Young Bike Drivers Behavior and Its Influence on Road

Traffic Accidents

Submitted by:

Name Roll No.

Talha shabbir 317

Aashir jamal 251

Junaid javaid 280

Asad shabbir 293

(4th year MBBS)

Supervised by:

Dr. khalid siddiqui

Department of Community Medicine, FMU Faisalabad.

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Introduction

Every year , many citizens lose their lives as a result of road traffic crashes, 48% of those

killed in motor vehicle crashes are bike drivers although pedestrians make up an

additional one-fifth [1]. According to statistcis it is reported that 60% of road accidents

occur due to individual behavior (23% due to excessive speed, 12% wrong passing, 15%

drivers inattention, 8% sudden defects, 14% blown tire, 9% due to the loose of control,

1% vehicle roll over, 9% two vehicle collisions, 1% due to weather condition and 2% for

other reasons) [2]. Drivers at the age of 16 to 24 are usually called young or teen drivers.

They have higher crash rates than any other age group, including not only minor crashes

but also crashes resulting in injuries or fatalities [3]. Young and novice drivers high crash

rates primarily result from immaturity, lack of experience, and lifestyles associated with

their age and gender. Lack of brain development is a common risk factor in the younger

age group. A research study concluded that the brain doesn't mature until the age of 25

that's where brain studies have shown that the frontal lobes which control emotion, risk-

taking, and decision-making are not fully developed until young people reach the age of

25, the same time the age disappears as a risk factor for crashes after that the experience

had been gained [4]. Risky driving young inexperienced drivers significantly increases

their risk of having a crash; this is especially true among men [5]. In a study of over

20,000 young drivers in New South Wales, self-reported risky driving behaviors were

associated with a 50% increase in the risk of crashing [6]. The younger drivers were more

likely to engage in non-driving tasks within their vehicle [7]. Using in-vehicle technology

(cell/smart phones etc.) while driving increases the risk of a collision [8]. Research
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showed that, a driver’s crash risk is four times higher if he or she is talking on a cell

phone and 23 times higher if he/she is texting on a cell phone [9]. A study in Finland

showed that 26% of the young drivers’ accidents occurred at night [10]. Less visibility,

less ability to accurately estimate distances, increase from the average speed because of

the low traffic volume at night, and the wrong use of the high beam light, all of these

factors increase the likelihood of accidents at night. Another study explored that, the

crash rate for those at ages 16 to 19 approximately doubled with the presence of

passengers, but this was not true for drivers aged 20 to 24 or 25 to 59 [11].
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Literature Review

In spite of recent improvements attributed to graduated driver licensing, young drivers’

high rates of traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities, and the high monetary costs of

crashes are clearly unacceptable. Young people today are driving in a more complex

traffic environment than ever before. There are more vehicles, more congestion, more

complex intersections and roadways, and today’s drivers are considered by many to be

more rude, aggressive, and distracted. In spite of safer vehicles and roadways, driver

behavior remains frustratingly less than ideal. Traffic enforcement alone can never

adequately control driver behavior—officers cannot be in all places at all times. Novice

drivers are influenced by the complexity of this environment as well as the many other

factors in their lives. This research will first briefly review some key aspects of the young

driver crash problem. Then, many different influences on young drivers will be identified

and grouped within a conceptual framework. Based on this framework, interventions to

reduce young drivers’ crashes can be identified. Potential areas for new or improved

interventions for crash reduction will be suggested to guide future work. For developing

countries that are seeing increasing ownership and use of motor Vehicles could help

them to develop successful prevention strategies before young drivers are killed and

injured at high rates.[4]

A few aspects of the young driver problem bear mentioning, although they are treated in

more depth elsewhere. Teen drivers have the highest crash rate per miles driven of any

age group (although the very oldest drivers may be reaching similar levels), and among

teens, the youngest teens have the worst crash rate.[5]

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These data clearly indicate a serious public health problem, one that is very complex

when all its influences are considered, and one that is challenging to resolve. It is

essential, therefore, to understand the big picture of multiple influences before the best

and most promising interventions can be developed to reduce youthful driver crashes. To

influence behavior successfully, interventions must be grounded in behavioral science

theory. While several theories can and have been applied to driving behavior, three

theories are particularly useful in understanding youthful driving behavior. Social

Learning Theory is based on the fact that we behave in ways we have learned by

receiving positive reinforcement, while Social Cognitive Theory employs a dynamic,

reciprocal model in which behavior, personal factors, and environmental influences all

interact.[8] Problem Behavior Theory has demonstrated in adolescents and young

adults that while behavior is influenced by multiple factors,

behaviors viewed as problems sometimes serve a develop-

mental purpose. [9] In order to prevent fatalities from crashes involving young drivers,

injuries from those traffic crashes must be prevented, and in order to prevent injuries

from those traffic crashes, the traffic crashes themselves must be prevented. While there

has been excellent progress in engineering approaches to vehicle safety and roadway

design, driver behavior remains a major challenge in preventing traffic crashes.

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Questionaire

BEHAVIOR OF YOUNG BIKE DRIVERS

Name:

Age:

Gender:

Hospital unit:

For each of the following questions please encircle the option that corresponds with your

confidence.

1) At which age did you learn to drive?

a) 16 – 19

b) 20 – 25

c) 26 – 30

d) Above 30

2) Do you have driving license?

a) Yes

b) No

3) At which you obtained your driving license?

a) 18 – 20

b) 21 – 24
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c) 25 – 29

d) After 30

4) Do you exceed speed limit?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always

5) Do you race with neighbouring vehicles?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always

6) Do you drive in the form of sutures?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always

7) Do you drive at a safe distance form the front vehicle?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always
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8) Do you wear helmet while driving?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always

9) What is your preferred driving time?

a) Day

b) Night

10) Do you answer the call while driving?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always

11) Do you read or send messages on mobile while driving?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always

12) Do you smoke while driving?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always
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13) Do you eat or drink while driving?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always

14) Do you do one wheeling?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always

15) Do you turn on indicator while driving?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always

16) Do you stop at red signal?

a) Never

b) Sometimes

c) Often

d) Always

17) What was the cause of your accident?

a) Speeding

b) Lack of attention
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c) Driving at night

d) Wrong passing

e) One wheeling

f) Weather condition

g) Fault of others

h) Lack of use of helmet

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