Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

Background and aim: Traffic accidents are a leading cause of mortality and severe injuries. Driver behavior is a significant factor influencing this issue. This study aimed to investigate the status of unsafe driving behaviors and their relationship with road accidents among intercity drivers in Urmia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted on 378 intercity drivers visiting the Occupational Medicine Center at Urmia University of Medical Sciences. Sampling was performed using a convenience method. The Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) was employed as the standard instrument. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24 at the significance level of 0.05.

Findings: The highest score for unsafe behaviors was related to non-routine violations, with a mean of 1.33 ± 0.44. Significant positive correlations were found between all four DBQ subscales and road accidents (p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed that routine violations and errors significantly predicted 24.3% of the variance in annual accidents.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated significant associations between unsafe driving behaviors and traffic accidents, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reduce high-risk driving behaviors.