TY - JOUR
T1 - Visual function of drivers and its relation to the occurrence of road traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia
AU - Aldakhil, Sulaiman
AU - Ovenseri-Ogbomo, Godwin
AU - Moafa, Majid A.
AU - Alghamdi, Waleed
AU - Alluwimi, Muhammed
AU - Alghnam, Suliman
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Sulaiman Aldakhil, Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo, Majid A. Moafa, Waleed Alghamdi, Muhammed Alluwimi, Suliman Alghnam.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/12/26
Y1 - 2021/12/26
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Driving vision
KW - Road safety
KW - Road traffic accidents
KW - Road traffic injuries
KW - Saudi Arabia
KW - Uncorrected refractive errors
KW - Visual impairment
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U2 - 10.3889/oamjms.2021.6787
DO - 10.3889/oamjms.2021.6787
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85116530444
SN - 1857-9655
VL - 9
SP - 1016
EP - 1020
JO - Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences
JF - Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences
ER -