Knowledge and Practices of Saudi Adult Males Regarding Road Traffic Safety
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- Category: Vol. 84, December 2016
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Knowledge and Practices of Saudi Adult Males Regarding Road Traffic Safety, ABDULLAH F.S. RAIZAH, MOHAMMED S.M. AL-SHAHRANI, MOHAMMED A.A. ASSIRI, MOHAMMED A.M. ALKATHIRI, ABDULAZIZ A.M. QEISY and ABDUL RAHMAN S.S. HALLAS
Abstract
Aim of Study: To assess knowledge and practices regarding road traffic safety among adult Saudi males.
Subjects and Methods: The study included 482 Saudi adult males. A questionnaire was constructed by the researcher, which comprised socio-demographic variables, in addition to questions about participants' knowledge and practices related to road traffic safety.
Results: Knowledge about driving safety was poor among 21% of participants, while 9.9% had poor practice regarding driving safety. Almost all participants (96.7%) drive a car, while only 80% have a driving license. Younger participants who drive cars had significantly lower knowledge grades, while practices grades among participants who drive cars were significantly worse among younger, single and less educated participants.
Conclusions: Most Saudi male adults drive cars. However, many of those who drive cars do not have driving license. Knowledge and practice grades of most male adults regarding road traffic and driving safety are suboptimal. Most Saudi adult males do not use the safety belt while driving. Younger participants who drive cars had significantly lower knowledge grades, while practices grades among participants who drive cars were significantly worse among younger, single and less educated participants.
Recommendations: Awareness programs on road traffic safety should be conducted for the public in Saudi Arabia. The importance of using safety belts while driving should be emphasized. Educational programs about traffic signals and regulations should be applied. Enforcement of traffic laws and regulation is highly needed.