward the reduction of traffic accidents in light of the global road safety goals.