a study in a hospital setting in trinidad and tobago, west indies, on the psychological factors that cause road traffic collisions

Chavin D Gopaul,1 Aruna Singh-Gopaul,2 Edison D Haqq1 1Department of Para-clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, 2North West Regional Health Authority, St George Central, Barataria, Trinidad and Tobago Abstract: The following research paper aims to examine the psychological factors that have led to road traffic collisions (RTCs) by conducting research on drivers who had been admitted to the Accident and Emergency department at four major hospitals in Trinidad as RTC cases. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four major hospitals in Trinidad. Sample size was 900 participants admitted to the hospital as RTC cases, and the sample was selected using Daniel’s formula. All 900 participants were drivers involved in an RTC and were mostly male, and majority of drivers involved in an RTC were within the age group of 30–39 years. The survey was conducted in a 3-month window between March and June 2013. The results of the survey indicated that there was a significant relationship between most of the factors and RTCs, that is, p<0.05. This indicated that the null hypotheses did not hold. Thus, there was an positive correlation. The study revealed that attitude of drivers, real driving practice and the driving knowledge possessed by the driver were associated factors for RTCs. The survey also established that factors such as stress, the lack of sleep and fatigue were also likely to be associated with RTC. Keywords: road traffic collision, psychological factors, Trinidad, accident and emergency, stress, depressive symptoms