The Driving Forces of Road Safety Volunteers: Resilience, Coping Mechanisms, Well-being and Education

The Driving Forces of Road Safety Volunteers: Resilience, Coping Mechanisms, Well-being and Education | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article The Driving Forces of Road Safety Volunteers: Resilience, Coping Mechanisms, Well-being and Education Lipaz Shamoa-Nir This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4681792/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Dec, 2024 Read the published version in BMC Psychology → Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Road safety is a critical concern worldwide, impacting individuals, communities, and societies. As mobility rises, so does the risk of accidents and injuries on roads, emphasizing the need for preventive measures. Road safety volunteers are crucial in promoting and upholding road safety, making it vital to understand their motivations and Resilience Sources. This study aims to uncover what drives their commitment and the factors influencing their experiences as volunteers, informing strategies to support and enhance their efforts. Through analysis of 28 interviews with road safety volunteers, several prominent themes emerged. These include diverse motivations, a strong sense of purpose, active community engagement, and a sense of empowerment among volunteers. Additionally, the challenges they face in their roles highlight the considerable resilience these volunteers demonstrate. The importance of support systems—whether individual or peer-based, —in strengthening this resilience was prominently underscored. These findings contribute to the understanding of the importance of promoting education on safe driving practices and fostering active citizen involvement in preventing traffic violations and road accidents. Road rage Aggressive Drivers Traffic Safety Accidents Volunteers Resilience Education Introduction Road accidents are a critical issue with global implications, stemming from various factors such as disobedience to traffic laws, reckless driving, aggressive behaviors, inadequate road infrastructure, and lack of vehicle maintenance [1, 2, 3]. To address this, strengthening law enforcement through increased presence of traffic police, leveraging technology for better monitoring, and imposing stricter penalties for violations can effectively reduce road incidents. Furthermore, research highlights the importance of raising awareness, improving infrastructure, enforcing regulations, and educating the public on safe driving practices [4, 5, 6]. The aim of this study is to examine citizens, particularly active road safety guard volunteers, who are diligently working to foster road safety and reduce accidents. The study seeks to explore their motivations, the sources of their resilience in facing challenges, and the safety considerations and support systems they rely on. The goal is to inform broader strategies to enhance road safety initiatives and decrease accident rates. Road Safety Challenges: Driver Characteristics, Stress, and Aggression Road safety is influenced by a multitude of factors, including but not limited to, driver behavior, road conditions, vehicle design, and traffic laws [2]. Road accidents and traffic offences resulting from the characteristics of drivers have been a subject of interest to many researchers in recent decades, with several studies attesting to an increase in negative outcomes, caused by characteristics such as irritability and frustration to anger and aggression [7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13], leading to violent reactions such as drivers shooting at each other during an argument over a parking space [14, 15]. Meta-analysis indicated an important relationship between anger while driving and road accidents [16], and a recent study has demonstrated the role of emotional regulation in reducing drivers’ anger on the road [17]. Additionally, researchers argue that driving is a complex activity that is often accompanied by stress [18], and stress during driving can be caused by specific incidents with other drivers and is also an inherent part of commuting [19, 20]. Even though driving stress is hardly recognized by most individuals [21], studies have found it to be an effective predictor of dangerous driving behaviors [22]. That is, driving stress may impair driving performance by producing more traffic violations, thus increasing drivers’ risk of road accidents [23, 24, 25, 26]. In addition, studies have found that the associations among driving stress, risk predisposition, and traffic sanctions are mediated by driving anger [21]. Moreover, a significant concern related to road safety stems from both the potential alteration of driving behaviors due to the potential distractions during driving. In particular, driver drowsiness and distraction that in-vehicle feedback might induce stand out as the two primary contributors to traffic accidents. As a result, researchers have dedicated over a decade to the development of driver inattention monitoring systems [27]. Consequently, numerous detection methods targeting both drowsiness and distraction have surfaced in the academic realm. Notably, several of these methodologies have found successful integration within major automotive companies [27, 28]. These safe driving techniques are essential for preventing accidents, minimizing injuries, and ensuring the overall safety of both the driver and other road users. However, the escalating occurrence of road rage presents a challenge for road safety and law enforcement, particularly when it involves behaviors that may not explicitly qualify as traffic violations [2]. To tackle this issue, governments, organizations, and communities worldwide are actively engaged in promoting road safety initiatives. These efforts aim to raise awareness among citizens and involve them in the process of enforcing traffic laws . Therefore, this study investigates a potential opportunity for community engagement and collaboration to foster attitudes of responsible driving behavior. The research contributes to the literature on road safety by addressing an important yet underexplored issue, providing valuable insights and potential strategies for enhancing community involvement in traffic law enforcement and promoting safer driving practices. Enhancing Road Safety Through Volunteer Engagement Volunteering is widely recognized for its substantial impact on both individuals and communities. Thomson et al. [4] demonstrated that parent volunteers, despite lacking formal training, effectively enhanced young children's pedestrian safety skills by helping them identify road hazards, yielding lasting benefits comparable to professional educators. This underscores the important role of community involvement in promoting road safety education. The literature underscores the diverse skill sets volunteers bring to community-police relations and emphasizes the critical need to foster a positive volunteer experience to sustain their commitment [29, 30, 31, 32]. Effective volunteer programs require substantial infrastructure investment to support features that enhance volunteer satisfaction and engagement [33, 34]. Recently, Pepper and Bullock [6] detailed the contributions of CSW volunteers (Community Speedwatch; a UK national initiative where volunteers monitor speeding with police training and equipment), in enhancing road safety through their motivations, educational roles, and local insights, further underscoring the importance of volunteer involvement in community safety efforts. However, there persists a substantial need for extensive research aimed at thoroughly comprehending and adequately supporting volunteers, especially within community frameworks. This paper addresses this gap by investigating the internal motivational factors that drive volunteers, particularly in the context of road safety initiatives. Notably, Newnam et al. [5] highlighted that volunteers' driving behaviors during their service are significantly influenced by internal motivations, where ego-driven motives correlate with higher self-reported speeds and altruistic motives are linked to safer driving practices. These findings underscore the imperative of examining driving safety efforts, even within volunteer contexts. In the context of volunteerism, resilience has not been extensively studied in challenging settings like community volunteering and public service. Resilience is shaped by personal, social, and environmental factors, and refers to the ability to bounce back from difficulties and maintain a positive outlook despite facing stress or challenges [35]. A systematic literature review indicated individual, environmental, and organizational factors affecting resiliency among volunteers [36]. Ghodsi et al. [37] have examined how individuals manage their responsibilities in their roles and found resilient coping as a factor that moderates volunteers burnout emanating from incivility. This understanding is crucial for exploring the internal factors that drive volunteers, particularly in road safety initiatives. Hence, this research aims to examine resilience's role in exploring how it helps volunteers navigate challenges in their commitment to road safety efforts. The context of the Current Study: Driving Culture in Israel The driving culture in Israel is a dynamic and complex interplay of various factors that shape the behavior and attitudes of drivers on the roads [38]. In particular, impatience, aggression and road rage are common so drivers may exhibit aggressive behaviors such as honking, tailgating, and more [9, 39]. The Israeli police and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) both play important roles in promoting and advancing road safety in Israel. These entities work together to enforce traffic laws, implement safety measures, and raise public awareness . This research focuses on a significant issue in the public agenda of Israel - driving culture. Driving culture in Israel encompasses the collective attitudes, behaviors, norms, and practices related to driving on the country's roads [38,39,40]. Notably, Israeli driving culture is characterized by informal rules and norms that may not always align with official traffic regulations [40] . To improve the driving culture in Israel, a collaborative effort is needed from various stakeholders, including government authorities, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, community organizations, and individual drivers. Numerous initiatives have been established in Israel to enhance road safety culture, ensuring safe and secure driving for all road users and preventing accidents. Programs such as the Civil Guard, "Or Yarok" volunteers, "Shomrei Haderech," parent and student patrols in schools ("Mishmarot Zahav"), all aim to foster a culture of shared responsibility on the roads . Particularly noteworthy are the collaborative projects for road safety involving the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) in partnership with the "Or Yarok" association, "Netiv B'toach" ("Safe Way") Association, and the Israeli Police. These organizations recruit volunteers from diverse backgrounds and professions who demonstrate their commitment by dedicating their time and efforts to enhance road safety in Israel. In certain cases, volunteers may even act as formal authorities, reporting traffic violations and issuing penalties or fines to offending drivers or pedestrians . In summary, this study aims not only to address the pressing issue of road rage, which poses significant challenges for road safety and law enforcement, but also to pave the way for strategies that promote a safer driving culture. As a complement to research on CSW road safety initiative [6], this study explores the motivations, challenges, and support systems surrounding road safety volunteers. The research questions guiding this study include : 1. What are the primary motivations that drive individuals to volunteer as road safety guards ? 2. What are the main challenges faced by road safety guard volunteers in carrying out their duties ? 3. How do road safety guard volunteers perform their roles ? Do they receive support to aid their efforts? 