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Abstract
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OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between self-reported aberrant driving behaviours, mindfulness and self-reported crashes and infringements.
METHODS: Three hundred and eighteen participants (M = 46.0 years, SD = 13.7 years; Female: 81.8%) completed an online survey that assessed aberrant driving behaviours, mindfulness (including regular mindfulness meditation [MM]) and self-reported crashes and infringements across the past two years. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to examine the relationship between self-reported aberrant driving behaviours and mindfulness simultaneously, as well as with participants' age and estimated kilometres driven over the past year.
RESULTS: The results of the SEM showed that mindfulness was negatively related to each self-reported aberrant driving behaviour, with the strongest relationships being between mindfulness and driving-related lapses (-0.58) and errors (-0.46). Participants who practice MM had significantly fewer crashes in the past two years and reported significantly fewer driving-related violations and lapses compared to participants who did not practice MM (crashes: 9.3% vs. 18.8%, p<0.05; violations: M = 6.66 [SD = 3.44] vs. M = 7.68 [SD = 4.53], p<0.05; errors: M = 5.17 [SD = 3.44] vs. M = 6.19 [SD = 4.12], p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed to understand whether MM results in more mindful and attentive drivers or whether individuals who practice MM may have other traits or behaviours that are linked to improved safety.
Language: en |