Personality Predictors of Distracted Driving

Objective: Cell phone use while driving (CPUWD) is an increasingly predominant form of distracted driving. Given the widespread prevalence of CPUWD, it is important for researchers to identify who is more likely to engage in this risky behavior. Prior research has focused largely on adolescent and young adult populations, and associations with individual traits such as sensation-seeking. The current study investigates associations between CPUWD and personality dimensions. Method: An Italian community sample (n=804), completed a survey regarding CPUWD risk perceptions, and engagement in CPUWD, in addition to the HEXACO-PI-R, a broad 6-factor personality inventory (Lee & Ashton, 2004). Results: We found that the broad dimensions of Honesty-Humility and Conscientiousness, two traits related to cognitive control and risk-behaviors, and to a lesser extent Openness to Experience, were negatively associated with self-reported CPUWD, and positively associated with CPUWD risk perceptions. Conclusions: With growing public safety concern surrounding CPUWD, understanding associated personality factors is important not only for identifying those who are likely to engage in this behavior, but also for prevention and intervention programs, with the potential for implementation on an individualized leve