Analysis of Freight Driver Behavior on Traffic Safety in South Sulawesi

South Sulawesi faces a critical road safety challenge due to high traffic accident rates involving freight drivers, primarily linked to behavioral factors. Despite rising concerns about driving discipline, skills, and emotional regulation in this sector, the mediating role of safety knowledge remains underexplored. This study investigates the direct and indirect effects of freight driver behavior (driving discipline, driving skills, and emotional regulation) on traffic safety outcomes, with safety knowledge as a mediator. A quantitative approach was employed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS 4. Data from 300 randomly selected freight drivers in South Sulawesi were collected through validated questionnaires (Cronbach’s Alpha >0.85). Analysis included 500-bootstrap resampling to test path significance. Driver behavior (discipline/skills/emotional regulation) directly explained 92% of traffic safety variance (? = 0.92, p<0.001). Safety knowledge mediated indirect effects but had weaker direct impact (28.7% variance explained). Emotional regulation emerged as the strongest behavioral predictor. Freight accidents are predominantly driven by behavioral factors rather than knowledge gaps. Interventions targeting driving discipline and emotional regulation—supplemented by safety training—are critical for reducing accidents. Establishes a hierarchical relationship between driver behavior and safety knowledge, challenging assumptions of knowledge as the primary safety driver.