Aberrant Behaviors of Heavy Vehicle Drivers Carrying Hazardous Materials at an International Border in Iran

Background: Most road collisions are directly attributed to human factors. Since aberrant behaviors of drivers play a pivotal role in the occurrence of road accidents, it is worth studying driver behaviors in a riskier situation of carrying hazardous materials. This study aimed to evaluate the behaviors of the drivers carrying hazardous materials at the international border of Bashmaq-Marivan, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 250 Iranian drivers carrying hazardous materials at the international border of Bashmaq-Marivan. The participants were included taking a census. Data were collected using the Manchester Driver Behavior Questionnaire (MDBQ). Data analysis was performed by SPSS v 16. The p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The drivers carrying inflammable liquids had more lapses compared to those carrying inflammable gases. The drivers with less driving experience and higher driving speed had more errors, as well as aggressive and ordinary violations. Higher rates of aggressive violations and errors were detected in young drivers, while the drivers with higher rates of accidents had comparatively more lapses and ordinary violation. Conclusion: Considering the effects of age, driving experience, high speed, and accident experience on aberrant behaviors in driving, it is recommended that public training targeting specific groups be implemented regarding the legal constraints of driving.