Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify groups of travel mode users, based on objective risk estimates, and examine overall differences in demographic characteristics, perceived risk, worry, perceived control when using travel modes, trust in authorities, and safety motivation. The results were based on a self-completion questionnaire survey about risk perception and travel mode use in a representative sample of the Norwegian public (n = 1864). In addition, aggregate level data on accidents in transport were used to establish the ‘objective risk’ for various travel modes. The respondents were split into two clusters. The first cluster was characterised by a relatively greater objective risk for accidents related to public travel modes as well as related to being a pedestrian, while the second cluster was characterised by a higher risk level related to motorized private modes of transportation. There was a significant overall difference in the risk estimates amongst the members of the two clusters. There was also an overall difference in risk perception and other risk-related judgements due to which risk estimate-based cluster the respondents belonged. Associations between objective risk estimates, perceived risk, and worry are discussed in relation to cluster differences in objective risk.