University of Helsinki - Research news
The wealthier the country, the safer the traffic
Annually about 1.2 million people worldwide and over 50.000 million people in the EU die in traffic accidents.
Week 44/ 2006
Regional differences in traffic safety are considerable: records are much worse in Southern Europe and the Middle East than in Northern and Western Europe. However, factors contributing to different accident risk figures in different countries have remained largely unstudied.
In his doctoral dissertation PhD Türker Özkan investigated regional differences in traffic safety between Southern European/Middle Eastern (Greece, Iran, Turkey) and Northern/Western European (Finland, Great Britain, The Netherlands) countries and identified factors related to these differences. The dissertation in the field of psychology was publicly examined at the University of Helsinki on 27 October 2006.
Özkan used national statistics, surveys among drivers and data on traffic accidents and fatalities in the analyses.
- The results showed that a high GNP per capita and conservatism (e.g. social order) correlated with a low number of traffic fatalities, whereas a high degree of uncertainty avoidance (i.e. the level of stress in a society related to unknown future), neuroticism and egalitarianism (e.g. equality) correlated with a high number of traffic fatalities, he explains.
- Economy - quality of infrastructure and vehicles and also medical services - is an important factor in traffic safety. But driving behaviour plays the most important role.
In Southern European countries and Iran, drivers seem to commit more aggressive violations than in Northern Europe. However, aggressive driving seems largely depend on road users interactions.
- It seems that the worst thing you can do in traffic is to respond to an aggressive act in the same manner. This escalates anger and aggression. Rather be polite and respectful towards other road users, Özkan advises.
Türker Özkan noticed that speeding and young male drivers appear to be a pan-cultural problem in traffic. He believes that traditional and widely recognised masculine role model supports the idea that men "should" speed and take risks in traffic. He finds that in-vehicle-technologies might be necessary for limiting speeding in the near future.
How does Özkan describe a good driver then?
- We must remember that a skilful driver isn't always a safe driver. A good driver is both, skilful and safety-oriented.
Text: Minna Rauhansalo
Picture: City of Helsinki Picture Bank
Translation: Valtasana Oy
