Investigation of drivers’ behavior towards speeds using crash data and self-reported questionnaire

Abstract

Speeding is a key contributing factor in roadway crashes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and elsewhere. Understanding how drivers behave towards speed management devices (i.e., speed cameras, radars, speed limits and speed warning signs) as well as factors affecting drivers’ involvement in speed-related crashes might help in improving traffic safety. This study aims to identify and quantify the factors that affect drivers’ compliance with speed enforcement and management devices as well as drivers’ involvement in at-fault speed-related crashes in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (AD), UAE. Two different datasets were collected from the same drivers’ population in AD to provide different valuable information regarding the speeding problem. The first dataset was obtained from crashes’ reports while, the second dataset was obtained from a self-reported questionnaire survey that was carried out among a total of 442 drivers in AD. Three logistic regression models were developed to identify the significant variables that affect (1) the occurrence of speed related crash (using crashes reports data), (2) drivers’ compliance with speed limits (using questionnaire data), and (3) involvement in at-fault speed related crashes (using questionnaire data). The findings revealed that drivers’ factors (gender, age, and nationality), vehicle factor (vehicle type), roads and environment factors (weather, road type and speed limit) were the significant factors that affect the occurrence of speed-related crashes in AD. The questionnaire findings revealed that running late, low values of posted speed limits and no sufficient police enforcement were the three main reasons that make motorists drive over the speed limits. In addition, the results indicated that drivers’ characteristics (i.e., gender, education and income), drivers’ responses to speed enforcement and management devices, and drivers’ awareness about the importance of such devices in improving traffic safety were the main factors that affecting both drivers’ compliance with speed enforcement devices and drivers’ involvement in at-fault speed-related crashes. A comparison between the analysis results of traffic crashes and questionnaire datasets as well as a comparison between the findings of this study and existing literature are also provided.