Visual Function of Drivers and its Relation to the Occurrence of Road Traffic Accidents in Saudi Arabia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.6787Keywords:
Driving vision, Road safety, Road traffic accidents, Road traffic injuries, Uncorrected refractive errors, Visual impairment, Saudi ArabiaAbstract
BACKGROUND: The mortality rate due to road traffic accidents (RTA) is significantly high in Saudi Arabia (SA) compared to other countries. The visual function which includes good visual acuity (VA) and binocular vision are very important factors that can contribute to the incidence of RTA.
AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between refractive errors (REs) and the RTA in SA.
METHODS: A total of 354 participants (mean age 22.67 ± 3.22 years) were recruited randomly to participate in this study from the population of Qassim district. Data collected using the questionnaire included participants’ age, sex, and education level, ocular and medical history, driving history as well as history of RTA. Ocular health examination including VA, RE measurements, and binocular vision function vision was measured and analyzed.
RESULTS: The results of this study show that 48.3% of drivers had some form of REs with 3.4% being visually impaired. 217 (61.3%) of participants have had an RTA, and 119 (54.9%) of them have had more than two accidents in the past two years. The findings show no significant association between the occurrence of RTA and uncorrected REs or binocular vision dysfunction.
CONCLUSION: Our data showed significantly higher rate of RTA among Saudi drivers which is much higher than any country in the world. The current Saudi regulations for obtaining driving license need to be modified, with implementing a comprehensive eye examination prior to acquiring or renewing drivers’ licenses.
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Copyright (c) 2020 Sulaiman Aldakhil, Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo, Majid Moafa, Waleed Alghamdi, Muhammed Alluwimi, Suliman Alghnam (Author)
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