OBJECTIVES: To study the traffic behavior of medical students comparing current patterns with those observed in a study previously carried out in the same institution. METHODS: Standard questionnaires were completed by a sample of regularly registered medical students of the " Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo", Brazil, to collect data regarding demographic and economic information and also traffic behavior and accident involvement. Results were compared to those obtained in a similar investigation done in 1997. RESULTS: In 2008, 354 students were interviewed and 377 in 1997. Of all, 431 (59%) had driven right after alcohol ingestion and 21.5% of them had driven under severe influence of alcohol. while 10.5% referred to participation in "street races", with a large difference between genders (12.5% of men and 3.4% of women). Involvement in accidents with victims, fatal or not, was reported by 19.2% of participants. This percentage reached 31.1% among those who had driven under severe influence of alcohol and 42.9% among those who participated in "street races". The 2008 study showed increased use of helmets and seat belts in urban areas, as well as reduction of alcohol consumption before driving. On the other hand, it disclosed less continuous compliance with traffic lights. CONCLUSION: Risky traffic behavior was found to be very frequent among these participants directly involved in accidents with victims. Since this is a distinctive segment of the population, that is aware and has direct contact with the consequences of traffic accidents, we would hope to find a lower incidence of such high risk behavior. Information provided by this investigation should lead to a reflection from the academic community intending to introduce educational programs to effectively change student behavior.
Traffic accidents; Medical students; Risk-taking
