Driving in sync? Applying the Normative Conflict Model to driver behavior

Aggressive driving is a known risk to road safety and can arise when friction occurs between how drivers perceive and respond to different road behaviors. The Normative Conflict Model (NCM) suggests group identity and normative conflict influences whether group members obey/challenge expected behaviors. NCM outcomes (represented by high or low group identity and normative conflict, respectively) may be beneficial for explaining driver behavior (group members) on the road network, and whether expected behaviors (e.g., following road rules) are obeyed/challenged.

The relationships between NCM outcomes and driving behaviors (aggressive and positive driving), as well as individual (antisocial traits) and environmental (perceived traffic climate) factors were explored in a survey (n = 391).

MANOVAs revealed drivers with low normative conflict and high group identity more frequently engaged in positive driving, less frequently in aggressive driving, and scored higher on perceived functionality of their traffic climate compared to other NCM outcomes. Drivers with high normative conflict and high group identity more frequently engaged in aggressive driving, scored higher on antisocial traits (only Machiavellianism and narcissism) and perceived external affective demands of their traffic climate compared to other NCM outcomes. Correlations identified group identity had positive relationships with positive driving but negative relationships with antisocial traits, negative perceptions of traffic climate, and aggressive driving. Normative conflict had inverse relationships with these variables. The SEM indicated antisocial traits and perceived traffic climate indirectly predicted driving behaviors via the effects they had on norm-identity alignment.

The NCM provided understanding into driving behavior, including insights into why drivers may follow and/or deviate from road rules and the potential contribution of individual and environmental influences on NCM constructs.

Positive driving could be promoted by reducing normative conflict through the transparent communication of road rule rationales or by encouraging positive social norms.