A comparison of road traffic culture, risk assessment and speeding predictors between Norway and Turkey

Abstract

The present study investigated differences in road traffic culture in Norway and Turkey. Differences in non-transport accidental risk perception and risk willingness were also examined. An additional aim was to scrutinise differences in how these constructs predict speeding and rule violations in the two countries. The results are based on a questionnaire survey conducted in samples of Norwegian (n = 247) and Turkish (n = 213) road users. Culture was operationalised by an instrument of communication by symbols in road traffic and fatalistic attributions of road traffic accidents. The results showed that Turkish road users reported more fatalistic beliefs and focused more on written information and sounds in road traffic. These road users were more willing to take risks and reported greater non-transport accidental risk perception. Norwegian drivers put greater emphasis on oral and visual traffic information. Norwegians also reported more extroverted orientations in traffic. The cultural variables were found to be relatively weak predictors of speeding and rule violations in both countries, but somewhat stronger predictors in Turkey. Fatalism was the most important predictor of risky driving in Turkey, where, in contrast, a visual road traffic orientation was the strongest predictor of reduced risk behaviour in road traffic. Risk Management (2012) 14, 202-221. doi: 10.1057/rm.2012.5