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Abstract
Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are increasingly being recognised as a growing public health problem. In Egypt, RTAs constitute 45% of all injury mortalities. The main objective of the study was to identify the driving style and driving behaviour of medical students and its association with car accident involvement. Driving style and behaviour of 450 medical students were reported using a self administered questionnaire. Driving style included: driving with excessive speed, deviance, calmness, planning and concentration, driving opposite direction, disregarding traffic lights and road signs (p<0.05). Driving behaviour included: driving before having license, mobile use during driving, violations, use of safety belt, participation in car races and driving under risky conditions. Involvements in car accidents were inquired in the questionnaire.
Result Sixty-nine per cent of students reported having previous car accidents of which 63.5% were simple accidents with minimal car affection and no human injuries. Driving styles and behaviours that were significantly higher among males: excessive speed, driving before having license, disregarding road signs, driving opposite direction, non use of safety belt, answering a mobile call during driving, violations and drive under risky conditions. Significant factors associated with students' involvement in car accidents were as follows: answering mobile phone during driving, fast driving, disregarding road signs, involvement in car races, loud stereo music, drive under stress, severe fatigue, drive in bad visibility conditions, intake of alcohols and sedative drugs, sudden crossing of pedestrians, bad vehicle condition, previous violations and previous withdrawal of license.