What is the relationship between self-reported aberrant driving behaviors, mindfulness, and self-reported crashes and infringements?
Sjaan Koppel, Amanda N Stephens, Kristie L Young, Phuong Hua, Richard Chambers, Craig Hassed
Traffic injury prevention July 4, 2018 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2018.1440083 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional survey using structural equation modeling Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 318 |
| Population | Adults (mean age 46.0 years, SD 13.7; 81.8% female) who completed an online survey about driving behavior and mindfulness |
| Duration | Self-reported crashes and infringements during the past 2 years |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Aberrant driving behaviors Crashes Infringements Road safety |
| Key findings | Mindfulness was negatively related to each self-reported aberrant driving behavior, with the strongest associations for lapses (-0.58) and errors (-0.46). Participants who practiced mindfulness meditation reported significantly fewer crashes in the past two years (9.3% vs. 18.8%) and fewer driving violations and errors than those who did not. The authors note that more research is needed to determine whether meditation leads to safer driving or whether practitioners differ in other safety-related traits. |
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between self-reported aberrant driving behaviors, mindfulness, and self-reported crashes and infringements. Three hundred and eighteen participants (M = 46.0 years, SD = 13.7 years; female: 81.8%) completed an online survey that assessed aberrant driving behaviors, mindfulness (including regular mindfulness meditation [MM]), and self-reported crashes and infringements during the past 2 years. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the relationship between self-reported aberrant driving behaviors and mindfulness simultaneously, as well as with participants' age and estimated kilometers driven over the past year. The results of the SEM showed that mindfulness was negatively related to each self-reported aberrant driving behavior, 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 2 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 < .05; violations: M = 6.66 [SD = 3.44] vs. M = 7.68 [SD = 4.53], P < .05; errors: M = 5.17 [SD = 3.44] vs. M = 6.19 [SD = 4.12], P < .05). 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 behaviors that are linked to improved safety.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- The mindful driver: A systematic review of mindfulness and safe driving behavior Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour September 25, 2026
- Mindfulness-based training to decrease stress-induced anxiety in drivers: A quasi-experimental study Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives May 18, 2026
Cites 5
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- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Complementary health practice review April 1, 2008
- The effects of a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program on stress, mindfulness self‐efficacy, and positive states of mind Stress and Health June 10, 2004