Exploring risky driving behavior and its underlying factors: a qualitative study in Iran.

Abstract

Background: Risky driving behavior (RDB), a major contributor to road traffic injuries, is a complex issue with multiple dimensions. This study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of drivers who engaged in risky driving behaviors in Shiraz, Iran.

Methods: In 2023, we conducted a qualitative study in Shiraz, Iran, with 35 drivers whose licenses were revoked for traffic violations. Through semi-structured interviews, we examined specific instances of high-risk behaviors, prompting drivers to recall the factors that led to their actions. Additionally, the questions explored the impact of various determinants of risky driving, drawing on participants' personal experiences. The data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.

Results: The findings revealed that various factors, ranging from individual to structural, contribute to the formation of RDB. We identified four themes: job conditions, personal traits, socio-cultural factors, and infrastructural factors. Economic pressures and employer-imposed time constraints contributed to risky driving, while impulsivity and thrill-seeking tendencies played a role at the individual level. Social norms, peer influence, and perceptions of arbitrary law enforcement were the sociocultural risk factors, and poor quality roads and inadequate traffic monitoring were infrastructural factors that contributed to reckless driving.

Conclusions: This research underscores the interplay of economic challenges, job-related pressures, social dynamics, and personal characteristics in shaping RDB. Additionally, it sheds light on previously underexplored aspects which have implications for policy, traffic authorities, and driver training programs aimed at enhancing road safety in Iran.