Development of the Pedestrian Anger Scale. A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Road Safety
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Anger is linked to risky behaviors, which contribute to road accidents.
• Understanding pedestrian anger is crucial for improving road safety.
• Existing measures may not adequately capture pedestrian-specific anger triggers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a self-report questionnaire, the Pedestrian Anger Scale (PAS).
• To assess anger experienced by pedestrians across various age groups and genders.
• To explore the relationship between pedestrian anger and risk-taking behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A 15-item Pedestrian Anger Scale (PAS) was developed and administered to 550 pedestrians (ages 14-65).
• Parallel Analysis was used to determine the factor structure of the PAS.
• Convergent, divergent, and incremental validity were assessed by correlating PAS scores with existing anger and risk measures.

Main Results:

• The PAS demonstrated a satisfactory four-factor structure: obstruction/slowdown anger, driver hostility anger, infrastructure anger, and vehicle danger anger.
• The global PAS scale exhibited good internal consistency (α = .83).
• Middle-aged pedestrians (19-30 years) reported higher anger levels than older pedestrians (>45 years); gender did not significantly impact anger scores.

Conclusions:

• The Pedestrian Anger Scale (PAS) is a valid and reliable tool for measuring pedestrian anger.
• Findings suggest age-related differences in pedestrian anger experiences.
• The PAS has practical implications for clinical interventions and road safety strategies to mitigate anger-related risks.