Reasoned action and irrational motives: A prediction of drivers' intention to violate traffic laws

The aim of the study was to predict drivers' intention to commit traffic violations by means of the model of reasoned action. The respondents were 359 drivers. Four scenarios, each describing 1 of 4 traffic violations, were presented to the respondents. Two situational factors, time pressure and the presence of an authority figure, were manipulated through the description of the scenarios. Attitudes toward the commission of traffic violations affect the intention to commit the violations. Sensation seeking and external locus of control are positively related to behavioral attitudes. Both aggression and anxiety are directly related to intention to commit violations. The results are discussed in regard to the influence of cognitive and noncognitive variables on driving behavior.