Evaluating Tehran Taxi Drivers' Views on Earthquake Awareness and Preparedness

Taxi drivers are considered as a source of public awareness disseminators who can play an important role in disaster management and therefore, evaluating the extent of this of effectiveness and ways effectiveness and ways to increase their role in the process of managing a disaster such as an earthquake, is of high importance.

In this paper, the role and importance of taxi drivers (districts 1 and 3 in Tehran) in earthquake preparedness and emergency response planning and programs are analyzed based on the available and targeted audiences using interviews.

The results show that only 20 percent of the taxi drivers have appropriate information about the earthquake and its definition. About 53 percent of them are prepared to take correct sheltering in the time of an earthquake. The best educational tools for them are radio, television, and films. In addition, the best educational method is holding educational classes with practical teaching as well as performing drills. Also, teaching provisions of what to do after the earthquakes are very necessary for the taxi drivers.

In conclusion, the results show that the taxi drivers can be very effective before, during, and after disasters and help public preparedness and risk reduction. Therefore, they need proper training and relevant information for earthquake preparedness. The most important role that taxi drivers could perform in using appropriate skills is after the occurrence of a disaster.