Social And Behavioral Risk Factors Influencing Driver's Involvement In Rd Traffic Accidents In Qatar

Abstract

On average, traffic accidents kill around 137 people around the world every hour. In 2004, road injuries were the first leading cause of death and predicted to be the fifth leading cause of death by 2030. Although the world's high-income countries occupy around 52% of the world's registered vehicles, only 10% of the world's traffic fatalities occur on the roads of these countries. In Qatar, traffic accidents kill between 3 to 4 people, on average, every week. In 2010, traffic injuries were around 4500 people. In the same year, speeding, which is one of human-related factors, causes 72.3% of the total number of accidents and crossing the red light causes 7.6% of the accidents. Human risk factors, in general, play the main role in traffic accidents. This study focuses on exploring and analyzing social and behavioral factors contributing to traffic accident involvement in Qatar society. It also attempts to define and evaluate the psychological motivations behind adaptation of reckless driving behaviors by youth and matches them to early socialization process within family. Several statistical data collection methods were used, such as, surveys, case studies and interviews. The study investigates different groups such as school students, parents, and young drivers in local sociality. The questionnaire was designed to gather as much as information as possible regarding to possible social factors of road accident, details of accident survey participants may have for last three years and their recommendations for reducing traffic accidents in Qatar. Media awareness for preventing road accident should be enhanced in both prints media and broadcast one. The awareness should be focused for youth drivers and workshops were conducted by the project team regularly in schools and universities. The results of this study have given a clear picture of social aspects of traffic accident involvement phenomena and may help in reducing the injuries and deaths caused by road accidents in the country.