A scoping review of the impact of temperature and humid environmental conditions on drivers’ safety across geographical locations

Abstract

Background Road traffic incidents are one of the most significant causes of death globally, with previous research showing that many meteorological factors influence road traffic safety. Objective The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the effect of high ambient temperature and humidity on road traffic incidnets across various climatic zones. Methods A search of Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO (ProQuest), SafetyLit and Scopus databases was undertaken and studies extracted focusing on the association between drivers’ safety, and temperature and humid climate between 2002 and 2022. Available data were extracted and analyzed, to evaluate the impact of temperature and humidity on road traffic incidents. Result Forty-eight studies reported on the influence of temperature on drivers’ safety Two of four studies conducted in polar and sub-polar climates reported negative correlations; nine of eleven studies in tropical and sub-tropical climates reported positive correlations; and fifteen studies in temperate climates reported positive, whilst five studies reported negative correlations between temperature and traffic incidents. In addition, only ten reported the influence of humidity, and two reported positive correlation, three reported negative correlation and 4 reported no significant association. There is no characteristic tendency in the association between humidity and traffic incidents. Conclusion There is an association between climate and road traffic incidents, with increases in both extreme hot and cold environmental conditions, however the influence of relative humidity is less evident.