High-risk behaviors while driving: A population-based study from Iran

OBJECTIVE: Injuries are becoming one of the most important challenges of the public health systems. As these injuries are mostly preventable, the aim of this study is to evaluate the four main high-risk behaviors while driving. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a random sample from the population of Mashhad, Iran in 2014. A checklist and a previously validated questionnaire for transtheoretical stages of change model (TTM) were used for data collection. Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS 11.5 software considering pRESULTS: Totally 431 individuals were included with a mean age of 30±11.3 years. Forty-three percent (183) were male. TTM model revealed that participants were mostly in pre-actional phases regarding not using a cell phone while driving (80%), fastening driver seat-belt (66%), front seat belt (68%) and rear seat-belt (85%) The penalty was a protective factor only for using cellphone (OR = 0.82, CI95% = 0.68-0.98). Lower education (OR = 0.12, CI95% = 0.01-0.94) and males (OR = 0.35, CI95% = 0.14-0.83) had a lower chance for fastening their front and rear seat-belt, respectively. CONCLUSION: The stages of change among study participants is a proper reflection of the effectiveness of the current policies. It seems that more serious actions regarding these high-risk behaviors should be considered in legislation. Language: en