Examining Drivers’ red- and Yellow-Light running behaviors: An extended theory of planned behavior approach

Abstract

The prevalence of red-light running (RLR) among drivers in Iran is notably high. To mitigate RLR violations and alleviate the anxiety of stopping behind traffic lights, traffic authorities implemented various types of systems to display the remaining traffic light time, such as hourglass, tally, and countdown timers. This study applies and extends the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to describe the drivers’ yellow light running (YLR) and RLR intentions at intersections equipped with various timers. Furthermore, this research identifies whether extended TPB framework explains drivers’ RLR/YLR intentions with and without prior violations. A total of 680 questionnaires were collected, including 280 for RLR and 400 YLR. While drivers did not deny the benefits of RLR/YLR and the social pressure to engage in these behaviors, their intentions were highly influenced by the facilitating conditions, descriptive norms, and conformity tendency. These findings suggest that drivers crossed the intersection because they observed others doing so, wanted to emulate such behavior, and found external conditions favorable for crossing. Drivers perceived a lack of personal control over the negative consequences and legal responsibilities associated with passing intentions. Multi-group analysis revealed significant differences between almost all the psychological variables of red- and yellow-light runners. However, no meaningful differences were observed based on the type of timer faced by drivers or the frequency of prior violations. These findings can guide the development of strategies to encourage compliance with red/yellow signals through targeted (re)training courses or safety awareness campaigns.