The Impacts of Climate Change on Road Traffic Accidents in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The potential costs of road traffic accidents (RTAs) to society are immense. Yet, no study has attempted to examine the impact of climate change on RTAs in Saudi Arabia, though RTA-leading deaths are very high, and the occurrence of climatic events is very frequent. Therefore, this study aims to assess the impact of climate change on RTAs in Saudi Arabia and to recommend some climate change mitigation and adaptation policies to make roads safe for all. This study employed annual data from 13 regions of Saudi Arabia, from 2003 to 2013. The data were analyzed on the basis of panel regression models-fixed effect, random effect, and the pooled ordinary least square. The findings show that temperature, rainfall, sandstorms, and number of vehicles were statistically and significantly responsible for RTAs in Saudi Arabia in the study period. This study also found that RTAs both inside and outside cities significantly caused injuries, but only RTAs inside cities significantly caused death. Furthermore, the death from RTAs injuries was found to be statistically significant only for motor vehicle accidents. The findings will assist policymakers in taking the right courses of action to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change through understanding climate influence on RTAs.

Global Health Impacts of Dust Storms: A Systematic Review

“… 127 - 129 Moreover, some studies reported that dust storms may have a protective effect against non-accidental and respiratory death 55 and other pulmonary problems. 91 , 130 , 166 …”

“…Moreover, Park et al 163 reported a relationship between nighttime symptoms and particular matter levels during dust storms. Watanabe et al 165 also stated that dust storms worsen respiratory symptoms in asthmatic patients, but some studies like O’Hara et al 166 reported that pulmonary function was better in children who were more exposed to dust storms than in those with low exposure to dust.…”

Exploring the Impact of Climate and Extreme Weather on Fatal Traffic Accidents

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Epidemiology of road traffic crashes in Ilam Province, Iran, 2009–2013

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