Introduction: Driving faults have always been a cause of traffic problems and accidents in all communities. Rates and types of the resultant traffic problems vary and depend on cultural, social, economic, and geographical contexts. Environmental factors, control measures, administrative issues, and disparity between transportation infrastructures and number of vehicles are among influencing factors on driving faults. However, the human causes are the main influencing factor and are responsible for the highest percentage of driving faults. The present study was designed to investigate the personality factors that may be related to driving behavior and faults in city of Shiraz in southwest Iran in 2005.

Methods: Participants were recruited with convenient sampling in places like car services centers and one central specialty clinic. Questionnaires included a demographic one, Persian translation of Manchester Driver Behavior Questionnaire, and NEO FFI Personality Inventory. Analysis of variance and correlation analysis were used for analyzing data.

Results: The findings showed significant positive correlation between neuroticism score and all types of driving faults (P<0.05). Negative and significant correlations were found between agreeableness and extraversion scores, and driving faults (P<0.05). No correlation was found between conscientiousness score and total driving faults. Positive correlation was observed between openness score, and non-violent faults (P<0.01). There were negative correlations between age and years of driving practice, and non-violent driving faults. Surprisingly there was a significant positive correlation between years of formal education and all types of diving faults (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrated a significant relationship between personality traits and driving faults. Therefore it is suggested to perform psychologic assessments at the time of granting driving licenses and periodically thereafter and provide trainings for fault-prone drivers.

 Hakim Research Journal 2008 11(3): 47- 54.