Personalidad e infracciones frecuentes de normas de tránsito / Personality and frequent violations of traffic rules

La Organización Mundial de la Salud (2013), alerta a los gobiernos a tomar medidas urgentes para prevenir accidentes de tránsito. Si no se intervienen, en el 2030 serán la quinta causa de muerte. Este estudio establece el perfil psicológico de conductores de vehículo infractores frecuentes de normas de tránsito, en una muestra de 295 adultos de ambos sexos. Utilizando el cuestionario factorial de personalidad 16PF-5 y una escala de creencias, conocimientos, y comportamientos sobre seguridad vial, se identificaron relaciones significativas entre conducta infractora y creencias, además de los factores de personalidad y variables específicas que predicen la propensión a las infracciones frecuentes de normas de tránsito.

The World Health Organization (2013) has alerted governments to take urgent measures to prevent traffic accidents. If no intervention is made, they will be the fifth leading cause of death in 2030. This study established the psychological profile of frequent offenders of traffic rules in a sample of 295 drivers of both sexes. Using the 16PF-5 Personality Questionnaire and a scale of beliefs, knowledge, and road safety behaviors, significant relationships between offending behavior and beliefs were identified, in addition to the specific personality factors and variables that predict susceptibility to frequent violations of traffic rules.

Estimation of prevalence of headphone usage during driving and awareness about their health hazards among medical undergraduates.

Background: As year passes, numbers of vehicles on road are increasing at the same time numbers of accidents are increasing. One of the major contributors for these accidents is the distraction created by headphone use during driving. Youngsters which are the major contributor for any nation’s development are lost due to these accidents. Aims: To estimate prevalence of headphone use while driving among medical graduates and find out felt problems associated with headphone usage while driving. Methods: Setting and design: An observation (Cross-sectional) study was conducted in government medical college situated in urban area. Technique: 260 medical under graduate were selected for study. A semi structured questionnaire was used as study tool for observation. Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants. Statistical analysis used: The data was analyzed using appropriate statistical software (MS excel). Results: In this Study out of 260 medical undergraduates, 192 (73.85%) boys and 68 (26.15%) girls participated. 37.30% students were using headphone during driving out of which 20.77% were always using with every drive and 16.53% were occasionally using headphone. Only 71 (27.31%) student were not using helmet during driving. 37.11% students used headphone for both talking and listening songs, they prefer to listen songs in high volume (21.65%). 65% students had knowledge about health hazards associated with headphone usage. Conclusions: Prevalence of headphone usage during driving among medical undergraduates was found to be 37.3%. Despite of the awareness of health hazards associated with headphone usage, most of the students prefer headphone over helmet.

Representaciones sociales de normas de tránsito, agresividad, facilidad percibida en la conducción, accidentes y multas en conductores de Bogotá, D. C. / Social representations of traffic rules, aggressiveness, easiness perceivedin driving, accidents, and traffic tickets involving drivers in Bogota, D. C. / Representações sociais de normas de trânsito, agressividade, facilidadepercebida na condução, acidentes e multas nos motoristas de Bogotá, D. C.

El objetivo principal de este trabajo fue conocer las representaciones sociales sobre normas de tránsito, y su relación con la agresividad y con la accidentalidad, y multas de tránsito autoinformadas en conductores de Bogotá. Se aplicó una encuesta basada en casos (Mamontoff, 2010) con elementosgráficos (Abric, 1993), a una muestra no aleatoriade conductores infractores o en proceso de renovación dela licencia de conducción. Como resultados se identificaron cuatro clases de conductores: dos grupos más dispuestos a consumir alcohol y exceder límites de velocidad (1.ª clase)o no respetar semáforos en rojo y otras señalizaciones (2.ªclase), otro grupo menos de acuerdo con consumir alcohol antes de conducir, pero favorable a superar límites de velocidad(3.ª clase) y otro grupo favorable a no violar ninguna norma de conducción (4.ª clase). Una actitud más favorable a consumir alcohol en la conducción se asoció con atribución de los accidentes a factores externos a los conductores, con haber sido multado más veces en el pasado y con más daños en accidentes. Una mayor agresividad se asoció, asimismo,con una intención de conducta más imprudente.

The main objective in this work consisted of getting to know the social representations about traffic rules and their connection with self-reported aggressiveness, accident rates and fines for traffic offenses by drivers in Bogota. A case-based survey (Mamontoff, 2010) with graphic elements (Abric,1993) was applied to a non-random sample of driving offenders or drivers undergoing their driving license renewal process. As results, four classes of drivers were identified: Two groups more likely to: abuse alcohol and exceed speed limits (1st class), pass through red or yellow lights and disregar dother traffic signs (2nd class); another group that was more cautious about drinking alcohol before driving, but not with regard to exceeding speed limits (3rd class), and another group with a willingness to comply with all driving rules (4th class). A more lenient attitude towards drinking alcohol before or while driving was associated to attributing accidents to factors external to the driver, or with a higher record of fines or sanctions in the past, and having suffered more damages in road-traffic. Likewise, a more far-reaching aggressiveness was associated with an intended less prudent or cautious conduct.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho era conhecer as representações sociais sobre as normas de trânsito, e a sua relação com a agressividade e a acidentalidade, e as multas de trânsito autoinformadas nos motoristas de Bogotá. Uma pesquisa baseada em casos (Mamontoff, 2010) com elementos gráficos (Abric, 1993) foi aplicada a uma amostra não aleatória de motoristas infratores ou em processo da renovação da carteira de motorista. Como resultados identificaram-se quatro classes de motoristas: dois grupos mais prontos para consumir o álcool e exceder limites de velocidade (1°classe)ou não respeitar semáforos em vermelho e outra sinalização(2° classe), um outro grupo menos de acordo com o consumo de álcool antes de dirigir, mas favorável para exceder limites de velocidade (3° classe) e um outro grupo favorável para não infringir nenhuma norma da condução (4° classe). Uma atitude mais favorável para consumir o álcool ao dirigir foi associada com a atribuição dos acidentes aos fatores externos aos motoristas, por ser multado mais vezes no passado e com mais danos nos acidentes. Uma maior agressividade foi associada, também, com uma intenção da conduta mais imprudente.

Conocimiento de las normas de tráfico en función de la edad y de la importancia para la seguridad vial / Knowledge of Traffic Rules According to the Age and the Importance for Road Safety

Un déficit en la memoria producido por la edad puede influir en el conocimiento de la normativa de tráfico. El presente estudio analiza las diferencias en el conocimiento de la normativa en función de la edad e importancia para la seguridad vial. Participaron 300 personas (18-75 años). Se elaboró un cuestionario de conocimiento sobre normativa de tráfico, según la importancia que desempeñan para la seguridad vial (poco importantes, importantes y muy importantes). En general, el conocimiento de los conductores sobre la normativa de tráfico fue pobre. Contrario a lo esperado, el rendimiento de los conductores mayores no siempre fue inferior al de los otros grupos de edad, presentando mejores resultados en preguntas poco importantes y muy importantes.

Age-associated memory impairment could worsen the knowledge of traffic rules. The present study analyses the differences in the knowledge of the traffic rules according to the age and the importance for road safety. 300 drivers participated (18-75 years-old). A questionnaire was developed to assess the knowledge of the traffic rules according to the importance for road safety (less important, important, and more important questions). Generally, the knowledge of the traffic rules was poor among drivers of all ages. Older drivers' scores were not always lower than the younger and adult drivers. These results are a little surprising and not the outcome we originally predicted, they show the older drivers had far better results in the less important and more important questions.