Traumatic and Nontraumatic Driving Accidents Due to Dry Spells in Northern Iran: A Time Series Analysis

Abstract

Driving in rain is very dangerous, and drivers seem not to drive properly whenever it rains. In such situations, the risk of driving increases on rainy days, especially after a prolonged dry period. This would be a problem for drivers steering on slippery roads. In this study, the effect of dry spells on road traffic accidents and resulting mortality in Rasht, Iran, located in the southern margin of the Caspian Sea, in a 3-yr period from 21 March 2014 to 19 March 2017 was examined using time series patterns. The results of the study showed that the first day after a dry spell had the greatest impact on road accidents and resulting injuries and deaths. It was also found that with increased length of a dry spell, the risk of accidents and related deaths and injuries rises.

The Pattern of Road Accidents in Fog and the Related Factors in North of Iran in 2014-2018 ​

“…In one Iranian study, however, the number of accidents in rainy weather (73.8%) which led to damages was higher than the number of accidents leading to death, which was due to the slower speed of vehicles in such conditions compared with sunny weather (31). In a time series analysis in northern Iran, the rst day of rainfall after several dry periods was signi cantly associated with morbidities and mortalities due to accidents (32). This may imply that fatal accidents in fog are so severe that they lead to immediate death because of the severity of the injuries.…”