4. What coping strategies do road safety guard volunteers employ to manage the demands and challenges of their roles? Method Sampling and procedure These data are derived from a comprehensive study centered on the topic of aggressive driving (Ethics: ZAC #401-2018). Using WhatsApp community groups, twenty-three road safety guard volunteers in Israel were recruited to participate in this Study (10 women, 18 men; 42-61 years old, M=52.7, SD=3.2). The volunteering period of the participants ranges from 3 to 10 years, with an average of 4-6 hours per week, the participants driving experience ranges from 31 to 43 years (M=36.8, SD=2.7). The demographic background of the volunteers shows that all of them are parents to children, among them 23 are married and 5 are single parents. Additionally, 7 of them reside in a large city, 12 live in a small town, and 9 live in a communal settlement, moshav, or kibbutz. The participation in the study was voluntary, and participants received a coupon as an incentive for their involvement. A qualitative research approach was employed to gather data through structured semi-interviews. The interview questionnaire was developed for this study consisted of a set of open-ended questions to elicit detailed responses from the participants (see supplementary file). The interview questions were designed to collect in-depth information about the participants' backgrounds, motivations, experiences, and skills related to their volunteer work as safety guards. The interview questions covered a wide range of topics, including personal details, volunteering history, reasons for volunteering, training, challenges faced, and qualities that make a good volunteer. These interviews served as a valuable source of qualitative data, enabling the researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the volunteers and their roles. The coding scheme was used to analyze and identify the relevant themes across all transcripts. Two trained undergraduate research assistants completed independent coding; agreement with the first and second author’s codes was highly reliable (see Table 1 for agreement by sub-themes). The analysis reported below is based on the agreed codes. Findings 1. The Driving Forces Behind Road Safety Guard Volunteers The primary theme that surfaced from the interviews revolves around the intrinsic motivation and dedication that drive the road safety guard volunteers. Their unwavering commitment stems from their genuine desire to contribute and support the road safety system in Israel. The volunteers expressed a range of motivations for participating in the initiative. For instance, some mentioned a "personal commitment to promoting road safety" (Volunteer number 7, woman, age 40) and a "desire to contribute to their community" (Volunteer number 11, man, age 60). Others highlighted a sense of "duty towards protecting fellow drivers" and preventing accidents. Some volunteers (20%) mentioned "being directly affected by road accidents" (Volunteer number 8, man, age 46) or "knowing someone close who was affected by road accidents" (Volunteer number 3, man, age 48), which motivated them to take action . The subsequent sub-themes shed light on specific motivations that further elucidate the driving force behind their voluntary engagement. 1.1 Sense of purpose and Personal Gain The interviews indicated that the road safety volunteers felt a strong sense of purpose and personal self-gain in their roles. Each volunteer expressed a profound appreciation for the significance of safe driving and a clear understanding of the positive impact they could make through their active involvement in the initiative. In fact, most of them (80%) considered themselves active contributors to improving road safety and preventing traffic violations. Many (75%) expressed deep satisfaction in knowing that their involvement could potentially save lives and make a positive impact on their communities. Volunteers find profound personal fulfillment in their roles, as Volunteer number 27 (woman, age 42) stated: "I've found a deep sense of fulfillment in being part of this initiative. It's not just about promoting safe driving; it's about knowing that I'm making a difference in my community. Personally, it has boosted my confidence and given me a sense of purpose that I didn't expect. Every time I see drivers obeying traffic rules because of our efforts, I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride." In this statement illustrates that the volunteers reported experiencing personal self-gain through their contributions, including enhanced self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment, and personal growth. This personal self-gain not only motivated them to continue their volunteer efforts but also reinforced their commitment to the cause. 1.2 Social engagement The interviews underscored the volunteers' strong desire to actively engage with their communities and foster a culture of safe driving, particularly within their local areas. For many volunteers (60%), their motivation stemmed from a sense of responsibility towards their neighborhoods and cities. They viewed themselves as "ambassadors for road safety" (Volunteer number 5, man, age 56), dedicated to raising awareness and promoting responsible behavior among drivers. Some volunteers (15%) also took part in educational initiatives, such as visiting schools or participating in community events, to advocate for safe road practices. Notably, one volunteer (number 8, man, age 46) shared their involvement in a campaign within their community aimed at increasing awareness about the initiative and its objectives. 1.3 Educational Role In exploring the experiences of Road Guardians, a prominent theme emerged - a strong sense of mission in education. Many volunteers expressed satisfaction in actively supporting law enforcement by reporting observed traffic violations. Volunteer number 8 (a 46-year-old man) captured this sentiment, stating, "I'm not interested in getting people into trouble. On the contrary, I help them [road offenders] to improve. It’s teaching them to be better drivers.” Volunteers recognize their significance in "making a positive impact on people," as articulated by Volunteer number 10 (a 50-year-old woman). They understand their role in promoting safe driving practices and preventing accidents, deriving a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment from their educational contributions. 2 . Challenges and Adaptive Coping Mechanisms of Safety Guard Volunteers 2.1 Meeting Challenges: Training Gaps and Legal Protections The analysis revealed several challenges encountered by road safety volunteers in their role. These challenges include facing resistance or hostility from drivers when attempting to document violations, the emotional toll of witnessing dangerous driving behaviors, and the need for ongoing support and training to effectively carry out their responsibilities . While volunteers undergo training programs and receive guidelines on how to safely and effectively document and report traffic violations, some volunteers (30%) expressed that the training provided is insufficient, as Volunteer number 19 (woman, age 53) stated: "The training we get is okay, but honestly, it feels incomplete. We were given guidance on documenting and reporting traffic violations, but there are situations on the road that we have not been prepared for. We need more comprehensive training that covers a wider range of scenarios we encounter during our patrols." Volunteers feel that it does not equip them with the necessary skills to handle different situations they may encounter on the road . Some volunteers expressed concerns about the level of legal protection and support provided to them while carrying out their responsibilities within this framework. Furthermore, approximately half of the volunteers reported instances of conflicts with drivers caught committing violations, particularly when legal consequences were involved. In some cases, conflicts or deviations from guidelines resulted in suspension from the volunteering list . "Some of us feel like we were left alone when it comes to legal backup. And when we have to deal with drivers who break the rules, things can get tense. It is frustrating because sometimes we end up facing consequences, like getting suspended, even when we are just trying to do our job." (Volunteer number 3, man, age 48) . 2.2 Coping Strategies and Resilience Research findings illuminate the challenges and frustrations faced by safety guard volunteers in carrying out their duties. Most participants addressed encounters with aggressive or uncooperative drivers, as well as limitations in their authority or resources to address road safety issues effectively . Safety guard volunteers employ various coping mechanisms to manage the stress and challenges associated with their role. These coping mechanisms included both individual strategies and support systems within the volunteer community . Some participants indicated they coping strategies to deal with the pressures of managing traffic and encountering aggressive drivers. For example : "[…] I was stationed at a busy intersection during rush hour. Despite my efforts to manage traffic flow, there were several aggressive drivers who honked, yelled, and disregarded traffic signs. I was overwhelmed and began to feel frustrated since I failed to control the traffic effectively […], but in these cases I always try to remind myself that traffic congestions are beyond my control. Instead of blaming myself, I try to remember that this is a challenging situation." (Volunteer number 6, man, age 45) . Amidst feelings of overwhelm and frustration, this volunteer exemplified the practice of cognitive reframing, shifting his perspective from viewing the situation as a personal failure to recognizing the inherent challenges beyond his control. Moreover, volunteers emphasize their role as facilitators of assistance and guidance to drivers navigating through intersections, refraining from assuming complete control over driver behavior. By focusing on the positive aspects of their contributions, such as ensuring pedestrian safety and accident prevention, volunteers actively engage in cognitive reframing to maintain a constructive outlook amidst adversities . Additionally, some volunteers employ emotional regulation techniques, such as deep breathing and taking brief respite breaks, to manage their emotional responses when confronted with overwhelming situations. For instance; " When things get intense out there, like dealing with aggressive drivers or hectic traffic, I've learned to keep my cool. I do some deep breathing, or step away for a quick break. It helps me stay focused and handle the situation better. Keeping a level head is key to keeping everyone safe on the road ." (Volunteer number 20, woman, age 53) . These coping strategies underscore the resilience and adaptive capacity of safety guard volunteers in effectively managing the demands of their roles while maintaining a sense of efficacy and well-being . 2.3 Peer Support and Solidarity Interview findings underscore the vital role of peer support networks among safety guard volunteers. While 25% of volunteers struggle with working solo, the majority stress the necessity of social connections for sharing experiences and providing mutual encouragement. Furthermore, peer support fosters solidarity, validates experiences, and offers emotional and practical assistance, enhancing volunteers' resilience. For instance: "Having friends who volunteer with me is really important. It's not just about being friends; it's about sharing tips, encourage each other, and having each other's backs. That support keeps us committed, even when things get challenging." (Volunteer number 28, man, age 31) . Solidarity emerges as a crucial factor in sustaining long-term commitment among volunteers, supplementing their initial motivations for engagement in volunteering. 3. Acknowledging the Social Contributions of Road Safety Volunteers The content analysis revealed a broad spectrum of social benefits linked to volunteering in the road safety initiative. A significant majority of the volunteers (85%) reported experiencing both, personal and social advantages resulting from their contributions. The sub-themes discussed below highlight the specific social benefits that were mentioned by the volunteers. 3.1 Positive Community Impact Volunteers (60%) expressed a deep sense of social responsibility towards their communities. Through participation in the Civil Gard initiative, they directly contribute to community well-being by reporting violations and enhancing road safety. This active involvement is seen as integral to accident prevention and life-saving efforts, amplifying the quality of life especially within their neighborhoods and communities. Notably, volunteers such as Volunteer numbers 2, 6, and 13 view themselves as catalysts for change, committed to making positive environments "through daily acts of assistance and community contribution " (Volunteer number 10, a 50-year-old woman). 