@article{ref1,
title="Attitudes associated with behavioral predictors of serious road traffic crashes: results from the GAZEL cohort",
journal="Injury prevention",
year="2007",
author="Nabi, Hermann and Rachid Salmi, Louis and Lafont, S. and Chiron, Mireille and Zins, Marie and Lagarde, Emmanuel",
volume="13",
number="1",
pages="26-31",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that behavioral predictors of serious road traffic crashes (RTC) are correlated with unfavorable attitudes towards traffic safety. DESIGN: Prospective and cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING: France PARTICIPANTS: 13 447 of the 19 894 living members of the GAZEL cohort, workers and recent retirees of a French national utility company followed up since 1989. Main outcomes measures: Driving behavior and attitudes towards traffic safety in 2001 by questionnaire. Serious RTCs were recorded over the subsequent 3 years using the cohort annual questionnaire. Behavioral predictors of serious RTCs were assessed using generalized linear Poisson regression models with time-dependent covariates. Factor scores extracted from the first four attitudinal factors of principal component analysis were saved and then regressed on behavioral predictors as independent variables. RESULTS: After controlling for potential confounders, the best predictors of serious RTCs were: &quot;exceeding speed limits on rural roads&quot;, &quot;risky use of cellular phone&quot;, and &quot;sleepy driving&quot;. The adjusted rate ratio ranged from 1.47 to 2.16. Predictors of contravention of the highway code (the first two predictors) were found to be strongly associated with negative attitudes towards &quot;enforcement&quot; and &quot;speed limitations&quot; with an adjusted odds ratio ranging from 1.31 to 2.02. CONCLUSION: Our study supports the view that individuals with a high propensity for driving behaviors associated with an increased risk of RTCs were more likely to have negative attitudes towards traffic safety. Changing drivers' negative or distorted opinions of traffic &quot;enforcement&quot; as well as &quot;speed limitations&quot; and &quot;alcohol prohibition on roads&quot; could improve their compliance with road traffic rules.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1353-8047",
doi="10.1136/ip.2006.013342",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ip.2006.013342"
}