Young drivers represent a high-risk group worldwide, with their overrepresentation in road trauma placing substantial pressure on health and economic systems. Their crashes are often linked to risky driving behaviors, accentuating the need for reliable instruments to assess these patterns. The Behavior of Young Novice Drivers Scale (BYNDS) was developed to comprehensively assess multiple dimensions of risky driving behavior in drivers aged 17–29 years; however, it has not yet undergone cross-cultural validation. Aim This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive cross-cultural validation of the BYNDS and examine differences in risky driving behaviors among young drivers from Low- and Middle-Income (LMIC) and High-Income (HIC) countries. Method Data were collected from a cross-sectional sample of n = 3,989 young drivers aged M = 22.25 years, of whom 52 % were male and 48 % female. Participants completed the BYNDS, a 44-item behavioral questionnaire administered across 12 countries (48.6 % LMICs; 51.4 % HICs) spanning five continents. Results The findings indicate that the BYNDS supports a five-factor structure with good fit indices, strong factor loadings, and acceptable reliability, and invariance between countries of different income levels. Furthermore, the validated BYNDS-42 (comprising 42 items distributed across five factors) also showed the ability to distinguish between drivers with and without self-reported crashes or traffic fines. Conclusion This study provides robust evidence supporting the cross-cultural validity and reliability of the BYNDS, reinforcing its value as a tool for assessing young driver behavior. These findings offer empirically grounded insights that can inform behavioral interventions aimed at improving young drivers’ road safety.

In Australia, the number of collisions at level crossings (LCs) remains stable and even increased between 2003 and 2011. A consistent number of crashes between trains and pedestrians compared to a decreasing number of crashes between trains and vehicles calls for a better understanding of the factors underpinning pedestrians’ decision-making at such risky intersections. This study reports on an innovative method used to measure pedestrians’ crossing intentions and risk perceptions in crossing scenarios recorded at three representative LCs for Queensland (Australia). Predictors of crossing intentions were examined and compared between five scenarios. An online survey featuring the footages of the crossing scenarios was completed by 222 participants. The results revealed that pedestrians’ intentions to transgress depend on the situation, justifying the use of such methodology. Pedestrians perceived the lowest risk and reported the highest likelihood of risk-taking after the pedestrian lights are active, but before the pedestrian gates have started moving, confirming that pedestrian gates are an efficient safety measure. It was found that pedestrians perceive others as more prone to risk-taking at LCs, but not as being more at risk of fatal consequences, suggesting that the risk of being hit by a train as a pedestrian is generally perceived as low. Past unsafe behaviour, descriptive norms and perceived risk of being involved in a crash were found to be consistent predictors of the likelihood to engage in risk-taking behaviour at LCs across the different scenarios. Implications for future research and strategies to reduce habitual unsafe behaviour are discussed.