The global epidemic of traffic-related deaths, recognized by the World Health Organization, remains a serious public health challenge. In 2023, approximately 1.19 million fatalities were recorded, and despite all advances, road traffic continues to be one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, especially among young and vulnerable populations The risks involve many factors beyond behavior itself. Therefore, this study aimed to understand how paternalistic values and individual freedom influence the culture of traffic safety among drivers. The research involved 465 university students, 42.2% female, in the city of Curitiba-PR (Brazil), with an average age of 23.43 years (SD = 6.13; min = 18 and max = 70). They answered a questionnaire of Likert scale, consisting of questions originally from Nævestad et al., 2022, with sociodemographic data, risk behaviors, trust in authorities, and descriptive norms. The data were analyzed using statistics analyses in SPSS. The results showed that individual freedom was valued, and also recognition of paternalistic values in the culture of traffic safety. However, safe behavior was not related to paternalism. Results also highlight that the perception of authorities and cultural context significantly influence the effectiveness of safety measures. The study highlighted the influence of individual freedom on drivers' behavior, emphasizing the need for efficient enforcement and the promotion of safe attitudes. The culture itself is not perceived by respondents when they behave in traffic.