3.2 Social Connectivity Participation in the initiative not only fulfills a civic duty but also fosters social connections among volunteers. Despite not functioning as a cohesive unit, many volunteers joined the program through recommendations from friends, fostering a network of support and camaraderie. Additionally, volunteers like Volunteer numbers 2 and 8 highlighted how their involvement expanded their social circles, demonstrating the social benefits derived from volunteering in the initiative. Discussion This research explored attitudes among safe road volunteers, aiming to shed light on their motivations, perceptions of their roles, and the challenges they face. Findings suggest that road safety guard volunteers are driven by a strong sense of social responsibility and a desire to contribute to their communities. They perceive their roles as influential in promoting safe driving behaviors and preventing road accidents. However, their efforts are not without obstacles, including conflicts with violators and potential legal ramifications. Despite these challenges, volunteers exhibit diverse motivations, a strong sense of purpose, and active community engagement, which empower them in their roles. The hostility they encounter from drivers underscores their resilience in navigating the complexities of their positions. Importantly, the study underscores the vital role of peer-based support in bolstering this resilience. These findings emphasize the significance of promoting education on safe driving and encouraging citizen involvement in order to prevent traffic violations and road accidents. Research have indicated that some safe driving techniques can significantly reduce the risk of collisions and promote responsible driving behavior [ 27 , 28 ]. However, with the escalating occurrence of road rage and the challenge of apprehending offenders [ 2 ], even for aggressive behaviors that may not be explicit traffic violations [ 3 ], it becomes crucial to raise awareness among citizens for safe driving and actively involve them in enforcing traffic laws. Indeed, this research findings highlight the volunteers' strong sense of social responsibility and their conviction in making a positive difference in their community. By actively participating in road safety, they believe they contribute to a safer road environment. The findings reveal that the coping strategies employed by road safety guard volunteers underscore their resilience and adaptive capacity in effectively managing the demands of their roles. These coping mechanisms, crucial for understanding the volunteers' resilience, include individual-level strategies such as cognitive reframing and emotion regulation, as well as interpersonal strategies like seeking peer support. Understanding how road safety volunteers navigate and overcome the challenges associated with their roles is essential. The study contributes theoretically to resilience research by demonstrating that resilience is not a fixed trait but a dynamic process, consistent with the perspective of Rutter [ 35 ]. The evidence from road safety volunteers supports and extends these theoretical frameworks, highlighting the significance of individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors in shaping resilience. In addition, similar to previous studies on volunteers' motivations [ 41 , 42 ], this research found that volunteering offers both psychological and social benefits. On a general level, volunteering empowers individuals by providing a sense of purpose and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships, thereby expanding their social networks. Specifically, for road safety volunteers, these roles not only fulfill personal aspirations but also enable individuals to contribute significantly to public safety and community well-being. Volunteering in this context allows individuals to be part of a broader process of social change, directly addressing community needs related to safe driving and road safety. These multifaceted benefits of volunteering can be further enhanced through proper training, ongoing support, and clear legal guidelines, which are essential for ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of road safety volunteers in their crucial roles. This study underscores the importance of structural support to maintain volunteer motivation and efficacy, highlighting the specific and valuable contributions of road safety volunteers to societal well-being. However, this study has limitations, particularly regarding the sample size and diversity. The findings are based on a limited number of participants, which may not fully represent the broader population of road safety volunteers. Future research should aim to include a larger and more diverse sample to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these dynamics. Future research should continue to explore the dynamics of volunteer motivations and challenges to enhance support systems and optimize contributions to public welfare. Conclusion This research highlights the significant contributions of volunteers in promoting road safety and reducing accidents, driven by motivations such as civic duty, a desire to positively impact their communities, and personal experiences with road incidents. The challenges faced by road safety volunteers, including interactions with aggressive drivers, ensuring personal safety on busy roads, and accessing adequate resources and support, emphasize the need for robust community involvement and support structures. To enhance road safety, it is crucial to prioritize community engagement through workshops, seminars, and events focused on safe driving behaviors. In summary, the research findings on the motivations and challenges of road safety volunteers highlight the crucial role of citizen participation in shaping Israel's driving culture positively. Exploring the coping strategies of these volunteers not only enriches our theoretical understanding of resilience in volunteerism and public service but also offers valuable implications for organizations and policymakers. These observations are instrumental in enhancing support systems to strengthen the well-being and effectiveness of road safety volunteers and other community-based roles. By gaining deeper understanding into these dynamics, we can better tailor strategies that promote community safety and ensure sustained volunteer engagement in essential public service roles. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was approved by Zefat Academic College ethic committee: ZAC #401-2018. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. I confirm that informed consent was obtained from all subjects . Consent for publication Not Applicable. Competing interests The author declares that they have no competing interests. There are no financial or personal relationships that could be perceived as potential competing interests. Funding This research was not funded by funding sources . Availability of data and materials It is not possible to share research data publicly due to participants privacy. Authors' contributions The author confirms sole responsibility for the following: study conception and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results, and manuscript preparation. Acknowledgment The author thanks to the volunteers that participated in the research. References 1. Shamoa-Nir L. The Psychology of Road Rage: Interplay between Aggression Styles While Coping with Driving Stress. SSRN. 2022; http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4041812 2. Shamoa-Nir L. Road rage and aggressive driving behaviors: the role of state-trait anxiety and coping strategies. Transportation research interdisciplinary perspectives. 2023; 18: 100780.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2023.100780 3. Shamoa-Nir L, Koslowsky M. Aggression on the road as a function of stress, coping strategies and driver style. Psychology. 2010; 1 (1): 35-44. 4. Thomson, J. A., Ampofo‐Boateng, K., Lee, D. N., Grieve, R., Pitcairn, T. K., & Demetre J. D. The effectiveness of parents in promoting the development of road crossing skills in young children. British journal of educational psychology. 1998; 68(4): 475-491.‏ 5. Newnam, S., Newton, C., & McGregor-Lowndes, M. Predicting the safety performance of volunteers: does motivation for volunteering influence driving behavior?. Safety science. 2009; 47(8): 1090-1096.‏ 6. Pepper, M. & Bullock, K. Safer roads through citizen partnerships: enhancing road safety with community speedwatch volunteers (Report to Road Safety Trust). 2024. ‏ 7. Hennessy DA, Wiesenthal DL. Gender, driver aggression, and driver violence: An applied evaluation. Sex Roles. 2001; 44: 661-676. 8. Hennessy DA, Wiesenthal DL. Driving vengeance and willful violations: Clustering of problem Driving Attitudes. Journal of Applied Social Psychology. 2005; 35: 61-79. 9. Jiang L, Zhou HF, Bai L, Zhou P. Does foreign direct investment drive environmental degradation in China? An empirical study based on air quality index from a spatial perspective. Journal of cleaner production. 2018; 176: 864-872.‏ 10. Love S, Kannis-Dymand L, Davey J. Freeman J. Metacognition, rumination and road rage: an examination of driver anger progression and expression in Australia. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour. 2022; 84: 21-32.‏ 11. Montag, I., & Comrey, A. L. (1987). Internality and externality as correlates of involvement in fatal driving accidents. Journal of Applied Psychology, 3, 339- 343. 12. Shamoa-Nir, L. (2011). Aggressive Driving. Lap Lambert, Berlin, Germany. 13. Yu J, Evans PC, Perfetti L. Road aggression among drinking drivers: alcohol and non-alcohol effects on aggressive driving and road rage. Journal of Criminal Justice. 2005; 32(50): 421-430. 14. Marsh, P., & Collet, P. (1987a). Driving Passion: The Psychology of the car. Faber, Inc. 15. Marsh, P., & Collet, P. (1987b). The car as a weapon. Et cetera, 44(2), 146-151. 16. Zhang T, Chan AH. The association between driving anger and driving outcomes: A meta-analysis of evidence from the past twenty years. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2016; 90: 50-62.‏ 17. Bjureberg J, Gross JJ. Regulating road rage. Social and personality psychology compass. 2021; 15: e12586.‏ 18. Gulian E, Matthews G, Glendon AI, Davis DR, Debney LM. (1989). Dimensions of driver stress. Ergonomics. 1989; 32: 585-602. 19. Koslowsky M, Kluger AN, Riech M. Commuting stress: Causes, effects and methods of coping. 1995; New York: Plenum Press. 20. Koslowsky, M. (1997). Commuting stress: Problems of definitions and variable identification. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 6(2), 153-173. 21. Montoro L, Useche S, Alonso F. Cendales B. Work environment, stress, and driving anger: A structural equation model for predicting traffic sanctions of public transport drivers. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2018; 15(3): 497.‏ 22. Ge Y, Qu W, Jiang C, Du F, Sun X, Zhang K. The effect of stress and personality on dangerous driving behavior among Chinese drivers. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2014; 73: 34-40.‏ 23. Matthews, G., Dorn, L., & Glendon, A.I. (1991). Personality corralates of driver stress. Personality and Individual Differences, 12, 535-549. 24. Matthews, G., Desmond, P.A., Joyner, L., Carcary,B., & Gilliland, K.)1997(. A comprehensive questionnaire measure of driver stress and affect. In E. C. Vaya & J. A. Rothengatter (Eds.), Traffic & Transport psychology: Theory and application, 317-324. Amsterdam: Pergamon. 25. Matthews, G., Dorn, L., Hoyes, T. W., Davies, D. R., Glendon, A. I., & Taylor, R. G. (1998). Driver stress and performance on a driving simulator. Human Factors, 40(1), 136-149.‏ 26. Useche SA, Ortiz VG, Cendales BE. Stress-related psychosocial factors at work, fatigue, and risky driving behavior in bus rapid transport (BRT) drivers. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2017; 104: 106-114.‏ 27. Kaplan S, Guvensan MA, Yavuz AG, Karalurt Y. Driver behavior analysis for safe driving: A survey. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems. 2015; 16(6): 3017-3032.‏ 28. Young MS, Birrell SA, Stanton NA. Safe driving in a green world: A review of driver performance benchmarks and technologies to support smart’driving. Applied ergonomics. 2011; 42(4): 533-539.‏ 29. Dobrin, A. & Wolf, R. What is known and not known about volunteer policing in the United States. International Journal of Police Science and Management. 2016; 18 (3): 220-227. 30. Bullock, L. & Leeney, D. On matters of balance: An examination of the deployment, motivation and management of the Special Constabulary. Policing and Society: An International Journal of Research and Policy. 2014; 26 (5): 483-502. 31. Whittle, J. The rise of the Special Constabulary: Are forces getting value for money from their voluntary officers? An empirical study in Avon and Somerset Police. Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. 2014; 87: 29–40. 32. Callender, M., Pepper, M., Cahalin, K. and Britton, I. Exploring the Police Support Volunteer experience: Findings from a national survey. Policing and Society: An International Journal of Research and Policy. 