Is There a Connection Between Car Accidents, Near Accidents, and Type A Drivers?

Abstract

The authors examined Type A behavior pattern, which has been investigated primarily as a risk factor for coronary heart disease, as a risk factor for car accidents and near accidents. Type A behavior pattern, which is characterized by excessive impatience, competitiveness, hostility, and time pressure, was assessed by means of the Videotaped Structured Interview. One hundred thirty-five Swedish car drivers (66 men and 69 women) were studied: 78 Type A and 58 Type B (that is, not having Type A behavior). Time pressure was significantly associated with near accidents when age, sex, annual mileage, and urban driving were controlled in a multivariate model.

Index Terms:

• time pressure
• traffic accidents
• Type A behavior

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lena Karlberg

Drs Karlberg and Undén are with the Research Centre of General Medicine at Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, Dr Elofsson is an associate professor at the Institution for Social Work at Stockholm University, and Dr Krakau is an associate professor with the Research Centre of General Medicine.