Personality plays an important role in a driver's tendency to instigate road accidents, with 'A breed' drivers who are naturally competitive and prone to anger most at risk, according to award-winning Thai research.

The research, conducted by Asst. Prof. Dr. Tawatchai Laosirihongthong, head of the Department of Civil Engineering of King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, shows clearly that the vast majority of traffic accidents can be attributed to driver behaviour.

Disclosing the findings at the award ceremony today for a road traffic engineering competition jointly organised by the Ministry of Transport and the police, Mr. Chadab Phatamasut, head of the Council of Engineers, noted that road accidents cost Thailand over Bt59 billion each year.

The research, conducted in 10 provinces in 2002, found during interviews with drivers that 60 percent of accidents on days other than holidays were caused by driver behaviour, while 17 percent were caused by vehicles and 13 percent were attributable to a combination of driver behaviour, vehicles and the environment. 

During holiday periods, the percentage of accidents caused by driver behaviour decreased marginally to 52 percent.

Hardly surprisingly, the research said that most injuries and fatalities were a result of drivers violating road rules, including failure to wear safety belts and crash helmets, speeding, failure to put indicator lights on overtaking. 

Around 11 percent of offences were also attributable to the use of mobile telephones while driving.

The research also pointed to the direct impact of drink driving on the severity of accidents, while noting that it also had an indirect impact on driver behaviour.

For the purposes of their study, the researchers divided drivers in a number of 'breeds'. 

Those most likely to be involved in accidents were 'breed A' people who were naturally aggressive, competitive, highly self-confident and easily irritated.

The researchers said that the best way to reduce Thailand's huge road accident rate was to focus on changing driver behaviour, as well as strictly enforcing traffic regulations and introducing harsher penalties for violators. (TNA)