Comparison of the role of human factor in road accidents in different driver's categories

Human factor is identified as the most important factor in road accident. The purpose of this research was to compare the role of human factor in road accidents in different driver's categories in Darab Township in 2010. In this descriptive-correlation research, firstly, four groups of drivers including bus, truck, taxi and private car drivers (130 drivers) were selected through purposeful sampling and completed Manchester Driving Behavior Questionnaire (MDBQ). Data was analyzed by using Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), correlation coefficients and SPSS. According to the result, all groups had significant differences in all factors such as errors, lapses, aggressive and ordinary violation (P<0.05); also the highest rate in 3 factors of errors, lapses and aggressive violation were related to bus drivers, truck drivers, private car drivers and taxi drivers respectively; but in ordinary violations the highest scores were related to private car, taxi, truck and bus drivers respectively. The findings of correlation coefficients were as follows: there were a significant and positive correlation between age and all types of errors and violence (P<0.05); negative and significant correlation was found between education with dangerous and aggressive errors and lapses (P<0.05); but positive and significant correlation was found between education and aggressive violation (P<0.05); there was no correlation between education score and ordinary violation; also, no correlation was found between years of driving and wearing safety belt with errors and violence (P>0.05). The results indicated that the highest scores were specially related to bus drivers and truck drivers. Therefore, it is recommended to perform psychological assessments and adequate training in order to reduce the accident rate at the time of selection and obtaining driving licenses and periodically thereafter.