Risk Factors for Fatal Traffic Accidents: A Narrative Review

Introduction: Traffic accidents are among the most important causes of death worldwide which are increasing every year. The purpose of this study is to review the risk factors for traffic accidents mortality. Method: For the present narrative review, we searched databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science using keywords “accidents”, “mortality” and “risk factor” to find the related articles. Findings: After reading the full-texts and final evaluation, totally 13 risk factors were identified. Older age, male gender, low educational level, consumption of alcohol, drugs, drowsiness, not wearing seatbelt, presence of pedestrian/occupant, severe accidents, high speed, adverse weather, rural and wet roads, were considered as the risk factors for fatal traffic accidents, although they can vary somewhat between different regions. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be stated that control of human risk factors and fails by drivers can decrease risk of accidents mortality. Also, taking measures by the authorities and policy makers, such as better speed management, enforcement of traffic laws, road infrastructure improvement and vehicle standardization, is helpful in this regard.