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Original Article
Attitudes associated with behavioral predictors of serious road traffic crashes: results from the GAZEL cohort
  1. Hermann Nabi1,
  2. Louis Rachid Salmi2,3,
  3. Sylviane Lafont4,
  4. Mireille Chiron4,
  5. Marie Zins1,
  6. Emmanuel Lagarde2
  1. 1INSERM, Unité-687-IFR69/Cetaf, Saint-Maurice, F-94415, France
  2. 2INSERM, Equipe Avenir « Santé et insécurité routière » Unité 593-ISPED-IFR99, Bordeaux, F-33076, France
  3. 3CHU, Service d’Information Médical, Bordeaux, F-33076, France
  4. 4INRETS/Université de Lyon/Invs UMRESTTE, Bron F-69675, France
  1. Correspondence to:
 DrH Nabi
 Hôpital National de Saint-Maurice, INSERM U687, 14, rue du Val d’Osne, 94415 Saint-Maurice Cedex, France; hermann.nabi{at}st-maurice.inserm.fr

Abstract

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that behavioral predictors of serious road traffic crashes (RTC) are correlated with unfavorable attitudes towards traffic safety.

Design: Prospective and cross-sectional cohort study.

Setting: France

Participants: 13 447 of the 19 894 living members of the GAZEL cohort, workers and recent retirees of a French national utility company followed up since 1989.

Main outcomes measures: Driving behavior and attitudes towards traffic safety in 2001 by questionnaire. Serious RTCs were recorded over the subsequent 3 years using the cohort annual questionnaire. Behavioral predictors of serious RTCs were assessed using generalized linear Poisson regression models with time-dependent covariates. Factor scores extracted from the first four attitudinal factors of principal component analysis were saved and then regressed on behavioral predictors as independent variables.

Results: After controlling for potential confounders, the best predictors of serious RTCs were: “exceeding speed limits on rural roads”, “risky use of cellular phone”, and “sleepy driving”. The adjusted rate ratio ranged from 1.47 to 2.16. Predictors of contravention of the highway code (the first two predictors) were found to be strongly associated with negative attitudes towards “enforcement” and “speed limitations” with an adjusted odds ratio ranging from 1.31 to 2.02.

Conclusion: Our study supports the view that individuals with a high propensity for driving behaviors associated with an increased risk of RTCs were more likely to have negative attitudes towards traffic safety. Changing drivers’ negative or distorted opinions of traffic “enforcement” as well as “speed limitations” and “alcohol prohibition on roads” could improve their compliance with road traffic rules.

  • EDF-GDF, Electricité De France–Gaz De France
  • RTA, road traffic accident
  • RTCs, road traffic crashes

https://doi.org/10.1136/ip.2006.013342

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests: None.

    • Contributors: HN analyzed and interpreted data and wrote the report. EL conceived the study, contributed to analysis and interpretation of data and to the preparation of the manuscript. LRS was involved with analysis and interpretation of data. MC, SL, and MZ contributed to study design and interpretation of data. All authors contributed to the final version of the report. All authors had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.

    • This study protocol was approved by the French Data Protection Authority (Commission Nationale Informatique et Liberté (CNIL)). Before inclusion in both the GAZEL cohort and the study on traffic safety, all participants received an information letter describing the main objective of the study and the non-compulsory nature of their participation.