title: Get a license, buckle up, and slow down: risky driving patterns among saudis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Road traffic injuries are the largest cause of loss of disability-adjusted life years for men and women of all ages in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but data on driving habits there are lacking. To inform policymakers on drivers' abilities and driving habits, we analyzed data from the Saudi Health Interview Survey 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed a representative sample of 5,235 Saudi males aged 15 years or older on wearing seat belts, exceeding speed limits, and using a handheld cell phone while driving. Male and female respondents were surveyed on wearing seat belts as passengers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among Saudi males, 71.7% reported having had a driver's license, but more than 43% of unlicensed males drove a vehicle. Among drivers, 86.1% engaged in at least one risky behavior while driving. Older and unlicensed drivers were more likely to take risks while driving. This risk decreased among the more educated, current smokers, and those who are physically active. Up to 94.9% and 98.5% of respondents reported not wearing a seat belt in the front and the back passenger seats, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high burden of road traffic injuries in the Kingdom is not surprising given our findings. Our study calls for aggressive monitoring and enforcement of traffic laws. Awareness and proper education for drivers and their families should be developed jointly by the Ministries of Health, Interior Affairs, and Education and provided through their channels.
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation , University of Washington , Seattle , Washington.
authors.forename: Charbel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: El Bcheraoui
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basulaiman
authors.forename: Marwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuffaha
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daoud
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaber
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mikhitarian
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Ziad A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Memish
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Saeedi
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Almazroa
authors.forename: Ali H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mokdad
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: belted; distraction; driver; driver behavior; licensing; passenger; seat belt; speeding