Abstract
This study aimed to examine the knowledge of traffic rules and laws among a sample of drivers from the city of Tripoli and their behavior with respect to the same. A random sample of 416 drivers was selected from various regions for Tripoli, namely: Tajura, Abo Saleem, City Centre and Janzour and administered a questionnaire that would elicit and record their knowledge and behavior regarding road rules and regulations. The study revealed that traffic accidents are most affected by and positively, statistically correlated with certain key behavioral variables determinants such as: commitment to the speed limit, respect for traffic signals, compliance with seat belt use, use of mobile phones, driving under psychological stress or when sick and eating while driving. The study also found that 56% are no committed to the speed limit, only 41% were seat-belt compliant while driving and 71% of them used mobile phones while driving. Sixty nine percent of drivers opted financial penalty for mobile phone use during driving, this may be an indication that alternate traffic rules penalties may be enforced to deter drivers from repeat offenses. Thereto, a numbers of recommendations were presented for implementation by the relevant authorities. Overall, the study found that Tripoli drivers' knowledge of/on traffic laws and accident-risks didn't affect their behavior on the road.
Highlights
Road safety and accidents are a major public health concern and risk in both developed and developing nations, due to their pervasive social, economic and health implications. (WHO (World Health Organization), 2009a) reported over 1.2 million deaths and between 20 to 50 million injuries every year and globally, which result from traffic accidents
This study found that the prevalence of traffic accidents was very high and so across three major regions of Tripoli namely, Abo Saleem Tajura and City Centre, followed closely by that in Janzour
The study revealed that traffic accidents are most affected by and positively, statistically correlated with the following key behavioral variables determinants: commitment to the speed limit, respect for traffic signals, compliance with seat belt use, use of mobile phones, driving under psychological stress or when sick and eating while driving
Summary
Road safety and accidents are a major public health concern and risk in both developed and developing nations, due to their pervasive social, economic and health implications. (WHO (World Health Organization), 2009a) reported over 1.2 million deaths and between 20 to 50 million injuries every year and globally, which result from traffic accidents. An accident prevention plan would incorporate an evaluation of the potential impacts of such selected mitigation measures, for further planning existing literature on relevant studies indicate that the most highly acknowledged recommended measures in establishing road safety improvement plans are: Global Status Report on Road Safety (2013), education, enforcement, engineering, evaluation and encouragement. These measures within a plan have been applied to the roads of various developed and developing nations, with much success in yielding
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