فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

BACKGROUND: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are an emerging public health issue of global concerncausing 1.35 million deaths per year. They are the leading cause of death among 5–29 years whocontribute to the future and current productive population of the country. The outcome of mortalityand permanent disability are public health concerns. We determined the factors associated with RTAsamong medical undergraduates and assessed their knowledge of road traffic rules.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study had 500 medical undergraduates from a tertiary hospitallocated in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. Data were collected using questions from “Road safetyquestion bank” issued by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, sent asGoogle forms to students. Descriptive statistics were used and multivariate analysis was performedto identify risk factors associated with RTAs.RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 21.4 (standard deviation = 1.7) years. About 30.4%of students suffered from RTAs in the past 2 years. Practice of drunken driving and mobile phoneusage showed significant association with RTA occurrence (P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regressionrevealed that students crossing speed limits and jumping signals had 3.19 and 2.04 times morerisk of sustaining RTAs. Seventy‑five percent of students had good knowledge on road traffic rules.CONCLUSION: Nearly half the subjects have suffered RTA in the past 2 years. Students who overspeed, jumped signals and used mobile phones while driving sustained more RTAs. Overall, roadtraffic rules knowledge was satisfactory. Students need education on risky driving behaviors andaftermath of crashes.