Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 244 (2008)Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Traffic Police Towards Car Restraints inAl AinStudent Authors: Hamad Saeed Al-Shamsi, Mohd Hasan Al-Ali, Abdulla Hussain Al-Hammadi, Ali Sultan Al-Senani, Murad Manea Al-ObthaniFaculty Supervisors: Dr. M. Grivna, Dr. J. Schneider, Dr. P. Barss, Dr. M. El-Sadig,Prof. N. NagelkerkeAbstract:Objectives: The rate of motor vehicle crashes (MVC) Injuries and deaths in the UAEare among the highest worldwide. The lack of safety belt (SB) and child restraints useare commonly cited as the major risk factors and it is a major problem in the UAE. In2005, a study indicated that MVC injuries were among the top two causes of death inthe UAE. The reasons commonly cited for these increasing trends is the failure toenforce the SB law, the lack of knowledge about its importance and the negativeperceptions about SB by the general population and police. Traffic police take the frontresponsibility in enforcing traffic regulations and insuring the safety of MV occupants.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was completed from January toFebruary 2008 at police stations in Al Ain city, UAE. The target was all trafficpolicemen in Al-Ain. Each station was visited by 2 investigators at a time during shiftchanging. A total number of 260 policemen participated in the survey. Selfadministeredquestionnaire was distributed to the policemen. The questions includedsociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, perceptions and attitudes; about the useof SB and questions about the use of child restraints and safety measures in their cars.Results: Surveyed sample included 260 traffic policemen, 56% (n= 145) were UAEcitizens, and 62% (n= 151) were aged (25-34 years). The analysis of policemenknowledge showed that 1% or less (n=1) scored Excellent, while 40% (n=103) scoredPoor. Moreover, 3 % (n=3) thought that driver’s lap is safest place in cars for childrenless than 12 years. 98% (n=255) of surveyed population believed that SB is necessaryfor drivers and front seat passengers. 65% (n=165) of policemen will stop andverbally warn unrestrained drivers. The analysis of policemen practice off-duty showedthat, 60% (n=150) of policemen always use the SB on highways, 51% (n=127)always use it on main roads, 37% (n=92) always use it on residential roads. On theother hand, during on-duty policemen practice was, 87.4% (n=209) always use the SBon highways, 85.3% (n=203) on main roads, 80.4% (n=193) on residential roads.Conclusion: We conclude that the knowledge of policemen could be improved whichwill facilitate applying the law against unrestraint drivers. More important,enforcement of the SB law will be the definitive solution to increase the compliance ofUAE population.