The Saudi Version of the Dula Dangerous Driving Index among University Student drivers

Abstract

Background: The behavior of dangerous driving is considered the main cause of increase in road
accidents. The present study aimed at (1) studying the dangerous driving indexes among university
students, (2) developing the Dula index to measure the behavior of dangerous driving of Saudi university
students, (3) identifying the significant differences of dangerous driving behaviors according to the
educational level and age, and (4) identifying the relationship between the behavior of dangerous
driving and the impulsive behavior of drivers and the driving angry expressions.
Methods: The tools of the study, which were selected in a systematic stratified way, were applied to 640
Saudi university students to check the validity of the Dula index. The tools of the study included: the
dangerous driving Dula inventory (DDDI), driver behavior questionnaire, barratt impulsiveness scale (BIS)
and driving anger expression inventory (DAEI). Results: The results of this study showed that this tool, when
associated with the barratt impulsiveness scale (BIS) and the driving anger expression inventory (DAEI),
can have adequate psychometric properties through internal consistency, persistence and honesty. The
factor analysis results concluded that the tool has three factors; namely, aggressive driving, negative
emotions and dangerous driving. In addition, the study findings pointed out that the average scores of
students dangerous driving were at a low level. There are no statistical differences in the behavior of
dangerous driving according to age and educational level.
Recommendations: The study recommends the traffic departments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to
adopt this measurement to evaluate the behaviors of dangerous driving among drivers who are intending
to obtain their driving license, especially teenagers.