2019; 29(4): 392-406. 33. Hucklesby, A. and Corcoran, M. Introduction. in A. Hucklesby and M. Corcoran (Eds.) The Voluntary Sector and Criminal Justice. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. 2016; 1-13. 34. Wolf, R., Holmes, S. and Jones, C. Utilisation and satisfaction of volunteer law enforcement officers in the Office of the American Sheriff: An exploratory nationwide study. Police Practice and Research: An International Journal. 2016; 17 (5): 448-462. 35. Rutter, Michael. "Psychosocial resilience and protective mechanisms. American journal of orthopsychiatry. 1987; 57(3): 316-331.‏ 36. Ghodsi, H., Sohrabizadeh, S., Jazani, R. K., & Kavousi, A. Factors affecting resiliency among volunteers in disasters: A systematic literature review. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness. 2022; 16(1): 398-404.‏‏ 37. Trent, S. B., & Allen, J. A. (2019). Resilience only gets you so far: Volunteer incivility and burnout. Organization Management Journal. 2019; 16(2): 69-80.‏ 38. Shamoa-Nir L, Koslowsky M. The relation between drivers' characteristics and aggressive driving. Megamot. 2015; 50: 45-78. https://ssrn.com/abstract=4079368 39. Shamoa-Nir L, Dorchin U. Israeli driving culture: driving style and drivers' attitudes towards traffic laws. Israel Sociology. 2016; 17 (2): 138-159. https://ssrn.com/abstract=4081849 40. Shamoa-Nir L, Koslowsky M. Aggressive behavior of drivers: A new questionnaire defining the difference between hostile and instrumental behavior while driving. International Journal of Psychology Research. 2010; 6: 129-42. 41. Kim E, Fredline L, Cuskelly G. Heterogeneity of sport event volunteer motivations: A segmentation approach. Tourism Management. 2018; 68: 375– 386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.04.004 42. Dolnicar S, Randle M. What motivates which volunteers? Psychographic heterogeneity among volunteers in Australia. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations. 2007; 18: 135–155. Tables Table 1. Coding Scheme for motivations, challenges and perceptions of the role of road safety volunteers Coding Scheme Theme Theme Content Subthemes Interater agreement The Driving Forces Challenges and Coping Mechanisms Participants refer to the intrinsic motivation and dedication behind their voluntary engagement Participants describe both, difficulties they encounter and coping strategies, while fulfilling their volunteer responsibilities Sense of purpose Social engagement Educational role Training gaps and legal protections Coping strategies and resilience Peer support and solidarity 96% 92% 90% 95% 90% 89% Multifaceted Benefits Participants refer to benefits and advantages resulting from their volunteering Positive community impact Social connectivity 90% 89% Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Table1.docx supplementaryfileVOLUNTEERINTERVIEWQUESTIONS.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Dec, 2024 Read the published version in BMC Psychology → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 08 Jul, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 04 Jul, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 04 Jul, 2024 First submitted to journal 03 Jul, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4681792","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":324113180,"identity":"100468a3-3a74-48a7-812c-ced7a07ab253","order_by":0,"name":"Lipaz Shamoa-Nir","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA5UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACPmYwJcHAz8DABhc98ACPFjaYFskGmBYgdSABnxYYw+AAkhYGvFrYeQ9+/LnDIt/4/OFnD362MeTxyzcw4reFmS9ZQvKMhOW2A8fMDXvbGIol2wg5jJnHQMKwTcLA7GCDmQTPGYbEDccIazH+kQjUYtzM/k3yD1DLfiK0mEkcBGoxYOMxk+apANpCMMSY+dIsG4FaJM7wlEnLVEgkzjiW2IBXCz//2cM3f7bVGfD3H98m+cbAJrG/+fDhDx/waGFg4EHhSQAxYwNeDehaRsEoGAWjYBRgAgAnU0M4GGDwpwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Zefat Academic College","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lipaz","middleName":"","lastName":"Shamoa-Nir","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-07-03 16:25:03","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4681792/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4681792/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02315-2","type":"published","date":"2024-12-30T15:57:18+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":73093260,"identity":"bab4f05f-794f-4115-8e85-7657db7f0271","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-01-06 16:12:16","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":529849,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4681792/v1/b258d8f0-d8bd-4c87-a282-2fdace59bc78.pdf"},{"id":60849667,"identity":"b494ed2e-9bd1-49f2-b26a-07f313dd7071","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-07-22 20:41:53","extension":"docx","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":14482,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Table1.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4681792/v1/f1885f788bf97e2c0cc80b36.docx"},{"id":60849668,"identity":"3716259d-913d-4449-9975-0ef8015cbe92","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-07-22 20:41:53","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":13677,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"supplementaryfileVOLUNTEERINTERVIEWQUESTIONS.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4681792/v1/de08937d9c6ac7e486617330.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"The Driving Forces of Road Safety Volunteers: Resilience, Coping Mechanisms, Well-being and Education","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eRoad accidents are a critical issue with global implications, stemming from various factors such as disobedience to traffic laws, reckless driving, aggressive behaviors, inadequate road infrastructure, and lack of vehicle maintenance [1, 2, 3]. To address this, strengthening law enforcement through increased presence of traffic police, leveraging technology for better monitoring, and imposing stricter penalties for violations can effectively reduce road incidents. Furthermore, research highlights the importance of raising awareness, improving infrastructure, enforcing regulations, and educating the public on safe driving practices [4, 5, 6].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aim of this study is to examine citizens, particularly active road safety guard volunteers, who are diligently working to foster road safety and reduce accidents. The study seeks to explore their motivations, the sources of their resilience in facing challenges, and the safety considerations and support systems they rely on. The goal is to inform broader strategies to enhance road safety initiatives and decrease accident rates.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoad Safety Challenges: Driver Characteristics, Stress, and Aggression\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoad safety is influenced by a multitude of factors, including but not limited to, driver behavior, road conditions, vehicle design, and traffic laws [2]. Road accidents and traffic offences resulting from the characteristics of drivers have been a subject of interest to many researchers in recent decades, with several studies attesting to an increase in negative outcomes, caused by characteristics such as irritability and frustration to anger and aggression [7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13], leading to violent reactions such as drivers shooting at each other during an argument over a parking space [14, 15]. Meta-analysis indicated an important relationship between anger while driving and road accidents [16], and a recent study has demonstrated the role of emotional regulation in reducing drivers\u0026rsquo; anger on the road [17].\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, researchers argue that driving is a complex activity that is often accompanied by stress [18], and stress during driving can be caused by specific incidents with other drivers and is also an inherent part of commuting [19, 20]. Even though driving stress is hardly recognized by most individuals [21], studies have found it to be an effective predictor of dangerous driving behaviors [22]. That is, driving stress may impair driving performance by producing more traffic violations, thus increasing drivers\u0026rsquo; risk of road accidents [23, 24, 25, 26]. In addition, studies have found that the associations among driving stress, risk predisposition, and traffic sanctions are mediated by driving anger [21].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMoreover, a significant concern related to road safety stems from both the potential alteration of driving behaviors due to the potential distractions during driving. In particular, driver drowsiness and distraction that in-vehicle feedback might induce stand out as the two primary contributors to traffic accidents. As a result, researchers have dedicated over a decade to the development of driver inattention monitoring systems [27]. Consequently, numerous detection methods targeting both drowsiness and distraction have surfaced in the academic realm. Notably, several of these methodologies have found successful integration within major automotive companies [27, 28]. These safe driving techniques are essential for preventing accidents, minimizing injuries, and ensuring the overall safety of both the driver and other road users.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, the escalating occurrence of road rage presents a challenge for road safety and law enforcement, particularly when it involves behaviors that may not explicitly qualify as traffic violations [2]. To tackle this issue, governments, organizations, and communities worldwide are actively engaged in promoting road safety initiatives. These efforts aim to raise awareness among citizens and involve them in the process of enforcing traffic laws\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e Therefore, this study investigates a potential opportunity for community engagement and collaboration to foster attitudes of responsible driving behavior. The research contributes to the literature on road safety by addressing an important yet underexplored issue, providing valuable insights and potential strategies for enhancing community involvement in traffic law enforcement and promoting safer driving practices.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnhancing Road Safety Through Volunteer Engagement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVolunteering is widely recognized for its substantial impact on both individuals and communities. Thomson et al. [4] demonstrated that parent volunteers, despite lacking formal training, effectively enhanced young children\u0026apos;s pedestrian safety skills by helping them identify road hazards, yielding lasting benefits comparable to professional educators. This underscores the important role of community involvement in promoting road safety education.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe literature underscores the diverse skill sets volunteers bring to community-police relations and emphasizes the critical need to foster a positive volunteer experience to sustain their commitment [29, 30, 31, 32]. Effective volunteer programs require substantial infrastructure investment to support features that enhance volunteer satisfaction and engagement [33, 34]. Recently, Pepper and Bullock [6] detailed the contributions of CSW volunteers (Community Speedwatch; a UK national initiative where volunteers monitor speeding with police training and equipment), in enhancing road safety through their motivations, educational roles, and local insights, further underscoring the importance of volunteer involvement in community safety efforts.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, there persists a substantial need for extensive research aimed at thoroughly comprehending and adequately supporting volunteers, especially within community frameworks. This paper addresses this gap by investigating the internal motivational factors that drive volunteers, particularly in the context of road safety initiatives. Notably, Newnam et al. [5] highlighted that volunteers\u0026apos; driving behaviors during their service are significantly influenced by internal motivations, where ego-driven motives correlate with higher self-reported speeds and altruistic motives are linked to safer driving practices. These findings underscore the imperative of examining driving safety efforts, even within volunteer contexts.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the context of volunteerism, resilience has not been extensively studied in challenging settings like community volunteering and public service. Resilience is shaped by personal, social, and environmental factors, and refers to the ability to bounce back from difficulties and maintain a positive outlook despite facing stress or challenges [35].