Assessing Risk Perception over Recidivist Traffic Offenders from a Multi-group Approach: How Gendered Could It Be?

Abstract

Objective: The core aim of this study was to examine the predictive role of demographic, psychosocial and driving features of Spanish drivers on their risk perception over recidivist traffic offenders, focusing on genderas a key differentiating factor. Method: For this cross-sectional study, it was analyzed the data gathered from anationwide sample of 1,711 licensed drivers from the 17 regions of Spain (49% females, 51% males) with a meanage of 40.07 years, responding to a telephone-based interview on road safety issues. Demographic, drivingrelatedand psychosocial factors were comparatively analyzed through robust tests and a bias-corrected MGSEM(Multi-Group Structural Equation Modeling) approach. Results: The findings of this study indicate that drivers’age, driving exposure, traffic law knowledge, their assessment of both enforcement and reeducation, and thenumber of traffic fines they have received, explain the risk perceived in recidivist traffic offenders. Secondly, andin regard to structural differences, three study variables, i.e., driving exposure, need for enforcement and trafficlaw knowledge, have shown to exert a differential influence on risk perception according to drivers’ gender.Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that both psychosocial and driving-related features differentiallypredict drivers’ risk perception over recidivist traffic offenders between male and female drivers. This researchsupports the need of fostering the emphasis on gender, in order to strengthen driving education, re-education,and training processes aimed at facing and preventing recidivism in the field of traffic and mobility