Understanding daily car use: Driving habits, motives, attitudes, and norms across trip purposes

Ramos, Bergstad, Nässén, 2020, in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

doi:10.1016/j.trf.2019.11.013
Location Sweden
Population General
Sample size 885
Factor analysis type principal components, pre-existing scale, varimax rotation
Stepwise regression no
Removal of insignificant variables no
Reviewed by LCM and MWC

Abstract

This paper presents a classification of motives considered as relevant when selecting a mode of transport, and it examines the relative importance of driving habits, car attitudes, descriptive norms and motives for transport mode choices for commuting, shopping, leisure and child-related trips. A survey was sent by post to 3000 Swedish residents in metropolitan, semi-rural and rural areas (with a response rate of 34.6%). Through an ordinal factor analysis, three classes of motives were extracted: Perceived outcomes, Symbolic and Instrumental motives. Hierarchical proportional odds logistic regression and hierarchical linear regression models assess the relative importance of socio-demographic variables, motives, descriptive norms, car attitudes and driving habits for each kind of trip. These models indicate that the impact of socio-demographic and psychological variables varies across trip purposes. Commuting and child- related trips were primarily predicted by socio-demographic variables. Leisure and shopping trips were mostly predicted by driving habit. Driving habit was a common and strong predictor among all trip purposes. These results are evidence of the power of script-based trips to generate habitual travel behaviours across different trip purposes. Conclusions are made in the light of the usefulness of these results to practitioners and researchers who aim to foster sustainable transportation and to reduce private car use. © 2019 The Authors

Factors

Variable Pattern loading
Protection against the weather and wind (Comfort) 0.687
To travel fast (Convenience) 0.687
Comfort (Comfort) 0.698
Variable Pattern loading
Low emissions (Environmentalism) 0.798
Good for my health (Other) 0.749
Contributes to sustainable development (Environmentalism) 0.736
Silent (Comfort) 0.679
Cheap (Cost) 0.51
Personal well-being (Other) 0.543
Variable Pattern loading
It shows who I am (Social norms) 0.764
Social status (Social norms) 0.961
Variable Loading
In my neighborhood, the car is the most common means of transport (Social norms) +
Most of my friends think that it should be easier and cheaper to get around by car (Social norms) +
Most people that I know take the car to work (Social norms) +
Most people I know consider that one should not use the car unnecessarily (Social norms) -
My friends avoid using the car when it is possible to cycle or use the public transport (Social norms) -
I know many who can manage yourself without owning a car (Social norms) -
Many people I know think that it is a bit strange to not have a driving license and a car (Social norms) +
There are many people who dislike driving a car in my neighborhood (Social norms) -
Variable Loading
It feels strange to travel without a car (Comfort) +
I can drive a car without having to think (Convenience) +
It would require an effort to not use a car (Convenience) +
Using a car is part of my routine (Lifestyle) +
Using a car is something I don't need to think about (Convenience) +
I have been using a car for a long time (Lifestyle) +

