Further validation of the propensity for angry driving scale in British drivers

This study was conducted to examine the validity of the Propensity for Angry Driving Scale (PADS; DePasquale, Geller, Clarke, & Littleton, 2001), using a sample of 245 British drivers, and to determine whether any relationships exist between PADS score and other self-report measures of driving specific behaviours. The PADS measured respondents' (non)aggressive reactions to hypothetical driving situations using their endorsement of response items that differed in severity. The factor structure of the PADS was substantially replicated with minor item reductions reflecting the idiosyncrasies of UK driving. Consistent with previous findings (DePasquale et al., 2001), PADS score correlated positively with self-reported frequency of involvement in aggressive acts, such as gesturing and verbal abuse, during the previous 12 month's driving. A number of relationships between PADS score and other driving behaviours were also found, suggesting a link between aggression and driving violations; specifically, aggressive drivers were more likely to report committing driving violations than non-aggressive drivers. There was also a tendency for aggression and violations to be associated with anger arising from incidences of impeded progress. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.