Abstract

Speed is a risk factor associated for both the probability of suffering road traffic crashes and the severity of injuries. The purpose of this analysis was to estimate the prevalence of excessive driving speed and to identify associated factors with it in four Mexican cities: two with an automated speed control system (Guadalajara-Zapopan, Jalisco and León, Guanajuato) and two without it (Cuernavaca, Morelos and Villahermosa, Tabasco).

We performed direct observation in a randomly selected sample of roads and to measure speed, we used a speed laser gun. In each measurement an image was obtained, with speed in kilometers per hour, demographic information, seatbelt use, characteristics of the vehicle and driver. Speeding was defined as the speed above the limit established in each road and city, the prevalence was calculated for each city and a logistic regression analysis was fitted to evaluate associated factors.

7 077 vehicles were observed. The speeding prevalence was 47% (95% CI: 45.7, 48.2) across the four cities. Villahermosa had the highest prevalence observed (61.1%; 95% CI: 59.2, 63.1), followed by León (51.2%; 95% CI: 48.2, 54.), Cuernavaca (47.7%; 95% CI 45.3, 49.9) and Guadalajara-Zapopan (20.8%–95% CI: 18.8, 22.9). Cloudy weather conditions (AOR 7.94 95% CI 5.82–10.83), type of street (3–5 lanes AOR 4.60 95% CI 3.88–5.45), places with a pedestrian crossing (AOR 1.28 95% CI 1.06–1.54), school/sports/hospital areas (AOR 2.12 95% CI 1.80–2.49), during the evening (AOR 9.04 95% CI 7.30–11.21), Thursday (AOR 2.43 95% CI 1.85–3.21) and Sunday (AOR 1.78 95% CI 1.29–2.44) were factors that increased the probability of speeding.

We were able to determine some factors associated with speeding, as the road infrastructure or an automated speed control system in the cities, this is an evidence for the need of strengthen speed control strategies in the country.