\u0026nbsp;A systematic literature review indicated\u0026nbsp;individual, environmental, and organizational\u0026nbsp;factors affecting resiliency among volunteers\u0026nbsp;[36]. Ghodsi et al. [37] have examined how individuals manage their responsibilities in their roles and found resilient coping as a factor that moderates volunteers burnout emanating from incivility.\u0026nbsp;This understanding is crucial for exploring the internal factors that drive volunteers, particularly in road safety initiatives. Hence, this research aims to examine resilience\u0026apos;s role in exploring how it helps volunteers navigate challenges in their commitment to road safety efforts.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe context of the Current Study:\u0026nbsp;Driving Culture in Israel\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe driving culture in Israel is a dynamic and complex interplay of various factors that shape the behavior and attitudes of drivers on the roads [38]. In particular, impatience, aggression and road rage are common so drivers may exhibit aggressive behaviors such as honking, tailgating, and more [9, 39]. The Israeli police and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) both play important roles in promoting and advancing road safety in Israel. These entities work together to enforce traffic laws, implement safety measures, and raise public awareness\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis research focuses on a significant issue in the public agenda of Israel - driving culture. Driving culture in Israel encompasses the collective attitudes, behaviors, norms, and practices related to driving on the country\u0026apos;s roads [38,39,40]. Notably, Israeli driving culture is characterized by informal rules and norms that may not always align with official traffic regulations [40]\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo improve the driving culture in Israel, a collaborative effort is needed from various stakeholders, including government authorities, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, community organizations, and individual drivers. Numerous initiatives have been established in Israel to enhance road safety culture, ensuring safe and secure driving for all road users and preventing accidents. Programs such as the Civil Guard, \u0026quot;Or Yarok\u0026quot; volunteers, \u0026quot;Shomrei Haderech,\u0026quot; parent and student patrols in schools (\u0026quot;Mishmarot Zahav\u0026quot;), all aim to foster a culture of shared responsibility on the roads\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticularly noteworthy are the collaborative projects for road safety involving the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) in partnership with the \u0026quot;Or Yarok\u0026quot; association, \u0026quot;Netiv B\u0026apos;toach\u0026quot; (\u0026quot;Safe Way\u0026quot;) Association, and the Israeli Police. These organizations recruit volunteers from diverse backgrounds and professions who demonstrate their commitment by dedicating their time and efforts to enhance road safety in Israel. In certain cases, volunteers may even act as formal authorities, reporting traffic violations and issuing penalties or fines to offending drivers or pedestrians\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn summary, this study aims not only to address the pressing issue of road rage, which poses significant challenges for road safety and law enforcement, but also to pave the way for strategies that promote a safer driving culture. As a complement to research on CSW road safety initiative [6], this study explores the motivations, challenges, and support systems surrounding road safety volunteers. The research questions guiding this study include\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. What are the primary motivations that drive individuals to volunteer as road safety guards\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. What are the main challenges faced by road safety guard volunteers in carrying out their duties\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. How do road safety guard volunteers perform their roles\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e?\u003c/span\u003e Do they receive support to aid their efforts?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. What coping strategies do road safety guard volunteers employ to manage the demands and challenges of their roles?\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Method","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSampling and procedure\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese data are derived from a comprehensive study centered on the topic of aggressive driving (Ethics: ZAC #401-2018). Using WhatsApp community groups, twenty-three road safety guard volunteers in Israel were recruited to participate in this Study (10 women, 18 men; 42-61 years old, M=52.7, SD=3.2). The volunteering period of the participants ranges from 3 to 10 years, with an average of 4-6 hours per week, the participants driving experience ranges from 31 to 43 years (M=36.8, SD=2.7). The demographic background of the volunteers shows that all of them are parents to children, among them 23 are married and 5 are single parents. Additionally, 7 of them reside in a large city, 12 live in a small town, and 9 live in a communal settlement, moshav, or kibbutz. The participation in the study was voluntary, and participants received a coupon as an incentive for their involvement.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA qualitative research approach was employed to gather data through structured semi-interviews. The interview questionnaire was developed for this study consisted of a set of open-ended questions to elicit detailed responses from the participants (see supplementary file). The interview questions were designed to collect in-depth information about the participants\u0026apos; backgrounds, motivations, experiences, and skills related to their volunteer work as safety guards. The interview questions covered a wide range of topics, including personal details, volunteering history, reasons for volunteering, training, challenges faced, and qualities that make a good volunteer. These interviews served as a valuable source of qualitative data, enabling the researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the volunteers and their roles.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe coding scheme was used to analyze and identify the relevant themes across all transcripts. Two trained undergraduate research assistants completed independent coding; agreement with the first and second author\u0026rsquo;s codes was highly reliable (see Table 1 for agreement by sub-themes). The analysis reported below is based on the agreed codes.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Findings","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1. The Driving Forces Behind Road Safety Guard Volunteers\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe primary theme that surfaced from the interviews revolves around the intrinsic motivation and dedication that drive the road safety guard volunteers. Their unwavering commitment stems from their genuine desire to contribute and support the road safety system in Israel. The volunteers expressed a range of motivations for participating in the initiative. For instance, some mentioned a \u0026quot;personal commitment to promoting road safety\u0026quot; (Volunteer number 7, woman, age 40) and a \u0026quot;desire to contribute to their community\u0026quot; (Volunteer number 11, man, age 60). Others highlighted a sense of \u0026quot;duty towards protecting fellow drivers\u0026quot; and preventing accidents. Some volunteers (20%) mentioned \u0026quot;being directly affected by road accidents\u0026quot; (Volunteer number 8, man, age 46) or \u0026quot;knowing someone close who was affected by road accidents\u0026quot; (Volunteer number 3, man, age 48), which motivated them to take action\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e The subsequent sub-themes shed light on specific motivations that further elucidate the driving force behind their voluntary engagement.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e1.1 Sense of purpose and Personal Gain\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interviews indicated that the road safety volunteers felt a strong sense of purpose and personal self-gain in their roles. Each volunteer expressed a profound appreciation for the significance of safe driving and a clear understanding of the positive impact they could make through their active involvement in the initiative. In fact, most of them (80%) considered themselves active contributors to improving road safety and preventing traffic violations. Many (75%) expressed deep satisfaction in knowing that their involvement could potentially save lives and make a positive impact on their communities. Volunteers find profound personal fulfillment in their roles, as Volunteer number 27 (woman, age 42) stated:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;I\u0026apos;ve found a deep sense of fulfillment in being part of this initiative. It\u0026apos;s not just about promoting safe driving; it\u0026apos;s about knowing that I\u0026apos;m making a difference in my community. Personally, it has boosted my confidence and given me a sense of purpose that I didn\u0026apos;t expect. Every time I see drivers obeying traffic rules because of our efforts, I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.\u0026quot;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this statement illustrates that the volunteers reported experiencing personal self-gain through their contributions, including enhanced self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment, and personal growth. This personal self-gain not only motivated them to continue their volunteer efforts but also reinforced their commitment to the cause.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e1.2 Social engagement\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interviews underscored the volunteers\u0026apos; strong desire to actively engage with their communities and foster a culture of safe driving, particularly within their local areas. For many volunteers (60%), their motivation stemmed from a sense of responsibility towards their neighborhoods and cities. They viewed themselves as \u0026quot;ambassadors for road safety\u0026quot; (Volunteer number 5, man, age 56), dedicated to raising awareness and promoting responsible behavior among drivers. Some volunteers (15%) also took part in educational initiatives, such as visiting schools or participating in community events, to advocate for safe road practices. Notably, one volunteer (number 8, man, age 46) shared their involvement in a campaign within their community aimed at increasing awareness about the initiative and its objectives.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e1.3 Educational Role\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn exploring the experiences of Road Guardians, a prominent theme emerged - a strong sense of mission in education. Many volunteers expressed satisfaction in actively supporting law enforcement by reporting observed traffic violations. Volunteer number 8 (a 46-year-old man) captured this sentiment, stating, \u0026quot;I\u0026apos;m not interested in getting people into trouble. On the contrary, I help them [road offenders] to improve. It\u0026rsquo;s teaching them to be better drivers.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVolunteers recognize their significance in \u0026quot;making a positive impact on people,\u0026quot; as articulated by Volunteer number 10 (a 50-year-old woman). They understand their role in promoting safe driving practices and preventing accidents, deriving a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment from their educational contributions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e Challenges and Adaptive Coping Mechanisms of Safety Guard Volunteers\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e2.1\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eMeeting Challenges: Training Gaps and Legal Protections\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe analysis revealed several challenges encountered by road safety volunteers in their role. These challenges include facing resistance or hostility from drivers when attempting to document violations, the emotional toll of witnessing dangerous driving behaviors, and the need for ongoing support and training to effectively carry out their responsibilities\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile volunteers undergo training programs and receive guidelines on how to safely and effectively document and report traffic violations, some volunteers (30%) expressed that the training provided is insufficient, as Volunteer number 19 (woman, age 53) stated:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;The training we get is okay, but honestly, it feels incomplete. We were given guidance on documenting and reporting traffic violations, but there are situations on the road that we have not been prepared for. We need more comprehensive training that covers a wider range of scenarios we encounter during our patrols.