Aggression, emotional self-regulation, attentional bias, and cognitive inhibition predict risky driving behavior

The present study explored whether aggression, emotional regulation, cognitive inhibition, and attentional bias
towards emotional stimuli were related to risky driving behavior (driving errors, and driving violations). A total
of 117 applicants for taxi driver positions (89% male, M age= 36.59 years, SD =9.39, age range 24–62 years)
participated in the study. Measures included the Ahwaz Aggression Inventory, the Difficulties in emotion regulation
Questionnaire, the emotional Stroop task, the Go/No-go task, and the Driving Behavior Questionnaire.
Correlation and regression analyses showed that aggression and emotional regulation predicted risky driving
behavior. Difficulties in emotion regulation, the obstinacy and revengeful component of aggression, attentional
bias toward emotional stimuli, and cognitive inhibition predicted driving errors. Aggression was the only significant
predictive factor for driving violations. In conclusion, aggression and difficulties in regulating emotions
may exacerbate risky driving behaviors. Deficits in cognitive inhibition and attentional bias toward negative
emotional stimuli can increase driving errors. Predisposition to aggression has strong effect on making one
vulnerable to violation of traffic rules and crashes.