Risky driving behavior among university students and staff in the Sultanate of Oman

• Published in: Accident analysis and prevention 2013-09, Vol.58, p.1-9
• Main Authors: Al Reesi, Hamed, Al Maniri, Abdullah, Plankermann, Kai, Al Hinai, Mustafa, Al Adawi, Samir, Davey, Jeremy, Freeman, James
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Automobile Driving - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; Crashes; Culture; Developing Countries - statistics & numerical data; Driving behavior; Driving behavior questionnaire; Economics; Error analysis; Errors; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Health participants; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Multivariate Analysis; Oman; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk-Taking; Roads; Safety - statistics & numerical data; Students; Students - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teaching - statistics & numerical data; Traffic engineering; Traffic flow; Universities; University staff; University students; Violations; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0001-4575; 1879-2057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2013.04.021

•Speeding and aggressive violations are common driving behavior among university students in Oman.•Omani drivers with history of offenses are more likely to cause car crashes.•Errors and aggressive violations are associated with car crashes among Omani drivers. There is a well developed literature on research investigating the relationship between various driving behaviors and road crash involvement. However, this research has predominantly been conducted in developed economies dominated by western types of cultural environments. To date no research has been published that has empirically investigated this relationship within the context of the emerging economies such as Oman. The present study aims to investigate driving behavior as indexed in the driving behavior questionnaire (DBQ) among a group of Omani university students and staff. A convenience non-probability self-selection sampling approach was utilized with Omani university students and staff. A total of 1003 Omani students (n=632) and staff (n=371) participated in the survey. Factor analysis of the BDQ revealed four main factors that were errors, speeding violation, lapses and aggressive violation. In the multivariate logistic backward regression analysis, the following factors were identified as significant predictors of being involved in causing at least one crash: driving experience, history of offenses and two DBQ components, i.e., errors and aggressive violation. This study indicates that errors and aggressive violation of the traffic regulations as well as history of having traffic offenses are major risk factors for road traffic crashes among the sample. While previous international research has demonstrated that speeding is a primary cause of crashing, in the current context, the results indicate that an array of factors is associated with crashes. Further research using more rigorous methodology is warranted to inform the development of road safety countermeasures in Oman that improves overall Traffic Safety Culture.