Citation

Rodrigo A, Perera D, Eranga VP, Peris MU, Pathmeswaran A. Ceylon Med. J. 2015; 60(3): 86-90.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. asirir2000@yahoo.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Sri Lanka Medical Association)

DOI

10.4038/cmj.v60i3.8186

PMID

26520860

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Road traffic accidents are a major public health concern in Sri Lanka. Aggressive and reckless driving is an important contributor to the high rate of road traffic accidents.

OBJECTIVE: We studied prevalence, nature, determinants and associated psychiatric morbidity of road rage among motorists in Sri Lanka.

METHODS Data were gathered from 238 randomly selected motorists in Sri Lanka using a modified questionnaire regarding road rage and the 6-item version of Kessler's psychological distress scale.

RESULTS: While 98.7% participants reported being victims of road rage, 85.3% were involved in offending behaviour. However actual physical assault (0.8%) and damage to vehicles (2.5%) were rare. Male gender, young age, increased traffic density and driving a three-wheeler or bus were associated with daily road rage victimisation and perpetration. Psychiatric distress was associated with being a victim of road rage.

CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of road rage in Sri Lanka and significant psychiatric distress associated with it indicate the necessity of interventions at least for target groups.

Language: en