The mediating role of personality in the relationship between reaction time and traffic perception in young adults

Abstract

The objective of this research was to examine how personality acts as a mediator in the relationship between reaction time and traffic perception in young adults. Given the increase in the number of road accidents among this age group in the European Union, it is essential to understand the psychological determinants of risky driving behavior. A sample of 60 participants from Poland, Slovakia, and Lithuania was assessed using the Vienna Test System to measure personality, reaction time, time-movement anticipation, and traffic perceptions. The results indicate gender differences in self-control personality factor and motor reaction time, as well as a positive correlation between the sense of responsibility and time-movement anticipation. The proposed model was confirmed, demonstrating that mental stability mediates the relationship between reaction time and traffic perceptions. A driver with high mental stability can react faster to stimuli while accurately perceiving objects in road traffic. This study has implications for road safety policies and practices. Incorporating personality assessments into driver training programs can help develop interventions that target specific personality traits. Furthermore, interventions aimed at enhancing mental stability may help reduce the likelihood of accidents among young drivers. However, this study’s limitations, such as the small sample size and narrow age range, should be considered in future research with other age groups and additional variables that directly impact traffic safety.