Mobile phone and seat belt usage and its impact on road accident fatalities and injuries in southeast Iran

Abstract

The main aim of the present study was to investigate seat belt and mobile phone usage and its impact on road accident deaths and injuries during and after the enactment of the laws in southeast Iran. A questionnaire was prepared to investigate drivers' characteristics and their mobile phone and seat belt usage. This study also investigated the number of cars registered and their impact on road fatalities and injuries. Results showed that 52% males and 5% females and 34% males and 1% female use seat belts and mobile phones respectively on two main urban roads in Kerman. Results also show that there was a significant drop in road deaths and injuries next year after the enactment of the seat belt law, but again road deaths and injuries increased on relaxing the laws. Questionnaire-surveyed results showed that the drivers meeting accidents were engaged in conservation and were unbelted while driving. The findings of this study also revealed that increase in the number of cars resulted in the increase in number of road deaths and injuries. Finally, this research suggests the need for advertising campaigns to increase seat belt usage and the perceived risk of being fined for using mobile phone and not wearing a seat belt while driving on urban roads.