Medical and epidemiological features of road traffic injuries in the Khorezm region of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Abstract

Road traffic injuries remain one of the leading causes of premature mortality and disability, and human factors retain a key role in the structure of road accidents. One of the most significant, yet understudied, components of the human factor is driver training, which reflects their level of practical preparedness, discipline, and ability to act safely in challenging traffic conditions.

To study the factors affecting driver training and assess their role in the development of road accidents and the severity of their consequences.

A comparative study was conducted using official statistical data on road accidents for 2024–2025. Indicators characterizing driver age, driving experience, the presence or absence of a driver's license, the main causes of road accidents, and the distribution of accidents by type of road user were analyzed. Descriptive and comparative statistical methods were used to calculate absolute and relative indicators, rates of change, fatality rates, injury rates, and overall accident severity. The statistical significance of differences was assessed using the χ² test at a significance level of p<0.05.

It was established that the statistical structure of road accidents reflects the significant role of driver training factors in shaping accident rates and the severity of their consequences. The highest accident rate remained among young drivers, indicating a lack of practical experience and consistent safe driving skills. At the same time, a significant increase in mortality was observed in a number of middle- and older-age groups, indicating a more complex risk structure extending beyond the initial stages of a driver's career. The most unfavorable situation was observed among unlicensed drivers, for whom both the frequency of accidents and the severity of their consequences increased. Among the immediate causes of accidents, the leading roles were played by speeding, dangerous overtaking, violations of road signs and signals, and other disciplinary errors reflecting a lack of safe behavioral skills. It has been shown that driver errors pose a risk not only to the driver but also to passengers, pedestrians, and other road users.

 training factors are an important determinant of road traffic injuries and largely determine the structure of serious and fatal road accidents. The obtained results substantiate the need to improve the driver certification system, strengthen practice-oriented training, and develop sustainable safe behavior skills as one of the key areas of road injury prevention.