Risky and anxious-aggressive drivers: A key barrier to traffic safety legislation in Germany

Traffic safety is high on the agenda of European governments. Yet, countries including Germany maintain policies that are commonly identified as increasing traffic risks, such speed limits set too or trends greater car motorization and mass. To better understand some interrelationships driver characteristics segments, this paper identifies different groups drivers, based a representative sample German automobilists (n = 1211). Psychological instruments used to identify segments include Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ), Multidimensional Driving Style Inventory (MDSI), HEXACO Personality Inventory. Based k-means clustering, we four distinct groups: Risky Showy anxious-aggressive Anxious drivers Calm drivers. Questions focused socio-demographics, political orientation, laws describe these psychographic segments. Findings suggest represent threat than other for reasons: they drive more powerful larger cars, deliberately violate – creating unsafe conditions others –, oppose legislation making safer, while also voting parties holding status quo. As their choices appear dominated by automobile interests, there widespread implications society.