Citation

Koushki PA, Al-Bustan MA. J. Traffic Med. 1998; 26(1-2): 45-53.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Objective: Physical and emotional variables such as attentiveness, attitudes towards other road-users, impatience and anger are frequently cited as human-related errors in traffic accidents. This research paper examines the impacts of the Iraqi invasion on attitudes, driving behavior and road traffic accidents in Kuwait. Method: A random sample of 1,117 young drivers was conducted. Results: The findings indicated that a significant percentage of young college student drivers suffered from a variety of physical, emotional and psychological abuses by the invading army. They included harassments, attacks, imprisonments, tortures and rapes. These traumatic experiences have also left notable pest-invasion adverse impacts on attitudes and driving behavior. Conclusion: For a significant percentage of the sample population, driving behavior and attitudes toward traffic rules and regulations had worsened; driving speed had increased; attentiveness and patience while driving had decreased; and, due to a general feeling of anxiety and nervousness, the amount of daily times spent driving had increased. A significant post-invasion increase in the number of road accidents was also reported by the study population.