Ajotavoista

Ajotavoista is a Finnish term that refers to driving styles or driving habits. In Finnish traffic safety, ajotavoista denotes the habitual patterns with which a person operates a motor vehicle, including choices about acceleration, braking, steering, speed, gear use, following distance, signaling, and lane position. The concept is used to describe both individual drivers and groups, and it is studied to understand risk factors and to improve training and policy.

Researchers distinguish between defensive and aggressive driving styles, and within these categories consider factors such as fuel efficiency, smoothness, anticipation, and adherence to traffic laws. Driving styles vary by context (urban, highway, rural), weather and road conditions, and by driver characteristics such as experience, age, and cultural background.

Data on ajotavoista can be collected via self-report surveys, observational studies, telematics, and in-vehicle sensors. This information informs driver education, fleet management, and road safety campaigns. Promoting defensive and eco-driving techniques can modify ajotavoista to reduce crash risk and fuel consumption.