Identification of factors causing driver's distraction in Oman

Ashraf Javid,Yousif Al-Neama

doi:10.5937/jaes16-16669

Abstract

In recent years the economic and infrastructure development have led to increase the number of private vehicles on the roads in Oman. The increased motorized traffic tends to increase the roadside accidents that results in fatalities and injuries. To ensure safe mobility of the citizens, it is very important to evaluate the underlying factors that contribute towards the occurrence of accidents so that proper countermeasures can be developed and implemented. The main objective of this study was to identify the most significant driver's distraction factors through a questionnaire survey and suggest some policy measures. The designed questionnaire was consisted of personal and driving attributes, and potential internal and external factors that cause distraction to the drivers. This questionnaire survey was conducted at some feasible locations in Muscat and Nizwa city with drivers of different vehicles. The results of 252 collected samples showed that the use of mobile phone, eating while driving and presence of passengers in vehicle are the most significant internal distraction factors. Significant external factors included looking at the scenic elements, advertisement boards and other drivers. It was predicted that cell phone, interaction, and disturbance-oriented factors are significant determinants of driver's propensity to be involved in an accident. This study proposed some behavioral intervention techniques that need to be considered for the improvement of traffic safety in Oman.

Highlights

There is increase in the use of private vehicle due to rapid increase in motorization and infrastructure development
The positive structural weights of interaction oriented factors (IOF) and disturbance oriented factors (DOF) with ‘accident propensity with use of mobile phone while driving’ variable depict that people who get engaged themselves in in-vehicle interaction, and get disturbed due to external factors have more propensity of being involved in accident
Private vehicle driver and married drivers think that the use of cell phone increases the probability to be involved in an accident

Summary

INTRODUCTION

There is increase in the use of private vehicle due to rapid increase in motorization and infrastructure development. The main statements were on those activities that drivers generally do while driving e.g. cell phone use, eating, interaction with other in-vehicle passengers, eating/drinking, looking at signs and advertisement signs, and involvement in control of entertainment devices All statements in this part were designed seeking the observed driver’s behavior on the roads and their risk in resulting accidents. The positive structural weights of IOF and DOF with ‘accident propensity with use of mobile phone while driving’ variable depict that people who get engaged themselves in in-vehicle interaction, and get disturbed due to external factors have more propensity of being involved in accident. All the structural relationships are positive between policy variables and defined driver’s demographics It implies that male, private vehicle driver and married drivers think that the use of cell phone increases the probability to be involved in an accident. By comparing the values of goodness of fit parameters with permissible values, it is said that the developed structural model has reasonable fit in explain the driver’s distraction behavior related to propensity of accidents

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Part 1: Kindly choose appropriate option or write for each question

Findings

Part 3