Behind the Wheel and Beyond Time: The Relationship between Time Perspectives and Speeding in Türkiye and Belgium

Abstract

Background: Road traffic crashes remain a significant problem worldwide, causing millions of injuries and deaths each year (WHO, 2023). Speeding is a significant contributing factor to traffic crashes worldwide, influenced by diverse psychological and cultural factors (Qaid et al., 2022). The previous research suggests that time perspective plays a significant role in shaping driver behaviours (Măirean, & Diaconu-Gherasim, 2021; Tekeş, Özdemir & Özkan, 2020). However, there is limited understanding regarding the role of time perspective in specific behaviours, such as speeding, particularly in cross-cultural contexts. Thus, the objective of the present study is to examine the relationships between time perspectives (past-positive, past-negative, present-fatalist, present-hedonistic, and future) and self-reported speeding among Turkish and Flemish drivers. Furthermore, moderation analyses will be conducted to examine how these relationships differ in Türkiye and Belgium to provide a deeper understanding of the psychological and cultural factors behind speeding, which may help to develop more effective interventions to reduce traffic crashes. Methods: A total of 483 participants from Türkiye (M = 33.30; SD = 9.60) and 299 participants from Belgium (M = 29.78; SD = 12.43) filled out an online questionnaire comprising the Demographic Information Form, Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999) and three-item Driving Style Questionnaire (DSQ) Speed Scale (French et al., 1993) which measures how often participants exceed motorway speed limits, drive fast in general, and exceed speed limits in built-up areas. Participants were recruited via social media channels and university emails using snowball and convenience sampling methods. After cleaning the data, descriptive statistics and bivariate correlation analyses were performed for both countries. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between time perspectives and speeding. Lastly, moderation analyses were conducted to assess cross-country differences in variables of interest using the PROCESS macro for SPSS v29 (Hayes, 2022). Results: Correlation analyses showed that speeding was positively related to the present-hedonistic time perspective and negatively related to age and future time perspective for Turkish drivers. Speeding was positively associated with the present-hedonistic time perspective for Flemish drivers. Males reported higher speeding in both countries. The regression analyses showed that the present-hedonistic perspective was the strongest predictor of speeding for both countries while the future time perspective was the negative predictor of speeding, but its effect was more pronounced in Türkiye. Moderation analyses were conducted to examine the moderating effect of the country on the relationship between time perspectives and self-reported speeding behaviour, after controlling for age and gender. Among the results, the interaction between time perspective and country on speeding was significant only for future time perspective. According to the moderation analyses, results showed a significant negative relationship between future time perspective and speeding for Türkiye, whereas this interaction was not significant for Belgium. Discussion: The present study aimed to examine the role of time perspectives on risky driving behaviours, specifically speeding. Present-hedonistic time perspective was defined with an emphasis on risk-taking and immediate gratification without considering future consequences (Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999). In line with previous literature (Zimbardo, Keough & Boyd, 1997), speeding as a risky driving behaviour was positively associated with the present-hedonistic time perspective in both Turkish and Flemish drivers, suggesting that the present-hedonistic time perspective may have a universal influence on speeding with a focus on impulsivity and immediate gratification, regardless of cultural context. Furthermore, a negative relationship was observed between future time perspective and speeding for Turkish drivers. Individuals with a higher future time perspective are less likely to be involved in speeding behaviour (Zimbardo et al., 1997). Consistent with the previous research, individuals with a future orientation tend to show safer behaviours by considering long-term consequences (Măirean, & Diaconu-Gherasim, 2021). Country-based moderation analysis showed an interesting cultural difference: the future time perspective was negatively related to speeding only in Türkiye, not in Belgium. In Türkiye, individuals with a future time perspective may be more influenced by societal norms that emphasize risk avoidance and cautious behaviour, thus making them focus more on considering the long-term influences of driving behaviours. Traffic enforcement and societal attitudes toward risk-taking may differ, with future time perspective being less related to driving-related decisions and more related to long-term goals in other areas of life. There may be a cultural tendency to keep long-term goals distinct from everyday decisions for Flemish drivers with a higher future time perspective. The non-significant interactions for three time perspectives suggest their limited influence on speeding behaviours. Present-hedonistic time perspective, defined as thrill-seeking and immediate pleasure, and the future time perspective, defined as considering long-term outcomes, appear to be more strongly associated with behaviour regulation and risk assessment (Baird et al., 2021). Past-oriented perspectives may be less relevant in immediate decision-making in driving contexts. Future research should be conducted by considering different cultural factors in multiple countries with varying levels of societal attitudes toward risk-taking, rule compliance and road safety, to enhance the understanding of how different time perspectives influence risky driving behaviours, including aggressive driving. Moreover, intervention programs aimed at promoting safer driving habits could benefit from incorporating strategies that emphasize future-oriented thinking. These programs may also emphasize encouraging drivers to delay or resist their tendency to show impulse behaviours and decision-making linked with the present-hedonistic time perspective for long-term safety. Policymakers and road safety campaigns should address the psychological factors underlying speeding and other risky driving behaviours by tailoring interventions to cultural contexts. Conclusion: The present study provides valuable insights into how time perspectives influence speeding behaviour across different cultural contexts, for the first time in the literature, to the authors’ best knowledge. A positive relationship between the present hedonistic time perspective and speeding across both cultures underscores the need for interventions focusing on impulsive behaviours and the prioritization of immediate gratification over long-term outcomes while driving. The findings also emphasize the importance of future time perspective to decrease risky driving behaviours.