\u0026quot;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVolunteers feel that it does not equip them with the necessary skills to handle different situations they may encounter on the road\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome volunteers expressed concerns about the level of legal protection and support provided to them while carrying out their responsibilities within this framework. Furthermore, approximately half of the volunteers reported instances of conflicts with drivers caught committing violations, particularly when legal consequences were involved. In some cases, conflicts or deviations from guidelines resulted in suspension from the volunteering list\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;Some of us feel like we were left alone when it comes to legal backup. And when we have to deal with drivers who break the rules, things can get tense. It is frustrating because sometimes we end up facing consequences, like getting suspended, even when we are just trying to do our job.\u0026quot; (Volunteer number 3, man, age 48)\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e2.2 Coping Strategies and Resilience\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResearch findings illuminate the challenges and frustrations faced by safety guard volunteers in carrying out their duties. Most participants addressed encounters with aggressive or uncooperative drivers, as well as limitations in their authority or resources to address road safety issues effectively\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSafety guard volunteers employ various coping mechanisms to manage the stress and challenges associated with their role. These coping mechanisms included both individual strategies and support systems within the volunteer community\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e Some participants indicated they coping strategies to deal with the pressures of managing traffic and encountering aggressive drivers. For example\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e:\u003c/span\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;[\u0026hellip;] I was stationed at a busy intersection during rush hour. Despite my efforts to manage traffic flow, there were several aggressive drivers who honked, yelled, and disregarded traffic signs. I was overwhelmed and began to feel frustrated since I failed to control the traffic effectively [\u0026hellip;], but in these cases I always try to remind myself that traffic congestions are beyond my control. Instead of blaming myself, I try to remember that this is a challenging situation.\u0026quot; (Volunteer number 6, man, age 45)\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmidst feelings of overwhelm and frustration, this volunteer exemplified the practice of cognitive reframing, shifting his perspective from viewing the situation as a personal failure to recognizing the inherent challenges beyond his control. Moreover, volunteers emphasize their role as facilitators of assistance and guidance to drivers navigating through intersections, refraining from assuming complete control over driver behavior. By focusing on the positive aspects of their contributions, such as ensuring pedestrian safety and accident prevention, volunteers actively engage in cognitive reframing to maintain a constructive outlook amidst adversities\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, some volunteers employ emotional regulation techniques, such as deep breathing and taking brief respite breaks, to manage their emotional responses when confronted with overwhelming situations. For instance;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e\u0026quot;\u003c/span\u003eWhen things get intense out there, like dealing with aggressive drivers or hectic traffic, I\u0026apos;ve learned to keep my cool. I do some deep breathing, or step away for a quick break. It helps me stay focused and handle the situation better. Keeping a level head is key to keeping everyone safe on the road\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u0026quot;\u003c/span\u003e (Volunteer number 20, woman, age 53)\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese coping strategies underscore the resilience and adaptive capacity of safety guard volunteers in effectively managing the demands of their roles while maintaining a sense of efficacy and well-being\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e2.3 Peer Support and Solidarity\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterview findings underscore the vital role of peer support networks among safety guard volunteers. While 25% of volunteers struggle with working solo, the majority stress the necessity of social connections for sharing experiences and providing mutual encouragement. Furthermore, peer support fosters solidarity, validates experiences, and offers emotional and practical assistance, enhancing volunteers\u0026apos; resilience. For instance:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;Having friends who volunteer with me is really important. It\u0026apos;s not just about being friends; it\u0026apos;s about sharing tips, encourage each other, and having each other\u0026apos;s backs. That support keeps us committed, even when things get challenging.\u0026quot; (Volunteer number 28, man, age 31)\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSolidarity emerges as a crucial factor in sustaining long-term commitment among volunteers, supplementing their initial motivations for engagement in volunteering.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3. Acknowledging the Social Contributions of Road Safety Volunteers\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe content analysis revealed a broad spectrum of social benefits linked to volunteering in the road safety initiative. A significant majority of the volunteers (85%) reported experiencing both, personal and social advantages resulting from their contributions. The sub-themes discussed below highlight the specific social benefits that were mentioned by the volunteers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e3.1 Positive Community Impact\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVolunteers (60%) expressed a deep sense of social responsibility towards their communities. Through participation in the Civil Gard initiative, they directly contribute to community well-being by reporting violations and enhancing road safety. This active involvement is seen as integral to accident prevention and life-saving efforts, amplifying the quality of life especially within their neighborhoods and communities. Notably, volunteers such as Volunteer numbers 2, 6, and 13 view themselves as catalysts for change, committed to making positive environments \u0026quot;through daily acts of assistance and community contribution\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e\u0026quot;\u003c/span\u003e (Volunteer number 10, a 50-year-old woman).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e3.2 Social Connectivity\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticipation in the initiative not only fulfills a civic duty but also fosters social connections among volunteers. Despite not functioning as a cohesive unit, many volunteers joined the program through recommendations from friends, fostering a network of support and camaraderie. Additionally, volunteers like Volunteer numbers 2 and 8 highlighted how their involvement expanded their social circles, demonstrating the social benefits derived from volunteering in the initiative.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis research explored attitudes among safe road volunteers, aiming to shed light on their motivations, perceptions of their roles, and the challenges they face. Findings suggest that road safety guard volunteers are driven by a strong sense of social responsibility and a desire to contribute to their communities. They perceive their roles as influential in promoting safe driving behaviors and preventing road accidents. However, their efforts are not without obstacles, including conflicts with violators and potential legal ramifications. Despite these challenges, volunteers exhibit diverse motivations, a strong sense of purpose, and active community engagement, which empower them in their roles. The hostility they encounter from drivers underscores their resilience in navigating the complexities of their positions. Importantly, the study underscores the vital role of peer-based support in bolstering this resilience. These findings emphasize the significance of promoting education on safe driving and encouraging citizen involvement in order to prevent traffic violations and road accidents.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eResearch have indicated that some safe driving techniques can significantly reduce the risk of collisions and promote responsible driving behavior [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]. However, with the escalating occurrence of road rage and the challenge of apprehending offenders [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e], even for aggressive behaviors that may not be explicit traffic violations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e], it becomes crucial to raise awareness among citizens for safe driving and actively involve them in enforcing traffic laws. Indeed, this research findings highlight the volunteers' strong sense of social responsibility and their conviction in making a positive difference in their community. By actively participating in road safety, they believe they contribute to a safer road environment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe findings reveal that the coping strategies employed by road safety guard volunteers underscore their resilience and adaptive capacity in effectively managing the demands of their roles. These coping mechanisms, crucial for understanding the volunteers' resilience, include individual-level strategies such as cognitive reframing and emotion regulation, as well as interpersonal strategies like seeking peer support. Understanding how road safety volunteers navigate and overcome the challenges associated with their roles is essential. The study contributes theoretically to resilience research by demonstrating that resilience is not a fixed trait but a dynamic process, consistent with the perspective of Rutter [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e]. The evidence from road safety volunteers supports and extends these theoretical frameworks, highlighting the significance of individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors in shaping resilience.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn addition, similar to previous studies on volunteers' motivations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e42\u003c/span\u003e], this research found that volunteering offers both psychological and social benefits. On a general level, volunteering empowers individuals by providing a sense of purpose and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships, thereby expanding their social networks. Specifically, for road safety volunteers, these roles not only fulfill personal aspirations but also enable individuals to contribute significantly to public safety and community well-being. Volunteering in this context allows individuals to be part of a broader process of social change, directly addressing community needs related to safe driving and road safety. These multifaceted benefits of volunteering can be further enhanced through proper training, ongoing support, and clear legal guidelines, which are essential for ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of road safety volunteers in their crucial roles. This study underscores the importance of structural support to maintain volunteer motivation and efficacy, highlighting the specific and valuable contributions of road safety volunteers to societal well-being.