Models

Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Linear regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 1631.2
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Standardized_coefficient p-value
Age 0.003 0.488
Gender (female) -0.245 0.008
City size -0.162 0.158
Income 0.069 0.669
Housing (house) 0.022 0.854
Children 0.117 0.227
Perceived outcomes -0.034 0.499
Symbolic 0.163 0.003
Instrumental 0.117 0.01
Descriptive norms 0.007 0.916
In general, what is your attitude towards the car as a mode of transportation 0.085 0.034
Driving habit 0.337 0
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Linear regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 561.11
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Standardized_coefficient p-value
Age -0.026 0.009
Gender (female) 0.12 0.507
City size -0.034 0.88
Income 0.476 0.181
Housing (house) 0.505 0.036
Perceived outcomes -0.11 0.27
Symbolic -0.009 0.939
Instrumental -0.015 0.867
Descriptive norms -0.125 0.326
In general, what is your attitude towards the car as a mode of transportation -0.026 0.726
Driving habit 0.315 0.012
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Linear regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 1665.8
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Standardized_coefficient p-value
Age -0.002 0.306
Gender (female) -0.061 0.263
City size -0.066 0.325
Income 0.063 0.511
Housing (house) 0.013 0.855
Children -0.016 0.784
Perceived outcomes -0.003 0.907
Symbolic 0.0 0.992
Instrumental 0.055 0.05
Descriptive norms 0.074 0.074
In general, what is your attitude towards the car as a mode of transportation 0.038 0.038
Driving habit 0.107 0.107
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Proportional odds logistic regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 1797.97
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Coefficient p-value
Age -0.026 0
Gender (female) -0.503 0.003
City size -0.3 0.16
Income 1.507 0
Housing (house) -0.047 0.826
Children 0.074 0.676
Perceived outcomes -0.193 0.037
Symbolic 0.123 0.236
Instrumental 0.009 0.912
Descriptive norms 0.251 0.049
In general, what is your attitude towards the car as a mode of transportation 0.039 0.586
Driving habits 0.795 0
Intercept 1/2 -2.299 0
Intercept 2/3 -1.815 0.001
Intercept 3/4 -1.412 0.011
Intercept 4/5 -0.988 0.073
Intercept 5/6 -0.571 0.299
Intercept 6/7 0.329 0.55
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Linear regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 15638.0
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Standardized_coefficient p-value
Age 0.0 0.914
Gender (female) -0.37 0
City size -0.376 0
Income 0.219 0.177
Housing (house) 0.331 0.004
Children 0.149 0.131
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Linear regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 1791.6
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Standardized_coefficient p-value
Age 0.003 0.408
Gender (female) -0.281 0.002
City size -0.242 0.033
Income 0.247 0.122
Housing (house) 0.053 0.651
Children 0.157 0.107
Perceived outcomes -0.048 0.333
Symbolic 0.25 0
Instrumental 0.185 0
Descriptive norms 0.13 0.05
In general, what is your attitude towards the car as a mode of transportation 0.128 0.001
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Linear regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 610.36
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Standardized_coefficient p-value
Age -0.027 0.004
Gender (female) 0.18 0.292
City size -0.115 0.567
Income -0.209 0.534
Housing (house) 0.637 0.006
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Linear regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 572.29
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Standardized_coefficient p-value
Age -0.024 0.016
Gender (female) 0.107 0.557
City size -0.132 0.554
Income 0.53 0.143
Housing (house) 0.56 0.022
Perceived outcomes -0.123 0.224
Symbolic 0.115 0.29
Instrumental 0.037 0.68
Descriptive norms -0.06 0.629
In general, what is your attitude towards the car as a mode of transportation 0.015 0.838
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Linear regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 1665.8
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Standardized_coefficient p-value
Age -0.004 0.066
Gender (female) -0.147 0.003
City size -0.187 0.001
Income 0.161 0.074
Housing (house) 0.175 0.006
Children 0.008 0.876
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Linear regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 1812.5
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Standardized_coefficient p-value
Age -0.003 0.181
Gender (female) -0.086 0.108
City size -0.095 0.144
Income 0.131 0.156
Housing (house) 0.066 0.335
Children 0.011 0.848
Perceived outcomes -0.011 0.707
Symbolic 0.036 0.234
Instrumental 0.052 0.054
Descriptive norms 0.091 0.018
In general, what is your attitude towards the car as a mode of transportation 0.058 0.01
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Proportional odds logistic regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 2120.75
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Coefficient p-value
Age -0.028 0
Gender (female) -0.671 0
City size -0.877 0
Income 1.587 0
Housing (house) 0.565 0.002
Children 0.235 0.147
Intercept 1/2 -1.923 0
Intercept 2/3 -1.524 0
Intercept 3/4 -1.154 0.001
Intercept 4/5 -0.83 0.016
Intercept 5/6 -0.498 0.149
Intercept 6/7 0.242 0.481
Dependent variable Trip frequencies or mode shares (unclear)
Model type Proportional odds logistic regression
Sample size 885.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC 1936.66
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Variable Coefficient p-value
Age -0.024 0
Gender (female) -0.535 0.001
City size -0.499 0.015
Income 1.699 0
Housing (house) 0.185 0.372
Children 0.262 0.129
Perceived outcomes -0.232 0.01
Symbolic 0.295 0.002
Instrumental 0.076 0.349
Descriptive norms 0.441 0
In general, what is your attitude towards the car as a mode of transportation 0.162 0.021
Intercept 1/2 -1.123 0.035
Intercept 2/3 -0.698 0.189
Intercept 3/4 -0.326 0.539
Intercept 4/5 0.054 0.918
Intercept 5/6 0.439 0.408
Intercept 6/7 1.293 0.015

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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