
A Study on the Status of Unsafe Behaviors and Their Relationship with Road Accidents among Inter-City Drivers in Urmia in 2023
Sahel fouri 1 ℗, Taimur allahyari 1 ©, Iraj mohebbi 1
Abstract
Introduction: Traffic accidents are a major global health issue, causing around 1.35 million deaths annually. In Iran, about 16,000 people die in road crashes each year. Professional drivers, due to their demanding work conditions, are at higher risk of involvement in accidents. Among various contributing factors, driver behavior plays a critical role. Tools like the Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) help assess these behaviors. Previous studies show differences in driving patterns influenced by cultural, social, and personal factors. However, little research has focused specifically on intercity professional drivers in Urmia. This study aims to explore the relationship between unsafe driving behaviors and road accidents in this group. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study conducted on 378 intercity drivers visiting the Occupational Medicine Center at Urmia University of Medical Sciences. Sampling was performed using a convenience method. The Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) was employed as the standard instrument. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24 at the significance level of 0.05 Results: The highest score for unsafe behaviors was related to non-routine violations, with a mean of 1.33 ± 0.44. Significant positive correlations were found between all four DBQ subscales and road accidents (p 0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed that routine violations and errors significantly predicted 24.3% of the variance in annual accidents Conclusion and Discussion: The study concludes that unsafe driving behaviors—particularly routine violations and errors—are significantly related to road accidents and can predict about 24% of accident variance. Targeted interventions focusing on behavior change, stricter law enforcement, and driver education could reduce crash rates. Collaborative efforts among road safety authorities, policymakers, and psychologists are essential to improve traffic safety and promote safer driving habits. The study found that non-routine violations and errors were the most common unsafe driving behaviors among intercity professional drivers in Urmia. These behaviors were significantly associated with the number of traffic accidents. Routine violations, such as speeding, were identified as the strongest predictors of crashes. Driver fatigue from long working hours and lack of experience were linked to riskier behaviors. Cultural and regional differences may influence the types and frequency of unsafe actions. While driver behavior is a major factor, road and vehicle conditions also play important roles in accident occurrence.
Keywords: Driving behavior, road accident, traffic safety, unsafe behavior