The road traffic crashes as a neglected public health concern; an observational study from Iranian population.
OBJECTIVE
Traffic crashes are multifactorial events caused by human factors, technical issues, and environmental conditions. The present study aimed to determine the role of human factors in traffic crashes in Iran using the proportional odds regression model.


METHODS
The database of all traffic crashes in Iran in 2010 (n = 592, 168) registered through the "COM.114" police forms was investigated. Human risk factors leading to traffic crashes were determined and the odds ratio (OR) of each risk factor was estimated using an ordinal regression model and adjusted for potential confounding factors such as age, gender, and lighting status within and outside of cities.


RESULTS
The drivers' mean age ± standard deviation was 34.1 ± 14.0 years. The most prevalent risk factors leading to death within cities were disregarding traffic rules and regulations (45%), driver rushing (31%), and alcohol consumption (12.3%). Using the proportional odds regression model, alcohol consumption was the most significant human risk factor in traffic crashes within cities (OR = 6.5, 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.88-8.65) and outside of cities (OR = 1.73, 95% CI, 1.22-3.29).


CONCLUSIONS
Public health strategies and preventive policies should be focused on more common human risk factors such as disregarding traffic rules and regulations, drivers' rushing, and alcohol consumption due to their greater population attributable fraction and more intuitive impacts on society.
a Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Centre , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
Mahmood
M
Bakhtiyari
Ali
A
Delpisheh
Ayad Bahadori
AB
Monfared
Mohammad Hassan
MH
Kazemi-Galougahi
Mohammad Reza
MR
Mehmandar
Mohammad
M
Riahi
Masoud
M
Salehi
Mohammad Ali
MA
Mansournia
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002947:Cities; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult
Iran; alcohol; crashes; human factors; public health