Assessing Moral Reasoning, Cognitive Distortions and Driving Style in the Context of Post-license Young Driver Coaching

As part of the Dutch post-license young driver coaching program, Drive Xperience (DX), the level of moral reasoning was explored in relation to self-reported violating driving behaviors. Drawing from literature in the field of juvenile crime, three online assessments were developed to measure: a) social driving behavior; b) moral justification for rule compliance, and: c) cognitive distortions in relation to socially undesirable driving behavior. The assessments were administered between fall 2014 and fall 2016 to1660 participants in the DXprogram. The results show that immature levels of moral reasoning and prevalence of cognitive distortions are strongly associated with self-reported speed choice, space competition and traffic law violations.