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, this study has limitations, particularly regarding the sample size and diversity. The findings are based on a limited number of participants, which may not fully represent the broader population of road safety volunteers. Future research should aim to include a larger and more diverse sample to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these dynamics. Future research should continue to explore the dynamics of volunteer motivations and challenges to enhance support systems and optimize contributions to public welfare.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis research highlights the significant contributions of volunteers in promoting road safety and reducing accidents, driven by motivations such as civic duty, a desire to positively impact their communities, and personal experiences with road incidents. The challenges faced by road safety volunteers, including interactions with aggressive drivers, ensuring personal safety on busy roads, and accessing adequate resources and support, emphasize the need for robust community involvement and support structures. To enhance road safety, it is crucial to prioritize community engagement through workshops, seminars, and events focused on safe driving behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e In summary, the research findings on the motivations and challenges of road safety volunteers highlight the crucial role of citizen participation in shaping Israel's driving culture positively. Exploring the coping strategies of these volunteers not only enriches our theoretical understanding of resilience in volunteerism and public service but also offers valuable implications for organizations and policymakers. These observations are instrumental in enhancing support systems to strengthen the well-being and effectiveness of road safety volunteers and other community-based roles. By gaining deeper understanding into these dynamics, we can better tailor strategies that promote community safety and ensure sustained volunteer engagement in essential public service roles.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study was approved by Zefat Academic College ethic committee: ZAC #401-2018. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. I confirm that informed consent was obtained from all subjects\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot Applicable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author declares that they have no competing interests. There are no financial or personal relationships that could be perceived as potential competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis research was not funded by funding sources\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not possible to share research data publicly due to participants privacy.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026apos; contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author confirms sole responsibility for the following: study conception and\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003edesign, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results, and manuscript\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003epreparation.\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgment\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author thanks to the volunteers that participated in the research.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003cp\u003e1. Shamoa-Nir L. The Psychology of Road Rage: Interplay between Aggression\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Styles While Coping with Driving Stress. SSRN. 2022;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4041812\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Shamoa-Nir L. Road rage and aggressive driving behaviors: the role of state-trait\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; anxiety and coping strategies. Transportation research interdisciplinary\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; perspectives. 2023; 18: 100780.\u0026rlm; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2023.100780\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Shamoa-Nir L, Koslowsky M. Aggression on the road as a function of\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; stress, coping strategies and driver style. Psychology. 2010; 1 (1): 35-44.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Thomson, J. A., Ampofo‐Boateng, K., Lee, D. N., Grieve, R., Pitcairn, T. K., \u0026amp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Demetre J. D. The effectiveness of parents in promoting the development\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;of road crossing skills in young children. British journal of educational\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;psychology. 1998; 68(4): 475-491.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Newnam, S., Newton, C., \u0026amp; McGregor-Lowndes, M. Predicting the safety\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;performance of volunteers: does motivation for volunteering influence driving\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;behavior?. Safety science. 2009; 47(8): 1090-1096.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Pepper, M. \u0026amp; Bullock, K. Safer roads through citizen partnerships:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;enhancing road safety with community speedwatch volunteers (Report to Road\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Safety Trust). 2024. \u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Hennessy DA, Wiesenthal DL. Gender, driver aggression, and driver\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;violence: An applied evaluation. Sex Roles. 2001; 44: 661-676.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. Hennessy DA, Wiesenthal DL. Driving vengeance and willful violations:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Clustering of problem Driving Attitudes. Journal of Applied Social Psychology.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;2005; 35: 61-79.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Jiang L, Zhou HF, Bai L, Zhou P. Does foreign direct investment drive\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;environmental degradation in China? An empirical study based on air quality index\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;from a spatial perspective. Journal of cleaner production. 2018; 176: 864-872.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. Love S, Kannis-Dymand L, Davey J. Freeman J. Metacognition,\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; rumination and road rage: an examination of driver anger progression and\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;expression in Australia. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; behaviour. 2022; 84: 21-32.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. Montag, I., \u0026amp; Comrey, A. L. (1987). Internality and externality as correlates of \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;involvement in fatal driving accidents. Journal of Applied Psychology, 3, 339-\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;343.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. Shamoa-Nir, L. (2011). Aggressive Driving. Lap Lambert, Berlin, Germany.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e13. Yu J, Evans PC, Perfetti L. Road aggression among drinking drivers:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;alcohol and non-alcohol effects on aggressive driving and road rage. Journal of\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Criminal Justice. 2005; 32(50): 421-430.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e14. Marsh, P., \u0026amp; Collet, P. (1987a). Driving Passion: The Psychology of the car.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Faber, Inc.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e15. Marsh, P., \u0026amp; Collet, P. (1987b). The car as a weapon. Et cetera, 44(2), 146-151.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e16. Zhang T, Chan AH. The association between driving anger and driving outcomes: A meta-analysis of evidence from the past twenty years. Accident Analysis \u0026amp; Prevention. 2016; 90: 50-62.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e17. Bjureberg J, Gross JJ. Regulating road rage. Social and personality psychology\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; compass. 2021; 15: e12586.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e18. Gulian E, Matthews G, Glendon AI, Davis DR, Debney LM. (1989).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Dimensions of driver stress. Ergonomics. 1989; 32: 585-602.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e19. Koslowsky M, Kluger AN, Riech M. Commuting stress: Causes, effects and\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; methods of coping. 1995; New York: Plenum Press. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e20. Koslowsky, M. (1997). Commuting stress: Problems of definitions and variable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; identification. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 6(2), 153-173.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e21. Montoro L, Useche S, Alonso F. Cendales B. Work environment,\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; stress, and driving anger: A structural equation model for predicting traffic\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; sanctions of public transport drivers. International journal of environmental\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; research and public health. 2018; 15(3): 497.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e22. Ge Y, Qu W, Jiang C, Du F, Sun X, Zhang K. The effect of stress and personality\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; on dangerous driving behavior among Chinese drivers. Accident Analysis \u0026amp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Prevention. 2014; 73: 34-40.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e23. Matthews, G., Dorn, L., \u0026amp; Glendon, A.I. (1991). Personality corralates of driver\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; stress. Personality and Individual Differences, 12, 535-549.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e24. Matthews, G., Desmond, P.A., Joyner, L., Carcary,B., \u0026amp; Gilliland, K.)1997(. A\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;comprehensive questionnaire measure of driver stress and affect. In E. C. Vaya\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026amp; J. A. Rothengatter (Eds.), Traffic \u0026amp; Transport \u0026nbsp; psychology: Theory and\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;application, 317-324. Amsterdam: Pergamon.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e25. Matthews, G., Dorn, L., Hoyes, T. W., Davies, D. R., Glendon, A. I., \u0026amp; Taylor, R.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;G. (1998). \u0026nbsp;Driver stress and performance on a driving simulator. Human\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Factors, 40(1), 136-149.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e26. Useche SA, Ortiz VG, Cendales BE. Stress-related psychosocial factors at work, fatigue, and risky driving behavior in bus rapid transport (BRT) drivers. Accident Analysis \u0026amp; Prevention. 2017; 104: 106-114.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e27. Kaplan S, Guvensan MA, Yavuz AG, Karalurt Y. Driver behavior analysis for\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; safe driving: A survey. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Systems. 2015; 16(6): 3017-3032.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e28. Young MS, Birrell SA, Stanton NA. Safe driving in a green world: A review of\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; driver performance benchmarks and technologies to support\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; smart\u0026rsquo;driving. Applied ergonomics. 2011; 42(4): 533-539.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e29. Dobrin, A. \u0026amp; Wolf, R. What is known and not known about volunteer\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; policing in the United States. International Journal of Police Science and\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Management. 2016; 18 (3): 220-227.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e30. Bullock, L. \u0026amp; Leeney, D. On matters of balance: An examination of the\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;deployment, motivation and management of the Special Constabulary. Policing\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;and Society: An International Journal of Research and Policy. 2014; 26 (5): \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; 483-502.