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Traffic Accidents in Saudi Arabia: An Epidemic

1986; King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Volume: 6; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Catalão

10.5144/0256-4947.1986.69

0975-4466

Nayef R. F. Al-Rodhan, Robert M. Lifeso,

Traffic and Road Safety

Special CommunicationTraffic Accidents in Saudi Arabia: An Epidemic Nayef Al-Rodhan and MBBS Robert M. LifesoMD, FRCS(C) Nayef Al-Rodhan *Resident, Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia Search for more papers by this author and Robert M. Lifeso † Chief, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia Search for more papers by this author Published Online:1 Jan 1986https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.1986.69SectionsPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail AboutIntroductionRoad traffic accidents have become one of the most important negative aspects of man’s interrelationship with technology. There is an epidemic of road traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia that is second only to infectious disease as a medical problem. Traffic accidents represent the leading cause of death and disability in the young (16 to 36 years old). It is an epidemic as serious as plague or smallpox were to earlier generations.In 1983, 3100 people died at the scene of traffic accidents in the Kingdom – an average of nine deaths per day. In 1984, there was an increase in fatalities to 5480 (15 deaths per day). These figures only reflect those who actually died at the scene of the accident. According to a study by Riyadh Central Hospital, traffic records show that 375 people were killed in Riyadh at the scene of the accident while another 654 died either enroute to the hospital (420) or after admission to the hospital (234). These additional statistics nearly triple the mortality figures to approximately 9000 deaths in 1983 and 15,000 deaths in 1984.1–3 Approximately 85% of all patients admitted to hospitals in the Riyadh area during 1982 were traffic accident victims.4 The economic impact of road traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia was estimated in 1980 to be SR 4,776,836 (US $1,085,644) per day.5The number of cars in Saudi Arabia in the last 10 years has increased by 2400% and has led to a 469% increase in trauma cases and a 561% increase in mortality. In 1971 there were 144,768 cars registered in the Kingdom with a record of 59 accidents/100,000 population, 65 injuries/100,000, and 8 fatalities/100,000, compared to 3,018,811 registered cars in 1981 with 251 accidents/100,000 population, 216 in juries/100,000, and 34 fatalities/100,000.6Driving in the Kingdom can be dangerous, perhaps more so in Riyadh which constitutes approximately 15% of the total population and 25% of the total number of road traffic accidents. In Saudi Arabia there are nine injured accident victims for every five accidents as compared to an international figure of approximately one victim per eight accidents. The fatality to injury ratio is one fatality per six accidents in Saudi Arabia as compared to one fatality per 50 accidents in Great Britain.3,7,8Important considerations relating to drivers involved in accidents are age, competence as drivers, fatigue, and occasional use of alcohol and narcotics. Drivers in the 21 to 25 years age group account for nearly 30% of all traffic accidents and more fatal accidents than any other age group. The traffic accident death rate for college students in Riyadh is 14 times higher than that of American college students.4Other contributions to traffic accidents are poor safety education and lack of traffic law enforcement. In a study conducted by the Saudi National Highway Program, driver errors accounted for 97% of all road accidents in Saudi Arabia.6 Two-thirds of all accidents were related to excess speeding, 11% due to reckless driving and only 3% to mechanical defects or other factors.There are a few suggestions that should save lives. They include: mandatory driver education in schools or through licensed agencies that are evaluated on a regular basis by proper authorities; strict testing and licensing procedures for both nationals and expatriates, and public education of traffic laws through the media.Change in human behavior is slow and is an evolutionary process9, but more expedient measures can be provided immediately through: 1) strict enforcement of speed limits and traffic laws; 2) enforcement of the use of seat belts (recent studies show that the use of seat belts can reduce the likelihood of death by 90% and serious injury by 70%); 3) implementation of child restraint systems which could decrease fatal child injuries by 91% and decrease disabling injuries by 78%;10–12 4) establishment of motor vehicle standards monitored by the Saudi Standards Organization and annual automobile inspection, especially if the car is more than three years old.The high accident rate and the unacceptably high mortality rate has many causes. To decrease the disability and fatality rate following traffic accidents, we recommend:A comprehensive national emergency medical service be implemented. This would include the training of emergency paramedical staff, provision of appropriate transportation facilities (helicopters, ambulances, etc) and improvement in communication between paramedical and emergency surgical facilities.Establish specialized regional trauma centers equipped for immediate diagnosis and management of serious injuries.13 These should be integrated with a system of paramedical support personnel and attached to major hospitals.Provide adequate rehabilitation facilities for the injured to minimize morbidity and reduce total disability.ARTICLE REFERENCES:1. Al-Thenyan SI. An analysis and evaluation of Riyadh Central Business District Traffic Accidents. Riyadh: College of Engineering, King Saud University, 1983. Google Scholar2. Mufti M. "Road traffic accidents as a public health problem in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia" . Journal of Traffic Medicine. 1983; 11 (4): 65–9. Google Scholar3. Hamour BA. "Epidemiology of road accidents" . Sebai ZA, ed. Community health in Saudi Arabia. London: MacMillan Publisher Ltd., 1982:45–50. Google Scholar4. Koushki PA. Arab News. 1984January 16:23. Google Scholar5. Khawashki E. "Socioeconomic impact of road traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia" . Saudi Med J. 1980; l(5):246–8. Google Scholar6. Al-Saif J. Traffic developments in Saudi Arabia: National Highway Safety Programme. Riyadh: Saudi Arabian National Center for Science and Technology, 1984. Google Scholar7. Al-Saif J. "The Police Chief" . 1978:61. Google Scholar8. Ten years traffic accidents 1971–1880–a report. Ministry of Interior, Saudi Arabia, General Traffic Department, Public Security. Google Scholar9. Levi L. World Health. 1975; 75(10): 14. Google Scholar10. Meyer RJ. "Save the child: children and automobile restraints (editorial)" . Am J Public Health. 1981; 71(2):122–3. Google Scholar11. Williams AF, Wells JK. "The Tennessee child restraint law in its third year" . Am J Public Health. 1981; 71:163–5. Google Scholar12. "Crash protection in road accidents" . WHO Chron. 1979; 33:381–2. Google Scholar13. Malaika S. The value of a trauma centre. 8th Saudi Medical Conference Abstracts. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian National Guard, 1983; 89–90. Google Scholar Previous article Next article FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byGascon G (2019) Neurologic Disorders in Saudi Children, Annals of Saudi Medicine , 13:1, (91-92), Online publication date: 1-Jan-1993.Hussain S, Choudhary A and Latif A (2019) Road Traffic Accidents in Saudi Arabia, Annals of Saudi Medicine , 7:4, (352-352), Online publication date: 1-Oct-1987. Volume 6, Issue 1January 1986 Metrics History Published online1 January 1986 InformationCopyright © 1986, Annals of Saudi MedicinePDF download