Abstract
BackgroundTraffic collision fatality rates per mile travelled have declined in Abu Dhabi similar to many developed countries. Nevertheless, the rate is still significantly higher than the average of countries with similar GDP and socio-demographic indicators. The literature on the subject in the UAE is limited especially in the area of studying drivers behaviour. This study aims to find determinants of risky driving behaviours that precipitate having a road traffic collision (RTC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).MethodsA cross-sectional, survey-based study was employed. Participants were 327 active drivers who were attending Abu Dhabi Ambulatory Health Care Services clinics. They were provided with a questionnaire consisting of demography, lifestyle history, medical history, driving history, and an RTC history. They were also given a driving behaviour questionnaire, a distracted driving survey, depression screening and anxiety screening.ResultsNovice drivers (less than 25 years old) were 42% of the sample and 79% were less than 35 years. Those who reported a history of an RTC constituted 39.8% of the sample; nearly half (47.1%) did not wear a seatbelt during the collision. High scores in the driving behaviour questionnaire and high distraction scores were evident in the sample. Most distraction-prone individuals were young (90.5% were less than 36 years old). High scores in the driving behaviour questionnaire were also associated with high distraction scores (p < 0.001). Respondents with high depression risk were more likely to be involved in the RTC. With each one-point increase in the driver’s distraction score, the likelihood of a car crash being reported increased by 4.9%.ConclusionDrivers in the UAE engage in risky behaviours and they are highly distracted. Some behaviours that contribute to severe and even fatal injuries in RTCs include failing to wear a seatbelt and being distracted. Younger people were more likely distracted, while older drivers were more likely to have higher depression scores. Depression is suggested as a determinant factor in risky driving. These findings are informative to other countries of similar socioeconomic status to the UAE and to researchers in this field in general.
Highlights
Traffic collision fatality rates per mile travelled have declined in Abu Dhabi similar to many developed countries
Drivers’ behaviour in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is risky, drivers are highly distracted, and depression must be considered as an important factor in risky driving
While there have been numerous technological advancements in vehicular and environmental safety, human behaviours, as distracted driving or not-use of restraints frequently contribute to severe injuries and fatalities in road traffic collision (RTC)
Summary
Traffic collision fatality rates per mile travelled have declined in Abu Dhabi similar to many developed countries. Road collisions cost about $600 billion to governments in different economies, a figure that is equivalent to the combined GDP of almost all the developing countries in the world [1]. In addition death rate in Abu Dhabi is decreasing and it is lower than that of many developed countries, 18.1 per 100,000 in 2013, still Road Traffic Collision (RTC) is the second leading cause of death. Prevention and mitigation of RTCs for younger age groups is especially worthwhile since the youth are in high risk of injury because they are not restrained and have more risky driving practices, driving with no license, drug/alcohol use and distractive driving [7, 8]
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