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e31. Whittle, J. The rise of the Special Constabulary: Are forces getting value\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;for money from their voluntary officers? An empirical study in Avon and\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Somerset Police. Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. 2014; 87: 29\u0026ndash;40.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e32. Callender, M., Pepper, M., Cahalin, K. and Britton, I. Exploring the Police\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Support Volunteer experience: Findings from a national survey. Policing and\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Society: An International Journal of Research and Policy. 2019; 29(4): 392-406.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e33. Hucklesby, A. and Corcoran, M. Introduction. in A. Hucklesby and M.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Corcoran (Eds.) The Voluntary Sector and Criminal Justice. Hampshire: Palgrave\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Macmillan. 2016; 1-13.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e34. Wolf, R., Holmes, S. and Jones, C. Utilisation and satisfaction of\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; volunteer law enforcement officers in the Office of the American Sheriff: An\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; exploratory nationwide study. Police Practice and Research: An International\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Journal. 2016; 17 (5): 448-462.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e35. Rutter, Michael. \u0026quot;Psychosocial resilience and protective mechanisms. American\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; journal of orthopsychiatry. 1987; 57(3): 316-331.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e36. Ghodsi, H., Sohrabizadeh, S., Jazani, R. K., \u0026amp; Kavousi, A. Factors\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; affecting resiliency among volunteers in disasters: A systematic literature\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; review. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness. 2022; 16(1): 398-404.\u0026rlm;\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e37. Trent, S. B., \u0026amp; Allen, J. A. (2019). Resilience only gets you so far: Volunteer\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; incivility and burnout. Organization Management Journal. 2019; 16(2): 69-80.\u0026rlm;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e38. Shamoa-Nir L, Koslowsky M. The relation between drivers\u0026apos; characteristics and\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; aggressive driving. Megamot. 2015; 50: 45-78. https://ssrn.com/abstract=4079368\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e39. Shamoa-Nir L, Dorchin U. Israeli driving culture: driving style and drivers\u0026apos;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; attitudes towards traffic laws. Israel Sociology. 2016; 17 (2): 138-159.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;https://ssrn.com/abstract=4081849\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e40. Shamoa-Nir L, Koslowsky M. Aggressive behavior of drivers: A new\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;questionnaire defining the difference between hostile and instrumental behavior\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;while driving. \u0026nbsp;International Journal of Psychology Research. 2010; 6: 129-42.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e41. Kim E, Fredline L, Cuskelly G. Heterogeneity of sport event volunteer\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;motivations: A segmentation approach. Tourism Management. 2018; 68: 375\u0026ndash;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.04.004\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e42. Dolnicar S, Randle M. What motivates which volunteers? Psychographic\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;heterogeneity among volunteers in Australia. Voluntas: International Journal of\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations. 2007; 18: 135\u0026ndash;155.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Tables","content":"\u003cdiv align=\"left\" dir=\"ltr\" style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:right;font-size:15px;font-family:\"Calibri\",sans-serif;'\u003e\n \u003ctable style=\"width: 4.5e+2pt;border-collapse:collapse;border:none;\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"4\" style=\"width: 446.55pt;border-top: none;border-right: none;border-left: none;border-image: initial;border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:.55pt;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eTable 1.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:.55pt;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eCoding Scheme for motivations, challenges and perceptions of the role of road safety volunteers\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:.55pt;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"4\" style=\"width: 446.55pt;border-top: none;border-right: none;border-left: none;border-image: initial;border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eCoding Scheme\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 90.45pt;border-top: none;border-right: none;border-left: none;border-image: initial;border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eTheme\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 120.5pt;border-top: none;border-right: none;border-left: none;border-image: initial;border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eTheme Content\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 155.95pt;border-top: none;border-right: none;border-left: none;border-image: initial;border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eSubthemes\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 79.65pt;border-top: none;border-right: none;border-left: none;border-image: initial;border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eInterater agreement\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 90.45pt;border: none;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eThe Driving Forces\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eChallenges and Coping Mechanisms\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 120.5pt;border: none;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eParticipants refer to the intrinsic motivation and dedication behind their voluntary engagement\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eParticipants describe both, difficulties they encounter and coping strategies, while fulfilling their volunteer responsibilities\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 155.95pt;border: none;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eSense of purpose\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eSocial engagement\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eEducational role\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eTraining gaps and legal protections\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eCoping strategies and resilience\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003ePeer support and solidarity\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 79.65pt;border: none;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e96%\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e92%\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e90%\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e95%\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e90%\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e89%\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 90.45pt;border-top: none;border-right: none;border-left: none;border-image: initial;border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eMultifaceted Benefits\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 120.5pt;border-top: none;border-right: none;border-left: none;border-image: initial;border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eParticipants refer to \u0026nbsp; benefits and advantages resulting from their volunteering\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 155.95pt;border-top: none;border-right: none;border-left: none;border-image: initial;border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003ePositive community impact\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003eSocial connectivity\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:.55pt;line-height:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 79.65pt;border-top: none;border-right: none;border-left: none;border-image: initial;border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 7.3pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e90%\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e89%\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"4\" style=\"width: 446.55pt;border: none;padding: 0in 5.4pt;height: 56.35pt;vertical-align: top;\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"LTR\" style='margin:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:200%;font-size:16px;font-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;color:#1F497D;'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:windowtext;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-psychology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"psyo","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Psychology](http://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"BMC Psychology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Road rage, Aggressive Drivers, Traffic Safety, Accidents, Volunteers, Resilience, Education","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4681792/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4681792/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eRoad safety is a critical concern worldwide, impacting individuals, communities, and societies. As mobility rises, so does the risk of accidents and injuries on roads, emphasizing the need for preventive measures. Road safety volunteers are crucial in promoting and upholding road safety, making it vital to understand their motivations and Resilience Sources. This study aims to uncover what drives their commitment and the factors influencing their experiences as volunteers, informing strategies to support and enhance their efforts. Through analysis of 28 interviews with road safety volunteers, several prominent themes emerged. These include diverse motivations, a strong sense of purpose, active community engagement, and a sense of empowerment among volunteers. Additionally, the challenges they face in their roles highlight the considerable resilience these volunteers demonstrate. The importance of support systems\u0026mdash;whether individual or peer-based, \u0026mdash;in strengthening this resilience was prominently underscored. These findings contribute to the understanding of the importance of promoting education on safe driving practices and fostering active citizen involvement in preventing traffic violations and road accidents.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"The Driving Forces of Road Safety Volunteers: Resilience, Coping Mechanisms, Well-being and Education","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-07-22 20:41:48","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4681792/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2024-07-08T11:06:02+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-07-04T09:28:23+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-07-04T09:28:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Psychology","date":"2024-07-03T16:23:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-psychology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"psyo","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Psychology](http://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"BMC Psychology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"ad44c3e9-5ffa-4a43-9348-ce7d5655e8da","owner":[],"postedDate":"July 22nd, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-01-06T16:00:40+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-4681792","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02315-2","journal":{"identity":"bmc-psychology","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Psychology"},"publishedOn":"2024-12-30 15:57:18","publishedOnDateReadable":"December 30th, 2024"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-07-22 20:41:48","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s40359-024-02315-2","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02315-2","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4681792","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4681792","identity":"rs-4681792","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}