The influence of individual's risk perception and attitudes on travel behavior

Elias, Shiftan, 2012, in Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice

doi:10.1016/j.tra.2012.05.013
Location Bini, Israel
Population General
Sample size 342
Factor analysis type principal components, varimax rotation
Stepwise regression no
Removal of insignificant variables yes
Reviewed by LCM

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect of individuals' risk perception of being involved in road crashes, awareness of the negative environmental effects of transportation, knowledge of environmental problems, fatalistic beliefs, attitudes toward various public transport (PT) features, and beliefs on their level of intention to shift from car to public transportation and walking. It attempts to examine the potential of transport policies to improve PT systems and the pedestrian road safety level by bettering traffic arrangements on the intention to shift from car to PT and walking. The study uses an integrated approach consisting of a descriptive analysis; a factor analysis to create attitudinal factors; and an intention model that is developed, based on a stated-preference survey, with attitudinal factors among the explanatory variables, in regard to the use of public transportation for commuting. The approach, set within a theoretical framework that is also developed, is applied to a case study of Arab cities in the Galilee region of northern Israel. The results support the hypothesis that perception of the risk of being involved in road crashes positively affects sustainable travel behavior, as expressed by the level of intention to use public transport; concern for and knowledge of environmental problems, in contrast, exerts no significant effect on the intention to shift to PT. The results showed that people have a higher intention to shift to public transport for work trips than for other purposes. Improving the PT system and the pedestrian road-safety level promote the intention to shift to PT, in particular for commute trips. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Factors

Variable Pattern loading
To what extent do you have to make trips to a wide variety of locations every day? (Lifestyle) 0.81
To what extent does the nature of your work require traveling to various destinations? (Lifestyle) 0.69
To what extent is it important to be able to change your travel plans at a moment's notice? (Lifestyle) 0.65
Variable Pattern loading
To what extent must the problem of pollution in your village be dealt with? (Environmentalism) 0.83
To what extent does pollution make a problem at your village? (Environmentalism) 0.75
To what extent does traveling by your private car contribute to pollution? (Environmentalism) 0.63
Variable Pattern loading
I trust in God irrespective of any means of transport I use (Other) 0.78
To what extent do you agree with the saying "if the time of death comes one dies irrespective of any means of transport he travels with" (Other) 0.77
To have cancer is a matter of fate and divine decree (Other) 0.65
Variable Pattern loading
A long distance between home and bus stop will reduce my use of PT (Convenience) 0.75
Low frequency of PT will reduce its use (Convenience) 0.72
Travel by PT to your destination requires additional travel by bus or taxi (Convenience) 0.69
Variable Pattern loading
Pollution from cars causes lung diseases (asthma)? (Environmentalism) 0.76
Less walking more cardiac diseases (Other) 0.75
Pollution caused by cars at the village causes lung cancer (Environmentalism) 0.56
Variable Pattern loading
To what extent do you fear that children will be involved in a pedestrian road crash while walking to the shops? (Safety) 0.86
To what extent is it dangerous to let kids go on foot to school in your opinion? (Safety) 0.85
To what extent is walking on foot dangerous at the village? (Safety) 0.63
Variable Pattern loading
To what extent do you like to travel alone? (Lifestyle) 0.85
To what extent is it inconvenient to travel with strangers (Convenience) 0.81
Variable Pattern loading
To what extent are you ready to shift to another mode of transport that saves time, regardless of cost? (Convenience) 0.78
To what extent are you ready to shift to another means of transport that saves time, regardless of cost? (Convenience) nan
To what extent do you not mind walking several minutes to reach the bus station? (Convenience) nan

Models

Dependent variable Level of intention of commuter to shift from car to public transportation
Model type Binary logit
Sample size 206.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC nan
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants -283.95
Log-likelihood at convergence -228.67
Variable Standardized_coefficient p-value
Constant -2.55 0.037
Gender -0.797 0.02
Household income (much above average) -0.786 0.029
Occupation type: Laborer 0.958 0.093
Occupation type: Public sector and services 1.257 0.031
Occupation type: Work location outside of town -0.528 0.004
Age 28-37 years 0.703 0.056
Sensitivity to price 0.312 0.013
Sensitivity to privacy -0.289 0.042
Fatalism 0.337 0.042
Risk perception of involvement in pedestrian crashes 0.366 0.043

The Attitudes and Travel Database is produced with support from the Center for Teaching Old Models New Tricks at Arizona State University, a University Transportation Center sponsored by the US Department of Transportation through Grant No. 69A3551747116.

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