The Effect of Communicational Signals on Drivers’ Emotion States

Negative emotions seriously impair drivers’ decision making and driving behaviors. As the primary channel of on-road communication between drivers, vehicle signals (e.g. turn signals, hazard lights and horn) provide an effective approach to reduce on-road conflicts and improve drivers’ emotion states. Present study evaluated the emotion induced by communicational signals upon drivers with varied personality characteristics. Correlation between decoded meanings, attitude and emotion was further analyzed to explain the mechanism from personality to emotion states in the scope of signal communication during driving. The results suggested that drivers with lower extraversion and agreeableness, higher neuroticism were easier to become negative when perceived aggressive signals. However, appropriate signals with kindness could remarkably improve drivers’ emotion and attitude towards others.